Listen and tell me what you think in the comments!

When many people think of 78 rpm records, they think of scratchy worn records that sound quite poor. It is important not to judge these records on that dirty worn copy of Paul Whiteman's "Whispering" that has been overplayed with dull needles and then sat unsleeved in your great grandfather's basement in a bin with sandpaper and loose nails.

In this video, I compare digital transfers of a very worn and beat record to a rather pristine (though not perfect) copy of the same record.

You'll alternately hear copies of Columbia A-3978: "Memphis Tennessee" composed by Perry Bradford as performed by The Gulf Coast Seven.

Using the VJM grading scale, first we'll hear a G/G+ copy, which you will recognize in the video by its worn label and scratched surface.

A "G+" grade is used to describe a record that is "Grey throughout but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled. Heavy scratches." A "G" grade is used to describe a record that is "quite seriously worn and scratched, but music level is still higher than surface noise."

Then we'll hear an E copy of the same record. The E copy has a pristine label and shiny smooth surface.

An "E" grade indicates the record is "still very shiny, near new looking, with no visible signs of wear, but a few inaudible scuffs and scratches."

Columbia A-3978 was recorded on August 7, 1923 in New York.

Credits:
Gus Aiken, unknown artist - cornet
Bud Aiken - trombone
? Garvin Bushell - clarinet
Ernest Elliott - clarinet, tenor sax
Leroy Tibbs - piano
Sam Speed - banjo

VJM Grading Scale
[ Ссылка ]

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