Peter Gabriel "Four" Box Set (4 LP) CLARITY VINYL - Michael Hobson Personal Collection Numbered 3 of 5 MH

Peter Gabriel "Four", Box Set (4 LP) still sealed, Numbered (3 of 5 MH) 45 RPM CLARITY VINYL from the Classic Records 200gram reissue of Peter Gabriel. This pressing has special significance and collectability because it comes from the Michael Hobson PERSONAL ARCHIVES. This is a truly one of a kind collectible of one of the most valuable and highly sought after Classic Records pressings.

From the start of Classic Records in 1994, Michael Hobson, insisted on having as complete a "personal archive" as possible, of all varieties and issues of Classic Records' various releases (180g, 200g, Blue Vinyl, etc) as a reference of what had been done. This Archive was one of the few things Acoustic Sounds did not acquire as part of the deal to buy Classic in 2010 albeit Chad Kassem has pursued Hobson to buy it ever since. Still intact, in its entirety sits the Archive which will be offered exclusively on this shop by special arrangement with Michael Hobson.

Each piece has an official Classic Records “MH" Archive Sticker on it and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity hand signed by Michael Hobson personally to assure authenticity and enhance the collectibility over time. Generally, only 5 numbered “MH archive" copies, most often from the first stamper, were added to the Hobson archive. In the case of popular titles, there are various versions because of the use of different plants (RTI, Bill Smith, Classic Pressing Plant) which offers the possibility to have comparisons of various machines the copies were made on - all of which sound different because of various vibrations from the different machines that are "pressed" into the vinyl. Yes, according to Hobson, you can hear the difference is machines among the various Test Pressings and production pressings for that matter. Further, the Classic Records folklore is that Hobson, insisted on the “best copies” from the “sweet spot” of the pressing run for his personal archive of 5 numbered copies of each release ! It is reported that Hobson personally selected the copies of the records that went into his archive by listening to 1st stamper pressings to determine when the “stamper” was in the “sweet spot” and pressing the best sounding records during the run. Further, these records have not been moved from Hobson’s own climate controlled air-conditioned storage for all these years. This is not only a unique opportunity to own a piece of Classic Record's history but also the chance to have some of the best production pressings of Classic's various issues over time. Ridiculously collectible and likely a better investment than the stock market !

Came directly from the personnel collection of Michael Hobson, fonder of Classic Records - Classic Records 3 of 5 ARCHIVE

Background on Clarity Vinyl Pressings

In 2008, Classic discovered that de-magnitizing black vinyl records leads to better sound in playback. The engineers at Furutech in Japan, makers of a commercial record demag machine, explained that the carbon black that was added to PVC record pellets contained trace metal that became randomly magnetized and while spinning below an electro-mechanical transducer (phono cartridge) caused electrical distortion inside a cartridge during LP playback. Hence, demagnetizing a black vinyl record dramatically reduces the electrical distortion and leads to more "Clarity" in playback. Michael Hobson, founder of Classic Records reasoned that if the carbon black were removed then the result should be more Clarity in playback. Working closely with the PVC manufacturer Kenan, Classic developed its own proprietary "Clarity Vinyl" devoid of the problems with trace magnetic particles contained in black vinyl formulas. A Clarity vinyl pressing on a flat profile die is the absolute ultimate pressing possible and even a step above the JVC UHQR black vinyl pressings. Not to be missed you can hear the difference !