The White Stripes
Elephant UHQR
scum stats: limited to 10,000 copies
I am not an audiophile. I am fairly certain that my ears are fried enough that I could never BE an audiophile.
Nevertheless, I helped guide the White Stripes into this realm with the 20th anniversary UHQR 2xLP 45rpm cut of Elephant. By all accounts I've read, every audiophile who's laid ears on this record is beyond impressed with the sound here. I am unsure if I've ever been party to such a universally acclaimed release ever.
There's nothing more really for me to say about that album that I didn't already say in the liner notes on this version. I'm EXTREMELY proud of the notes and maybe one day I'll share it on the blog so that everyone can read. But for now, they're behind the boxset paywall. That being said, the $150 price tag on this puppy is absolutely prohibitive.
(I don't even have a copy of the reel-to-reel tape version of this yet and don't even have a way to play it...but I'm still wanting/needing it.)
I don’t need a copy, because i scored copy number 333 directly from Acoustic Sounds! YEAH BABY!
And Ben – it really is the best sounding version of this record. It is one of the best sounding records in my sizable collection. I was very disappointed by the sound of the ERC version of “White Blood Cells,” and this UHQR knocked it out of the park. Please consider another UHQR for “Get Behind Me Satan” in the future. :)
I should win Elephant in UHQR because even though others may have excellent collections few will have this amazing vinyl sitting next to the company of 1st press Deep Wound, all three test press of Dinosaur Jr’s first three records, countless Dinosaur Jr test presses and another crown jewel Paul McCartney III Yellow w Black Dots 297/333 Third Man Exclusive, which I got on here for $60.00! PS If I win can you throw in a copy of Dinosaur Jr Test Press of TMR 489?!?!? You are awesome!!!!
I’ve honestly got nothing. Like you, I have been to far to many concerts to hear a darn thing and my system is too embarrassing to list out here so I’m essentially in this for the liner notes. With that said, it would be far more impressive if someone who can’t hear with a mediocre-at-best audio system hears a difference. Now that would be something!
You would make this Canadian very happy and would love to hear what all the fuss is about with UHQR.
I already own Elephant XX and would love to compare the two with my own ears.
Plus, my wife is slowly becoming a fan! This may help!
I have a buddy that is an audiophile only cuz he hasn’t destroyed his ears like I have from many concerts. Would love to gift him this for Christmas
the first vinyl 45rpm i remember buying was THE MIGHTY QUINN by manfred mann, a bob dylan cover back in 1968. i did inherit a stack of 45s from my brothers who were 10-15yrs older than me. Sun, RCA, Decca, Dot, Atlantic, Chess. can’t recall them all. they’ve disappeared over the years. wish i had held on to them. One favorite was OKey records, RIGHT STRING BABY BUT THE WRONG YO YO, by doctor feelgood. I think it was a carl perkins song. miss that crackle from when the needle hit the vinyl.
I remember when Led Zeppelin III was $18 used and that was pricey for vinyl, favorite album of all time and it had the spinning cover art so I had to have it… that is where it all started! That feeling of wanting something you didn’t know existed before but now you can’t live without is unexplainably still new and fun with each project Jack touches. DON’T CARE HOW I WANT IT NOW!!!
Audiophile fades
Power tools cause hearing loss
Listen while you can
This would be a perfect addition to my collection.
My rig is deserving of a spin of this, especially since it was built with my own blood, sweat and tears:
-My Turntable is a 67 Lenco Idler Drive I rescued and refurbished, including a handbuilt ‘CLD’ (aka extra fancy) Plinth made of reclaimed pine from an old futon frame. I rebuilt and replaced the ‘v-blocks’ with steel ones to fix the known fatal flaw of the late 60s Lencos. I also replaced the idler wheel with steel on + new rubber donut.
-My Phono pre-amp is a tube hybrid Jolida JD9 I bought then tore apart – upgraded the Op-Amps to Burr Brown (same as in an Ibanez TS-808 tubescreamer pedal – go SRV!!!), replaced the Capacitors with Fancy Audiophile ones I can’t remember the name of – including burning the shit out of my thumb soldering them in, replaced the Tubes with NOS late 40s Japanese RCAs, and added a bunch of extra damping
-My Preamp is all tube Class A built from a kit with fancy… everything + NOS tubes, it is getting too annoying to list it all but you get the picture – silver wiring, fancy volume pot etc.
-my power amp is a Schiit Aegir – nothing custom there ‘cause Schitt is already the f’ing best and also I would electrocute myself if I tried to go inside a power amp
So my rig is def the right one to show off the sweet sweet audiophile goodness of a fancy pressing + has the cred and cheapness of having been audiophiolized by hand! Pick me!!!!!