zdkaiser Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 I'm interested in everyone's opinions about pressing plants. Which consistently put out quality presses of albums? Which press crap? I know other variables affect the quality of the sound (i.e., mastering, plating, source material, etc.). I've had great presses from Pirate Press, and terrible output from Memphis Vinyl (i believe that is the plant's name.). I'm interested in everyone's experiences. Or you can tell me to fuck off and go to the Hoffman forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drds89 Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 A big chunk of my collection seems to be from Pirates Press - very hit and miss on quality - but i avoid the Haze pressings like the plague (massive sand/grit on most of the copies) if I plan to listen vs. collect. Sometimes there is minimal grit however. Sometimes grit from a previous pressing will spill onto nonHaze variants in that run - or even onto an entirely different album. zdkaiser 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youspinmeround Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 I thought pirates press was just a broker and use GZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdkaiser Posted April 15, 2017 Author Share Posted April 15, 2017 5 minutes ago, youspinmeround said: I thought pirates press was just a broker and use GZ Could be. I don't know enough about it. My albums from PP have Pirate Press stamped in the deadwax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethereal Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 not that it matters for much but the "good/listenable" picture discs usually come from GZ/Pirates Press pizza face 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No This Is Patrick Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 These sites were helpful, best of luck! http://www.amnh.org/explore/curriculum-collections/biodiversity-counts/plant-identification/how-to-press-and-preserve-plants/ https://botany.si.edu/DCFlora/kidspage/pressing.htm http://www.marthastewart.com/268703/the-art-of-pressing-plants batman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batman Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 i've always just put 'em in a heavy book with some wax paper on both sides so that it doesn't ruin the pages shamrocks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuckinandsuckinandtouchin Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 I have a few records that were pressed by Pallas in Germany through Furnace Mfg in the US. Great QA unlike some other plants. GZ through Pirates Press used to have more issues, but they seem better these days. Darnoc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NapalmBrain Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 I've had hit or miss from every plant, mostly hits from QRP, RTI, MPO and Pallas DecayToDeath, Darnoc, zdkaiser and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faaip de oiad Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 You know about the same time you posted I was out and about driving and thinking how many pressing plants are out there, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCDELTAT Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 2 hours ago, VinylMario said: You know about the same time you posted I was out and about driving and thinking how many pressing plants are out there, lol More than you'd think. Gotta Groove claims there are 22, listed here: http://www.gottagrooverecords.com/2009/07/every-vinyl-record-press-in-the-united-states/ faaip de oiad 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faaip de oiad Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 4 minutes ago, MCDELTAT said: More than you'd think. Gotta Groove claims there are 22, listed here: http://www.gottagrooverecords.com/2009/07/every-vinyl-record-press-in-the-united-states/ Interesting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shamrocks Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 9 hours ago, batman said: i've always just put 'em in a heavy book with some wax paper on both sides so that it doesn't ruin the pages oof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faaip de oiad Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 Just found this list pressing plants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCDELTAT Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 This article has nothing to do with the quality of records but is super interesting if you're an engineer. Newbilt is the new company producing semi-automatic record presses. They're the supplier for the new Third Man plant machines. Interesting tidbits are that there are 22 US plants, 10-12 European ones, and about 3 in Asia. Newbilt is the only company making new vinyl presses, with a full line costing about $220,000 USD. If they go public any time soon, I'd invest in them honestly. You'd have to watch carefully, but it should grow for at least a few years. http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20161007/NEWS/161009884/germanys-newbilt-machinery-tackles-the-niche-for-vinyl-record-presses faaip de oiad 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nico Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 (edited) 53 minutes ago, MCDELTAT said: This article has nothing to do with the quality of records but is super interesting if you're an engineer. Newbilt is the new company producing semi-automatic record presses. They're the supplier for the new Third Man plant machines. Interesting tidbits are that there are 22 US plants, 10-12 European ones, and about 3 in Asia. Newbilt is the only company making new vinyl presses, with a full line costing about $220,000 USD. If they go public any time soon, I'd invest in them honestly. You'd have to watch carefully, but it should grow for at least a few years. http://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20161007/NEWS/161009884/germanys-newbilt-machinery-tackles-the-niche-for-vinyl-record-presses Putting my money on Sycom: They are almost ready for production. Plus I remember reading that Pirate Press was developing their own machines too. I presume it will be a bloody battle. Edited April 16, 2017 by nico tape and MCDELTAT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsgoodtobefree Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 I've found Rainbo to be really consistent. consistently garbage zerohacker, zdkaiser, OrangeJoe and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinyl addict Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 1 hour ago, itsgoodtobefree said: I've found Rainbo to be really consistent. consistently garbage United is no prize either. zdkaiser and fuckinandsuckinandtouchin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCDELTAT Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 (edited) On April 16, 2017 at 0:22 AM, nico said: Putting my money on Sycom: They are almost ready for production. Plus I remember reading that Pirate Press was developing their own machines too. I presume it will be a bloody battle. Thanks for finding that. I was searching for that video for my post above. Approaching the vinyl record from the injection molding direction is very interesting. On one hand, the product quality is very repeatable. Nearly every piece that comes from the mold is exactly the same as another. Depending on the material used as the master mold, the stampers can also last quite a long time, more than is currently accepted with the high pressure on stampers. That said though, tooling costs for injection molding are ridiculously high because things have to be done rigght the first time. I think that Sycom and Newbilt will find a nice equilibrium together if vinyl sales continue. Sycom will make it's way into plants for larger labels that have the start up money and need thousands of copies, and smaller labels will gravitate toward the more efficient and older methods. Edited April 18, 2017 by MCDELTAT nico 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdwell Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 these are my feelings based on first hand experiences. i am no authority on the subject A to Z media and Pirate Press (and one more smaller broker that I can never remember) all use the GZ plant in the Czech Republic . It all seems to be hit or miss there URP (United) seems to me to be really really lacking in QC in every aspect....you'll get banged up jackets sometimes, your quantity will be off, occasionally the spindle hole will be punched off center Rainbo isn't a favorite either...they do brokered deals as well and seem to lack QC as well Memphis is essentially brand new, I'm hoping they'll get up to speed rather quickly Erika seems to consistently put out low quality/cheap pressings RTI seems to consistently put out quality pressings Furnace seems to put out quality pressings Gotta Grove seems to put out quality pressings The Vinyl Factory should be solid because of the history of the building and machines they're using, but I guess they're lacking the knowledge part? seem hit or miss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jentenenbaum Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 I'm actually a big press nerd being on the distrubutor/retail side. I agree with a lot of what birdwell says, IMO Gotta Groove is the best plant in the US (they also have two press operators who make amazing hand pours on the side https://www.instagram.com/waxmagerecords) There's a newer plant in Kansas called Quality Record Pressings that immediately started pressing for labels only, mainly Legacy and Drastic Plastic, they even do their own electro plating in house which is interesting. zdkaiser 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdkaiser Posted April 18, 2017 Author Share Posted April 18, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, jentenenbaum said: I'm actually a big press nerd being on the distrubutor/retail side. I agree with a lot of what birdwell says, IMO Gotta Groove is the best plant in the US (they also have two press operators who make amazing hand pours on the side https://www.instagram.com/waxmagerecords) There's a newer plant in Kansas called Quality Record Pressings that immediately started pressing for labels only, mainly Legacy and Drastic Plastic, they even do their own electro plating in house which is interesting. Acoustic Sounds sells a lot of the albums pressed in Kansas at Quality. I have the H. Hancock Headhunters pressing by Quality and it's very good. I think they are geared more towards audiophiles, so they press a lot of jazz, classic rock, etc on 180 to 200g often at 45rpm. I didn't realize Wax Merge was part of Gotta Groove. I follow those two ladies and their hand pours on Facebook. Edited April 18, 2017 by zdkaiser dobyblue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mindovermatter Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I personally do not like anything pressed at Gotta Groove from an audio standpoint. Wax Mage and those hand pours are unreal looking, but I can tell the instant my needle touches a record if it was pressed at GG: the lead-in grooves are ALWAYS super noisy. Something about the way they plate. United has had the worst QC in the industry. Additionally, their customer service sucks some serious balls, but that is neither here nor there. Rainbo is great, IMHO, but it depends on who cuts the lacquers. As long as a third party cuts them, they sound fantastic. Their QC is pretty solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audmill Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I agree with the comment above about Rainbo. As long as someone else cuts, they do sound great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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