Here is some verbiage from Arthur Salvatore's website. I have found this summary to be pretty accurately predictive about the sound of Decca/London releases:
"I have finally (and reluctantly) decided to "spill the beans". Anyone who has read this far will now know what took me years to learn: the real, secret method to find the best pressings of the Decca/London/Argo LPs. It's very simple: Look for a "G" pressing in the "dead wax". "G" stands for Ted Burkett, a Decca mastering engineer.
"Example-Albeniz-Suite Espagnol-London CS 6581-"ZAL-8284-3G"
"Burkett's masterings are virtually ALWAYS superior to the others, though "W" (Harry Fisher) and "K" (Tony Hawkins) are (sometimes) almost as good. I don't know why, though I assume he had superior mastering equipment, because skill alone, even if he was a "genius", can not account for all the sonic improvements I have consistently experienced with his masterings. (Greater purity, transparency and detail, plus a more extended high-end, a lower sound-floor etc.).
"Bottom Line- If there is a choice, always get the G, if not, get the W or K. After that, it's a crap shoot."
"I have finally (and reluctantly) decided to "spill the beans". Anyone who has read this far will now know what took me years to learn: the real, secret method to find the best pressings of the Decca/London/Argo LPs. It's very simple: Look for a "G" pressing in the "dead wax". "G" stands for Ted Burkett, a Decca mastering engineer.
"Example-Albeniz-Suite Espagnol-London CS 6581-"ZAL-8284-3G"
"Burkett's masterings are virtually ALWAYS superior to the others, though "W" (Harry Fisher) and "K" (Tony Hawkins) are (sometimes) almost as good. I don't know why, though I assume he had superior mastering equipment, because skill alone, even if he was a "genius", can not account for all the sonic improvements I have consistently experienced with his masterings. (Greater purity, transparency and detail, plus a more extended high-end, a lower sound-floor etc.).
"Bottom Line- If there is a choice, always get the G, if not, get the W or K. After that, it's a crap shoot."