Hey folks, I have a NM WB printed in the netherlands/manufactured in Germany pressing of VHI (WB56470, BSK3075) and, sadly, Eddie's guitar tracks sound terrible. Everything else, bass, drums, vox, are more or less fine. The guitars, however, are destroyed. Now, I'm not a fan of the recent reissues, so I'm relying on you to point in me in the right direction with a great example I can pick on Discogs. As always, all advice gratefully received.
Yeah, in an audiophile sense I would guess the reissues are better than an original. I like the grungy way the US original sounds but I'm used to it. It would sound weird to me now if I heard it cleaned up.
Blows the doors off the dump ! Van Halen - Van Halen Though I doubt the Chris Bellman cut is any slouch. Great now I'm considering owning two copies ?!?!
The original US WB palm tree label sounds damn good. The 2009 Kevin Gray/Steve Hoffman cut sounds damn good. The 2015 Chris Bellman cut sounds damn good. You have 3 to choose from.
Thanks for the replies I've been wary of the reissues since I heard a friend's copy of 1984 a couple of years ago (three years back, thinking about it now). I can't remember which label but it was readily available on the high street in most generic stores. It was pretty flat, low volume, and sterile sounding (I have an original pressing, NM, which sounds great to my ears). Just for clarity - can anyone link me to a good reissue on discogs? I'm tempted for the pressing mentioned somewhere above, but at $129 it's pretty top end for Van Halen. One thing's for sure - my copy has to go. I bought it primarily for the guitar tone...
I have the Bellman remaster, sounds great to me. The room ambiance and echo come thru nicely. It's a hot cut, but in a good way.
Is that the Rhino release? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Van-Halen-...n+halen+vinyl&qid=1565887965&s=gateway&sr=8-1
I'm hesitant, only because I suspect this is part of the same reissue series as the copy of 1984 I heard recently, which was very flat, smiley-faced EQ compared to the original.
I've not heard the 1984 remaster by Bellman so can't comment on it. As far as their debut record, I haven't heard an original pressing in a very long time. My brother and I had a first press when we were teens but gouged it down to the nub on a cheap Yorx record player.
Is that Bellman cut AAA? Looks like the 2009 edition is pretty expensive right now. My LP copy is a run of the mill U.S. used bin copy (not a first pressing with the palm trees) and still sounds pretty great IMHO. Van Halen - Van Halen
no, my question is/was I don't know how you can say that (just because yours is) and if they're all by chance really that bad then what's the point in leaving it sealed? not exactly an uber rare title anyone's going to pay a "still sealed" premium for (not to mention it's a who in the heck knows number pressing) turn a kid onto Van Halen
IDK. Hype sticker says- remastered from the original analog tapes. Music Direct says- Cut Straight from the Quarter-Inch Tapes by Chris Bellman.
Honestly,I didin`t pay much for Promo and I've just been going between my three other pressings and the DCC CD of VH I.I haven`t given it much thought until now.
All this talk got me to give the Bellman cut another spin last night. Love it. I don't know where these were pressed but they did a good job- LP is perfectly flat and dead quiet from nose to tail. Nary a pop or click throughout.
Our host did a fantastic job on the HQ-180 reissue (as Myke linked above). I have listened to the original WB US Palm Tree pressing hundreds of times since 1977 and I can say for sure that Dave's voice is much, much clearer on HQ-180 cut. Also the Bass has more punch. Its rather pricey and hard to find but a must for the VH hardcore.