rhythmgtr5 Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I'm a total vinyl noob, but I've been curious for awhile; what is the purpose of a test pressing? Why not just press a vinyl in the color that will be used for production and if it works out fine - sell it like a normal record? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinxschwierx Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 so you can test one and make sure the plating process was done correctly and done't press 500 or 1000 copies of a record that're useless or sounds bad...hence the name test press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhythmgtr5 Posted April 22, 2008 Author Share Posted April 22, 2008 What makes them so desirable (if anything) other than the fact that there is only 1? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adammuzzy Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 there's more than one, 99+% of the time. it's cool to have the most limited 'variant' of the record. plus they sound the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest genericinsight Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 What makes them so desirable (if anything) other than the fact that there is only 1? sometimes there's more than one and then every now and again they become available to the public. Usually by the label I assume, they give them to friends of the band or whatnot. Or just keep them until someone contacts them about buying one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willbratt Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Why would a test sound better than a regular? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flood Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 the plates physically wear down with each record pressed... so the earlier in the pressing the record was done, the technically better it will sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinxschwierx Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 ^^ but we're talking a very vague difference. in general the plates only last through pressing about 1000-1500 records before they need to be replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mav Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I received my std test press today, but with no cover. After thinking about it, it makes sense that they wouldn't have an extra one for the test pressing, but is this always the case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaps Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I received my std test press today, but with no cover. After thinking about it,it makes sense that they wouldn't have an extra one for the test pressing, but is this always the case? did you win the vc copy? Yes usually covers are ordered in 500 1000 etc. So usually bands will get screen printed covers made or something. . ps wanna trade ? peep my list! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinxschwierx Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 yeah...usually tests either come in the paper sleeve or a paper sleeve and blank outer sleeve. unless the label assembles the records themselves and has extra covers....but more likely that not they come without covers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickheitman Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 this feels like school but i'm totally liking it. teach us more label nerds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhulud Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Test presses were made so when you have one, you can brag to your friends and be more of an elitist asshole than other record collectors. (this message has been brought to you w/ much sarcasm) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cj Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 im so glad nobody was a dick and made some stupid comment. it was nice to read a thread that didnt have people trying to be better than everybody else. just like vc when i first joined up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickheitman Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 i call this thread: UNITY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjustinxschwierx Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 ^^^ this feels like school but i'm totally liking it. teach us more label nerds! ask away, i'm bored and tired of packing up my apartment and thinking about moving in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewpeabottom Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 I received my std test press today, but with no cover. After thinking about it,it makes sense that they wouldn't have an extra one for the test pressing, but is this always the case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flood Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 yeah most labels don't print extra jackets for the tests... only one of our test presses has the same jacket as the standard release, and that was because we decided after the fact to print up special lp release party jackets for a handful. the rest are either in sleeves, or have a specially made jacket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hickey Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 A lot of folks on here make custom covers for their tests. I do not. I usually put them in a blank DJ sleeve. I once received a test in the mail, it was just the record in the white dust sleeve, no polybag or anything. It was odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynchme Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 ^^^ this feels like school but i'm totally liking it. teach us more label nerds! ask away, i'm bored and tired of packing up my apartment and thinking about moving in general. I like how this man is honest in threads, and also enjoys chumbwambaz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adammuzzy Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 test press covers are crucial. the suicide file live on wers 7" has a white cover with test press stamped on. and a folded 14"x7" plastic with the text printed on it that goes around the white cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minty Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 yeah most labels don't print extra jackets for the tests... only one of our test presses has the same jacket as the standard release, and that was because we decided after the fact to print up special lp release party jackets for a handful. the rest are either in sleeves, or have a specially made jacket Yeah all my current Asbestos tests have no sleeves apart from GCW. I want Jeff to spray me up some super-rad covers for them, but I mega doubt he would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrc Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 Test pressings are like cigarettes... both of them make you super cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilstrombone Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 to me a test press is like that gem that you have been looking for. If you collect a certain band and you have all the variants, your only 99% complete with your collection. That test press makes you one of the VERY few people to have a 100% complete collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flood Posted April 22, 2008 Share Posted April 22, 2008 the purpose of test pressings? to take pictures of and post on messageboards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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