Just jumping in here. I used to buy a ton of records in the late 80’s early 90’s when people here in NYC were selling their vinyl by the crate full.
I bought tons of promo copies and quite a few Radio station copies (not all were white labels). I’ve never done a shootout with the gold stamped promo copies, but I assume they came from first pressing run, which is why I bought them.
The radio white labels are often the best pressing of a title I have, sometimes even if they beaten up or overplayed. I have a Springsteen born to run white label that is fantastic, though worn, and a Darkness on the edge of town that is great as well. Friends like to tease me since I have a dozen copies of Born To Run.
Responding to Mapman’s comment From page 1 of this thread about digitizing LP due to wear, there is no inherent reason an LP should wear from play. Tam Henderson from Reference Recordings plays his acetates, which are supposedly only good for a dozen or so plays before they wear, with his Soundsmith Strain Gauge with no degradation of sound quality.
I bought tons of promo copies and quite a few Radio station copies (not all were white labels). I’ve never done a shootout with the gold stamped promo copies, but I assume they came from first pressing run, which is why I bought them.
The radio white labels are often the best pressing of a title I have, sometimes even if they beaten up or overplayed. I have a Springsteen born to run white label that is fantastic, though worn, and a Darkness on the edge of town that is great as well. Friends like to tease me since I have a dozen copies of Born To Run.
Responding to Mapman’s comment From page 1 of this thread about digitizing LP due to wear, there is no inherent reason an LP should wear from play. Tam Henderson from Reference Recordings plays his acetates, which are supposedly only good for a dozen or so plays before they wear, with his Soundsmith Strain Gauge with no degradation of sound quality.