Sounds like a hot stamper! Jackpot Records, Willie Nelson, "....and then I wrote"

Does anyone know how Hot Stampers acquire and screen their hot stampings?? For example, do they look for low numbers on the inner groove of the LP, showing that the LP in question was one of the first several that came off the master? I’ve always wondered why my LPs that have a label on the jacket saying that they were "for demonstration purposes only" (or words to that effect) are among the best sounding of the LPs I own. Is it the case that demonstration albums were distributed to record stores early on after the release date in order to promote that particular LP?  That would make examples with the "for demonstration only" label highly desirable.

Those are a few of the things they look at. Demo, cut-outs, tend to sound better because they tend to be early pressings when the stampers are in better shape. Inner groove numbers, you probably mean the handwriting on the hot wax. That is another one. But I have a couple records you can look at them all you want, there is absolutely no difference between them other than how they sound. Ultimately they have to play and only a very few sound good enough to make the cut.

What I know from a lot of back and forth emails, he has quite the systematic process for cleaning, playing, and grading. Subjective of course but he is awfully good at it. We all wish we knew his secret but I don't think it is really that much of a secret. Get 20, 30, 40 copies, clean em real good, and listen to em. 

@lewm It's top secret! They don't want just anyone to be able to dig beat up records out of the bargain bins and sell them for $300. Better Records are the only way to possibly enjoy vinyl, or any kind of recorded music for that matter. You don't even have to ask and someone will tell you so.

Yes, it's top secret and I totally get why.  I mean, my spouse doesn't want to know how much time and resources I've put into finding the best (to me) pressing of Lou Rawls & Les McCann, Ltd, They Call It Stormy Monday."  It's silly really.  I've spent over $200 and a gazillion hours trying to identify my personal hot stamper.  So I get why better records charges what they do. 

That said.....Folks, Hot Stampers are everywhere!  We just have to find them.  I prefer the journey, but I'd be open to forking over $500 for the best copy of a handful of albums.  

We already have some hot stampers in our collections!

Yes, there are a few titles that I buy over and over again, just searching for the best possible sample of that particular recording. But I've never bought more than, say, half a dozen different copies of any.