garww
Well-Known Member
I've only got four Steely Dan, but I'll take scratchy old Fleetwood Mac for pleasure. Probably, even Supertramp. There are some worthy MFSL, but we know the game. If I'm interested in my gear, I usually go for a Sheffield Lab
Steely Dan aja MFSL?
- Thread starter Ashevegas
- Start date
I've only got four Steely Dan, but I'll take scratchy old Fleetwood Mac for pleasure. Probably, even Supertramp. There are some worthy MFSL, but we know the game. If I'm interested in my gear, I usually go for a Sheffield Lab
AikiAudio
Active Member
This thread made me pull out my Aja copies. What an album! 
I own 2 copies of Aja and a few other albums from Steely Dan.
I think that the ABC version could be a first pressing from 77? How do I check that? I got it for a buck in NYC.
The other one is a rare Canadian yellow vinyl version. Pretty cool!
Is it true that coloured vinyls do not sound as good as black vinyl? I can't hear the difference.
I own 2 copies of Aja and a few other albums from Steely Dan.
I think that the ABC version could be a first pressing from 77? How do I check that? I got it for a buck in NYC.
The other one is a rare Canadian yellow vinyl version. Pretty cool!
Is it true that coloured vinyls do not sound as good as black vinyl? I can't hear the difference.
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AikiAudio
Active Member
Yup! It is a first pressing! AB 1006 
"It was ABC's standard procedure to use the album's prefix and stock # (plus other info) in the deadwax of their records. Therefore all original LP issues of AB 1006 will have AB 1006 in the deadwax. All later LP issues of AA 1006 will have AA 1006 in the deadwax. However, in order to avoid throwing out a bunch of perfectly good metalwork with AB 1006 already etched in it, some of the earliest pressings of stock # AA 1006 have the prefix changed in the deadwax. The B was crossed out, and an A was added in front to change AB to AA. Eventually all the metal parts made from the original AB 1006 lacquers were replaced with parts made from later cuttings with AA 1006 etched in them from the start."
"It was ABC's standard procedure to use the album's prefix and stock # (plus other info) in the deadwax of their records. Therefore all original LP issues of AB 1006 will have AB 1006 in the deadwax. All later LP issues of AA 1006 will have AA 1006 in the deadwax. However, in order to avoid throwing out a bunch of perfectly good metalwork with AB 1006 already etched in it, some of the earliest pressings of stock # AA 1006 have the prefix changed in the deadwax. The B was crossed out, and an A was added in front to change AB to AA. Eventually all the metal parts made from the original AB 1006 lacquers were replaced with parts made from later cuttings with AA 1006 etched in them from the start."
Multiplex
Appease my earhole.
I have the MFSL version, and the highs and bass are waaay too hot. The detail is good, but the wacky EQing kind of ruins it, IMO. I have an MCA rainbow label version of Aja that is a little dull and boxy sounding. My older MCA rainbow label copy of Gaucho is fabulous. The 180g re-issue of Gaucho (also rainbow label) is sort of... meh.
SPEC2man
Are we there yet?
I had no idea there was so much variance, I'm torn ... I have some ABC pressings (3 copies VG+), the MFSL in near mint, and two of the new 180 gram pressings. I'm going to crack another beer and think about this. The MFSL is a thing of beauty ... and dead quiet. I used to be able to find the ABC pressings all over the place fairly reasonably priced ($6-8). Lately the stores have started to jack up the prices, especially the classics. Beatles, Floyd, Stones .. forget it. From 2002-2005, it was easy pickins ... we now have a new generation to compete with.
AikiAudio
Active Member
Yup! Vinyl is becoming sooooo expensive. What used to cost 1 is now 5. What was 5 is now 15. If it is something hard to find it can cost more than a brand new album. CDs are now sooooo cheap! Lol!
I looked at the MFSL website and could not find Aja anymore. I just bought a TFF album from them. Very nice! Quiet with nice highs.
AnteEB
Member
Yup! It is a first pressing! AB 1006
"It was ABC's standard procedure to use the album's prefix and stock # (plus other info) in the deadwax of their records. Therefore all original LP issues of AB 1006 will have AB 1006 in the deadwax. All later LP issues of AA 1006 will have AA 1006 in the deadwax. However, in order to avoid throwing out a bunch of perfectly good metalwork with AB 1006 already etched in it, some of the earliest pressings of stock # AA 1006 have the prefix changed in the deadwax. The B was crossed out, and an A was added in front to change AB to AA. Eventually all the metal parts made from the original AB 1006 lacquers were replaced with parts made from later cuttings with AA 1006 etched in them from the start."
I got one of those records with the B crossed out and an A added instead. Are these identical to the earlier AB pressings?
It sounds nice to me but I don't got anything to compare with.
nelsress
Super Member
Reissue or original?
Multiplex, is your MFSL Aja one of the originals or a later reissue? I got mine when it came out and it still sounds fantastic to me with no hot highs or lows. Is your copy perhaps a later reissued Aja? Just wondering. Thanks.
Multiplex, is your MFSL Aja one of the originals or a later reissue? I got mine when it came out and it still sounds fantastic to me with no hot highs or lows. Is your copy perhaps a later reissued Aja? Just wondering. Thanks.
garww
Well-Known Member
The only MFSL I've a slight issue with is my Abbey Road and the bass levels. I don't mind a bit of correction, but I don't understand how they can get so out of whack.
I don't really look to buy MFSL used on the eBait. I can do alright with many standard issue VG. Youse pays your monies, and takes yours chances
91r100gs
Lunatic Member
This week I will be getting in 3 new LP's from a AK sponsor. Two of them are MoFi's, one a silver and one a OMR. I have Rod Stewart EPTAS on a silver label and it is very good. just a smidge too much treble. Wish me luck on the Santana III and Carole King's Tapestry. The 3rd LP is Donald Fagen's Nightfly. It will be interesting to compare these "Audiophile" records.
91r100gs
Lunatic Member
Yup! It is a first pressing! AB 1006
"It was ABC's standard procedure to use the album's prefix and stock # (plus other info) in the deadwax of their records. Therefore all original LP issues of AB 1006 will have AB 1006 in the deadwax. All later LP issues of AA 1006 will have AA 1006 in the deadwax. However, in order to avoid throwing out a bunch of perfectly good metalwork with AB 1006 already etched in it, some of the earliest pressings of stock # AA 1006 have the prefix changed in the deadwax. The B was crossed out, and an A was added in front to change AB to AA. Eventually all the metal parts made from the original AB 1006 lacquers were replaced with parts made from later cuttings with AA 1006 etched in them from the start."
This thread made me pull out my copy, and damned if I don't have one listed like the description above. Although the B is crossed out on Side 1, side two has AA with not B any where to be seen. Both sides real nice, but side 2 seems a bit fuller and brighter. Maybe was just played less by theprevious owner.
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I have several versions of Carole King's Tapestry, including (I think) the latest 180g audiophile version, and they all suffer terribly from (too) close-miking of her vocals. This problem is further exemplified as the playback gear gets better. This is a tragedy as the music itself is epic, yet no amount of remastering can ever fix this.
Nightfly is a great studio recording, but you will hear the limitations of the digital recording with a high-resolution analog system. Enjoyable nonetheless.
Dave
GreatTone
Super Member
Yes, while the music is classic, the distorted vocals really take the enjoyment out of it for me, when played on a good system. I actually have the 45 rpm ORG reissue that came out last year. Some songs areare worse than others, but there's a lot of grit and distortion front and center throughout much of the record. I've no interest in another copy of Tapestry, but I'd be interested to learn if MoFi did anything to tame the mic overload. I know the album is all about her songs and singing (which makes the poor recording choices so inexcusable), but the best-sounding part of the ORG is the background instruments. Promise you've never heard them so big, solid and 3 dimensional!
91r100gs
Lunatic Member
That would be my order too.
vinyl1
Super Member
The real reason Stan Ricker boosted the treble is that the guy who owned MOFI at the time instructed him to do so. This guy had wrecked his hearing at loud rock concerts, so the records Stan cut sounded great to him - but not so great to everyone else.
Stan was a member of the Phonogram list-serve back in the day, and we used to kid him about the sound of these records. But he had his orders, and he followed them.
131east23
...near Frank's Pizza!
This is good to know. The AB version on the ABC label is the original pressing and was somewhat limited in the numbers produced but is still easy to get.
Wow, interesting story. But the owner should have realized it was like tryin to master with defective tweeters on the studio monitors. He should have had HIS ears checked, and trusted his engineer to master for the consumers, and then to build in his own treble boost for his own system.
Cest la vie.
So does the MoFi version sound good with a touch of treble cut?
