1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2016: Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Jacksonville, JazzFest 2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1 2022: Nashville 2023: Ft. Worth II
OK. I AB'd my Chicago variant (CZ) and my 10c Red variant (Furnace)
I'm assuming they both use the same digital master to cut, and it shows. The highly compressed sound for the album still comes across on both vinyl.
Both LPs were cleaned ultrasonically before playing. Because thye were new, I just an 8 min cycle on my Degritter. Both got new antistatic sleeves before being played. Both were played on my VPI HW-19, Grado Gold cart through a vintage Marantz 2020. Polk bookshelf (Solid low end, decent mids, great highs). No knobs were touched for this comparison (Volume remained constant. I keep my Bass at a 7, Mids at a 9 and highs at an 8)
The differences:
(pressing quality) The CZ pressing has a touch noisier surface. even after the cleaning. Some static remains. Pretty normal for a CZ pressing (if the label doesn't pay up for the better quality). The furnace wasn't dead quiet but it was difficult to pick up surface noise. No pops on either. Didn't weigh them, but it felt like the CZ was a touch heavier. Both have different dead wax. The messages are the same, but Furnace is hand carved and CZ is a digital etching.
(Sound) The Furnace had a very nice low end. Jeffs bass and the bass drum kinda rip on this. Unfortunately, the offset to that is that its makes it have a murkier over all sound. The CZ seems a bit more crisp in the sound. The offset to that is that it comes across as a bit thin. I'm chalking both of these up to the master being not great. Maybe if the furnace were spread across 2 LPs, that murkiness would go away with more space to cut. Neither had great instrument separation. The quieter songs and parts sounded better. Highs better on the CZ, lows better on the Furnace.
I saw some chatter about the last track Setting Sun, pushing the limits for time on the B-side. My first spin last week of the CZ pressing I noticed the IGD immediately. The compressed sound on the master certainly doesn't help things either. The furnace pressing minimizes the IGD. The cut is better at keeping that IGD static down. Again, its still there, but its less noticeable than the CZ pressing.
Anyone see these at any of your stores? When I picked up the PNW green vinyl, they gave me a couple of these. Funny they only had a handful of vinyls in stock, but had plenty of patches! Gave me two.
1995 Club Moe w/Neil Young Seattle WA 1996 Key Arena Seattle WA 2000 Mesa Del Sol Albuquerque 2005 Gorge Amphitheater WA 2005 Clark County Amphitheater Portland OR (Vancouver WA) 2006 Arlene Schnitzer Hall Portland OR 2008 Susquehanna Bank Center Camden NJ 2009 Outside Lands Golden Gate Park SF CA 2011 Ottawa w Mudhoney 2014 Big Day Out Gold Coast Australia 2022 Ohana Festival Dana Point CA 2024 Portland Moda Center 2024 Missoula Grizzly Stadium
Anyone see these at any of your stores? When I picked up the PNW green vinyl, they gave me a couple of these. Funny they only had a handful of vinyls in stock, but had plenty of patches! Gave me two.
I died. I died and you just stood there. I died and you watched. I died and you walked by and said no. I'm dead.
Worst nightmare. USPS sent PNW destroyed and warped.
Bridge Benefit 1994, San Francisco 1995, San Diego 1995 1 & 2, Missoula 1998, Los Angeles 2000, San Diego 2000, Eddie Vedder/Beck 2/26/2002, Santa Barbara 2003, Irvine 2003, San Diego 2003, Vancouver 2005, Gorge 2005, San Diego 2006, Los Angeles 2006 1 & 2, Santa Barbara 2006, Eddie Vedder 4/10/08, Eddie Vedder 4/12/08, Eddie Vedder 4/15/08, 7/12/2008, SF 8/28/09, LA 9/30/09, LA 10/1/09, LA 10/06/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09, Eddie Vedder 7/6/2011, Eddie Vedder 7/8/2011, PJ20 9/3/2011, PJ20 9/4/2011, Vancouver 9/25/2011, San Diego 11/21/13, LA 11/24/13, Ohana 9/25/21, Ohana 9/26/21, Ohana 10/1/21, EV 2/17/22, LA Forum 5/6/22, LA Forum 5/7/22, EV 10/1/22, EV 9/30/23
Worst nightmare. USPS sent PNW destroyed and warped.
At least they apologized.
1995 Club Moe w/Neil Young Seattle WA 1996 Key Arena Seattle WA 2000 Mesa Del Sol Albuquerque 2005 Gorge Amphitheater WA 2005 Clark County Amphitheater Portland OR (Vancouver WA) 2006 Arlene Schnitzer Hall Portland OR 2008 Susquehanna Bank Center Camden NJ 2009 Outside Lands Golden Gate Park SF CA 2011 Ottawa w Mudhoney 2014 Big Day Out Gold Coast Australia 2022 Ohana Festival Dana Point CA 2024 Portland Moda Center 2024 Missoula Grizzly Stadium
It took a week, but my 10C variant arrived today. USPS did not beat it to hell, thankfully, but they did take their sweet time. Yes, it’s purple (or maybe wine-colored would be more fair), but I can also confirm that when held up to the light, it does turn red. I don’t know if they make such a thing as an LED turntable platter or not, but I will look into it. Anyway, I’ve got this and the Deluxe CD and the NY variant I’m going to sell to my brother and the local record store has a large supply of the Missoulas still, so I’ll get one of those for my dad and I think I’ll be done. It’s been fun, but now I’ll just wait (and hope for) a next one.
Anybody ordered the NY variant from Darkside Records? Just wondered if you got a shipping notice before it arrived? I ordered five days ago but showing as not shipped and I’m concerned they may have oversold.
2010: London 2012: Manchester I, Manchester II, Manchester (EV) 2014: Milan, Leeds, Milton Keynes 2017: London II (EV) 2018: Amsterdam I, London I, Prague, London II 2019: London (EV) 2022: London I, London II, Budapest, Krakow, Amsterdam
Anybody ordered the NY variant from Darkside Records? Just wondered if you got a shipping notice before it arrived? I ordered five days ago but showing as not shipped and I’m concerned they may have oversold.
Don’t worry Tino. I ordered something a week ago an it hasn’t shipped yet so I emailed them a they said they got swamped with orders the day after RSD an are working on it. Same thing is said in their Facebook page. But yes you get a email when it ships!
OK. I AB'd my Chicago variant (CZ) and my 10c Red variant (Furnace)
I'm assuming they both use the same digital master to cut, and it shows. The highly compressed sound for the album still comes across on both vinyl.
Both LPs were cleaned ultrasonically before playing. Because thye were new, I just an 8 min cycle on my Degritter. Both got new antistatic sleeves before being played. Both were played on my VPI HW-19, Grado Gold cart through a vintage Marantz 2020. Polk bookshelf (Solid low end, decent mids, great highs). No knobs were touched for this comparison (Volume remained constant. I keep my Bass at a 7, Mids at a 9 and highs at an 8)
The differences:
(pressing quality) The CZ pressing has a touch noisier surface. even after the cleaning. Some static remains. Pretty normal for a CZ pressing (if the label doesn't pay up for the better quality). The furnace wasn't dead quiet but it was difficult to pick up surface noise. No pops on either. Didn't weigh them, but it felt like the CZ was a touch heavier. Both have different dead wax. The messages are the same, but Furnace is hand carved and CZ is a digital etching.
(Sound) The Furnace had a very nice low end. Jeffs bass and the bass drum kinda rip on this. Unfortunately, the offset to that is that its makes it have a murkier over all sound. The CZ seems a bit more crisp in the sound. The offset to that is that it comes across as a bit thin. I'm chalking both of these up to the master being not great. Maybe if the furnace were spread across 2 LPs, that murkiness would go away with more space to cut. Neither had great instrument separation. The quieter songs and parts sounded better. Highs better on the CZ, lows better on the Furnace.
I saw some chatter about the last track Setting Sun, pushing the limits for time on the B-side. My first spin last week of the CZ pressing I noticed the IGD immediately. The compressed sound on the master certainly doesn't help things either. The furnace pressing minimizes the IGD. The cut is better at keeping that IGD static down. Again, its still there, but its less noticeable than the CZ pressing.
Tim,
Thank You! This is precisely what I was looking to HEAR! Did you happen to pick up an RSD variant? I am going to get a black. Still looking at the variants...may grab a clear...I have the COKE No Code not the clear that followed. I wish I knew you were an audiophile. I would have been talking to you forever. With great gratitude, please know how much this review means to me. I had heard the record release over SIRIUS/XM. John
Comments
1996: Ft Lauderdale
1998: Birmingham
2000: Charlotte, Tampa
2003: Tampa, Atlanta, Phoenix
2004: Kissimmee
2008: West Palm Beach, Bonnaroo, Columbia
2010: MSG2
2012: Music Midtown
2014: Memphis
2018: Wrigley 1, Fenway 1
2022: Nashville
2023: Ft. Worth II
So glad I bought a copy of this beauty.
OK. I AB'd my Chicago variant (CZ) and my 10c Red variant (Furnace)
I'm assuming they both use the same digital master to cut, and it shows. The highly compressed sound for the album still comes across on both vinyl.
Both LPs were cleaned ultrasonically before playing. Because thye were new, I just an 8 min cycle on my Degritter. Both got new antistatic sleeves before being played. Both were played on my VPI HW-19, Grado Gold cart through a vintage Marantz 2020. Polk bookshelf (Solid low end, decent mids, great highs). No knobs were touched for this comparison (Volume remained constant. I keep my Bass at a 7, Mids at a 9 and highs at an 8)
The differences:
(pressing quality) The CZ pressing has a touch noisier surface. even after the cleaning. Some static remains. Pretty normal for a CZ pressing (if the label doesn't pay up for the better quality). The furnace wasn't dead quiet but it was difficult to pick up surface noise. No pops on either. Didn't weigh them, but it felt like the CZ was a touch heavier. Both have different dead wax. The messages are the same, but Furnace is hand carved and CZ is a digital etching.
(Sound) The Furnace had a very nice low end. Jeffs bass and the bass drum kinda rip on this. Unfortunately, the offset to that is that its makes it have a murkier over all sound. The CZ seems a bit more crisp in the sound. The offset to that is that it comes across as a bit thin. I'm chalking both of these up to the master being not great. Maybe if the furnace were spread across 2 LPs, that murkiness would go away with more space to cut. Neither had great instrument separation. The quieter songs and parts sounded better. Highs better on the CZ, lows better on the Furnace.
I saw some chatter about the last track Setting Sun, pushing the limits for time on the B-side. My first spin last week of the CZ pressing I noticed the IGD immediately. The compressed sound on the master certainly doesn't help things either. The furnace pressing minimizes the IGD. The cut is better at keeping that IGD static down. Again, its still there, but its less noticeable than the CZ pressing.
1996 Key Arena Seattle WA
2000 Mesa Del Sol Albuquerque
2005 Gorge Amphitheater WA
2005 Clark County Amphitheater Portland OR (Vancouver WA)
2006 Arlene Schnitzer Hall Portland OR
2008 Susquehanna Bank Center Camden NJ
2009 Outside Lands Golden Gate Park SF CA
2011 Ottawa w Mudhoney
2014 Big Day Out Gold Coast Australia
2022 Ohana Festival Dana Point CA
2024 Portland Moda Center
2024 Missoula Grizzly Stadium
28/09/04 - Boston, 20/04/06 - London [\\mm//Astoria\\mm//] - 18/06/07 - Wembley Arena, 11/08/09 - London [\\mm//Shepherds Bush Empire\\mm//],18/08/09 - 02 Arena, 25/06/10 - Hyde Park, 26/06/12 - Amsterdam, 27/06/12 - Amsterdam, 08/07/14 - Leeds,11/07/14 - Milton Keynes, 13/06/18 - Amsterdam, 18/06/18 - London 02 Arena, 17/07/18 - London 02 Arena, 08/08/22 - Hyde Park, 9/08/22 - Hyde Park - 25/08/22 - Amsterdam, 29/07/24 - London {*Tottenham Stadium TBC*}
1996 Key Arena Seattle WA
2000 Mesa Del Sol Albuquerque
2005 Gorge Amphitheater WA
2005 Clark County Amphitheater Portland OR (Vancouver WA)
2006 Arlene Schnitzer Hall Portland OR
2008 Susquehanna Bank Center Camden NJ
2009 Outside Lands Golden Gate Park SF CA
2011 Ottawa w Mudhoney
2014 Big Day Out Gold Coast Australia
2022 Ohana Festival Dana Point CA
2024 Portland Moda Center
2024 Missoula Grizzly Stadium
2012: Manchester I, Manchester II, Manchester (EV)
2014: Milan, Leeds, Milton Keynes
2017: London II (EV)
2018: Amsterdam I, London I, Prague, London II
2019: London (EV)
2022: London I, London II, Budapest, Krakow, Amsterdam
Thank You!
This is precisely what I was looking to HEAR! Did you happen to pick up an RSD variant?
I am going to get a black. Still looking at the variants...may grab a clear...I have the COKE No Code not the clear that followed.
I wish I knew you were an audiophile. I would have been talking to you forever.
With great gratitude, please know how much this review means to me.
I had heard the record release over SIRIUS/XM.
John