Free For All Dub - Wackies - Terrible sound quality

[leggo rocker]

I'm presently listening to the re-issue of Free for All Dub, by Wackies. I'm a little upset to find that it has some pretty awful sound quality, with loads of distortion on the bass in particular. There's also some very loud tape hum on some tracks. Not what I associate with Basic Channel re-issues or even the Wackies originals.

Anyone else got this LP and suffered the same problem? I'd especially be interested to hear from owners of the original pressing, as I would be happy NOT to pay the huge cost of that pressing if it sounds as bad as this!

[Rootsman]

Leggo.

I have for quite some time had a rip taken from the original album source and to be honest the sound quality on that is not fantastic.

However, the sound issues with that are more of the crackles and pops variety that comes with aged vinyl. Having said that though its only visbly audible at the beginning, on the break between tracks and on the run out.

The bass sounds good and is definately not distorted and their is no tape noise nor hums that I can identify.

Perhaps its just poor remastering on the reissue or you have just been unfortunate enough to cop a poor copy.

Dave

[leggo rocker]

Thanks Dave.

I've played the entire LP through now.

The sound improves as the LP continues, with the worst sound on side 1 tracks 1 and 2. Side two is much much better.

I'd still like to hear from anyone who actually has the original LP and can comment on the EQ of these rogue tracks on that pressing.

Wackies re-issues are the rare case where I don't generally mind owning later copies rather than the originals as they are usually top notch sound quality. But this has shaken my faith in the Basic Channel re-issue program a little!

And I do wish record companies would stop using 'shrink wrap' or 'warp wrap' as it should be known. It's got to be the daftest way to pack up an LP -- in a material that will continue to shrink and therefore bend the record in storage. Mad!

[Rootsman]

I guess "Shrink Wrap" / "Warp Wrap" is a cheap and easy way to package the finished item.

I would imagine it was never intended to be left on for any length of time after purchase.

The assumption is that it helps protect the sleeve and vinyl through shipment to the seller and into the purchasers hand.

Once with the buyer, who having paid good money for the record would look after it and treat it accordingly.

Therefore the shrink wrap can be removed without fear of damage. Nice theory but this obviously is not always the case as I recall many friends who just treated their vinyl albums abysmally.

Personally I always removed the wrap, but then my albums rarely left the house.

Dave

[leggo rocker]

Surely there must be some packaging material that doesn't continue to shrink and put so much pressure on the vinyl!

Whenever I see the words 'still in shrink' on eBay I read it as 'the record is dishwarped'.

Back in the day when I was buying these LPs brand new I would always take them out of the shrink and pop them in vinyl sleeves. I always looked after my records meticulously (and still do) and it hurts me inside to see people tossing them in heaps on the floor underneath their turntable.

[Bellyman]

Hi Leggo,
the overall sound quality of the reissue is the best you can get. I have a very good copy of the original release on CDR and can tell you that the distortion on the bass and the background noise have always been on this record.
If you keep in mind that the reissues are very clean press then this is of even better quality than what you can expect from any original pressing (if you ever can put your hands on one, there have only been 500 copies in the first place).

[leggo rocker]

Thanks for that very clear answer Bellyman - just what I was looking for and I guess what I was hoping for as the original is as rare as anything and VERY expensive too.