10-Inch LPs, Jazz Record Center, eBay
Interesting that the Jazz Record Center has an auction this week fully devoted to 10-inch LPs. I’ve always been a fan of 10-inch records, I think more for the packaging and authenticity — I mean, they pretty much stopped producing them in 1955 — than necessarily for the sound quality, although some people swear by them. My friend Dan swears that the sound on the 10-inch version of The Tal Farlow album, for example, is far superior to the 12-inch version, even the original Norgran 12-incher. Anyway, prices of 10-inch LPs tend to be lower than corresponding 12-inch LPs, so we’ll see how this week’s JRC auction goes. Here are some of the items we’ll be watching
Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note 5056. This one looks to be in M- condition. It has already been bid up to $416 with four bids, so we’re expecting that this is the one that will sell for top price among these listings. Howard McGhee, Volume 2, Blue Note 5024. This one is in M- condition and looks gorgeous in the picture. I own Volume 1, but have never had Volume 2. Probably won’t get this one either. The start price is $250. So far there are no takers, but it’s early. Stan Getz, The Beginning, with Wardell Grey, Seeco SLP7. I have a lot of Getz LPs, even a bunch of 10-inchers, but this is one I’m quite unfamiliar with. Anyone have any info to share on this LP? The one from the Jazz Record Center is in M- condition and already has a bidder at $150.
I’d love to hear anyones opinion on 10 inch sound quality. I have somewhere between 200-300 10″ and I find them to in general have a higher level of surface noise. As a math geek my instincts tell me that it’s not necessarily a valid conclusion to say 10″ is noisier than 12″ because my sample is of older records vs slightly newer records. But, I also think that the pressing technology of 33rpm records improved between the early 50s to the late 60s(then took a dive as companies started using recycled vinyl composites more and more). Anyone else have any insight as this conversation has fascinated me.
The Jutta looks so enticing, but I know it will soon be out of my price range. But I know I can find a few other beauty’s in this current JRC auction.
The record cutter heads improved quite a lot from the early/mid-’50 to the later ’50s/early ’60s and were able to cut higher frequencies with less distortion. Often this would result in the early 12″ reissues of earlier 10″ record to have higher fidelity sound.
Al:two different sessions under Al Haig name.
1) NYC c. April 1949: Wardell Gray, ts; A. Haig, p; Jimmy Raney, g; Tommy Potter, b; Charlie Perry, dr; Terry Swope, vcl.
4 tracks : Five star, Sugar hill bop, In a pinch, Talk of the town.
Available on Dawn DEP 101
2) NYC May 12 1949: S. Getz, ts; A. Haig, p; J. Raney, g; Gene Ramey, b; Charlie Perry, dr; Carlos Vidal, congas.
4 tracks: Skull buster, Ante room, Poop deck, Pennies from heaven
Available on Dawn DEP 102
Last 2 tracks first session and full second session also on Dawn DLP 1126
hope it helps
Thanks Aaron, this confirms what I’ve always heard/believed. I don’t think of it in absolutes though, I would bet that there are cases were the 10″ sounds better than the 12″ but i don’t think it’s standard.
Also, I love the cover of Jutta. I find it fascinating.
I use a mono pickup to play my 10 inch records and it improves the sound quality a lot.I think I read somewhere that a lot of distortion results because the modern stereo needles do not fit perfectly into the groove and take a lot of signals that result in surface noise from the bottom of the grooves.
If you can swing a second turntable(as some do),there’s nothing like hearing your mono lps w/ a mono cartridge. For me,it’s easier than constantly swapping pickups..
ceedee: that is what I do. The mono cartridge on my main, high quality, turntable, gives the best sound reproduction for the bulk of my collection.
For the few stereo albums in my collection, I have a second turntable with a stereo/mono cartridge. It is a Swiss Lenco turntable with 78/45/33 and 16 rpm. So I can play my 16 rpm Prestige albums for fun.
The 33 rpm versions of same though sound better than the 16 rpm equivalents.