Re-issue vinyl vs. the original pressing

I concur. Like all reissues, even those on ceedee, some are better and some aren't. I just buy what I can get my hands on and enjoy the music. If I hit a dud? Well, ya' live and learn.

if they are in mint condition and are early pressings, the originals.......prohibitive pricing and rarity make this impossible to grow a collection quickly....re issues are a godsend, even if most sound 'different'.

All things being equal (which of course they never are), original, or even close to original, pressings are going to sound better than vinyl re-issues almost all of the time. But it will come down to what your tolerances are for surface noise, ticks and pops etc. I will tolerate a bit of that (but NOT groove damage) to find a nice original pressing, generally buying from dealers who will offer a return policy if not satisfied. In terms of buying originals off E-Bay, etc. I have not really ventured into that area and I would only consider it if the seller had a very high # of positive feedbacks relating to record sales or came personally recommended from another record buyer.

Jazz originals in good shape are generally hard to come by and not cheap; I've been quite happy with most of the OJC re-issues I've purchased and very happy with the few Speakers Corner re-issues I've bought. With 70's-80's rock, very often cheap original or close to original pressings in good condition are available at reasonable prices that put the re-issues to shame. I've recently picked up copies of Dire Straits debut album and Pink Floyd's DSOTM that sound much better than a Japanese pressing of the Dire Straits and the 30th anniversary re-issue of DSOTM. The originals were purchased for 50 cents or a buck at the thrift vs. $25 U.S. for the anniversary DSOTM.

Once you get into the 50's and 60's, though, it's (at least in my experience) much more difficult to find quality originals or close to originals. I just bought a re-issue copy of John Mayall and Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton only to discover it's from a digital master (no markings anywhere on the cover or label indicating that, but it sure sounds like it to me), so I'm contemplating biting the bullet and ordering the Speakers Corner on that 1966 album because I really like the performance.

You can't generalize about this, it all depends on the quality of the original pressings and masterings vs. those of the reissues, with the present-day condition of the source tapes thrown in as a remastering variable. Then you have to consider the condition of the available vintage vinyl and its price. Just because something is an original pressing is no guarantee of superior sound; plenty of vintage records never sounded really good to begin with, and later remasterings can often yield major improvements, although certainly not always. Collector value, of course, is another topic.

I just bought a 1959 Columbia CS 8163,6 eye, in mint condition. I also have Kind of Blue in a 200 Gram Classic Records Quiex SV-P re-issue.

The 6 eye original is outstanding.The Classic re-issue is about 80% of the original.$30.00 vs. $170.00. Is it worth the extra money? You bet it is. The original sounds more authentic as you here the sound in a more three dimentional way.

I am new to vinyl but I have done my homework on buying LP's.

Example: John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman on MCA Impulse vs.the original Impulse A-40. The original smokes the MCA. $75.00 VS.$12.00. Is it worth the extra money? YES it is to me but the MCA sounds very good indeed. The MCA is again 80% of the original.

Do you have the money to invest in original Blue Note, Impulse, Mercury etc..If you do then you will be greatly rewarded with great sonics that will further seperate vinyl from digital.