How to find better pressings

Watch out for Japanese pressings - they can be good on jazz and classical, but not always, and the rock mastering tends to be tipped up on the high end - I find it bright.

Japanese vinyl is amazingly quiet, but they rarely worked from original masters when they released Western recordings, simply because they weren't available.

I HAVE TONS OF JAPANESE JAZZ AND ROCK. IF YOU GIVE ME AN IDEA OF WHO YOU LIKE I WILL GET BACK TO YOU. GGO LUCK AND ENJOY PLAYING YOUR LPS . SCOTT

Original Columbia "6 eye" and "2 eye" 360 sound American pressings are usually very good and can sound better than Japanese from 70s.German vinyl is in most cases the best value. UK and Dutch really vary but never bad. One should work with a particular title to find the best edition,not always an easy task.

Many thanks to you for the help and input! I am happy scouring the web and found my first hit - a Japenese pressing of Keith Jarrett's Arbour Zena, that I ordered.

i've had good luck with japanese pressings. search the records listing on ebay, using "OBI" or "japan" or "Japanese" in the search field...

Random ideas in no particular order...

Learn which record labels and time periods TEND to be good and which ones don't. Generic examples:
RCA before 1965 = good or great
RCA after 1970 = doubtful
Mercury Living Presence = great or good, best records I own
Telefunken, Erato, Harmonia Mundi, London ffrr, Archiv Production all tend to be good/great.
Westminster = gorgeous mids & clarity, maybe rolled off HFs

Monitor Ebay and Audiogon auctions prices (not seller classified ads, which may be inflated). People normally pay more for what they know is worth having. Don't bid at first, just watch - that way I can get the good ones I still need! :)

Look at what the audiophile reissue houses like Classic Records and Speaker's Corner have chosen to re-release. They choose individual recordings they think will sell, presumably based on artists, program and performance, but also based on sonics. They don't always get it right but they usually do, since they get to listen to the master tape before deciding.

Check out Arthur Salvatore's list of desirable recordings at www.high-endaudio.com. I've only heard a few of them but he's never steered me wrong. Nothing that makes his lists is going to sound less than great.