Hot Stamper Pressings of Large Group Jazz Recordings Available Now
On side one of Smith’s (and Oliver Nelson’s) Masterpiece, Bashin’, the bell tree in the right channel on track one is a great test for top end extension, resolution of harmonic complexity, overall clarity and freedom from smear.
Get all the top end you can from whatever turntable adjustment, tweak or room treatment you’re messing around with, then check to make sure that all the brass instruments still sound right. If they do, you are probably good to go.
Blary, smeary, leading-edge-challenged horns are the kiss of death on this album, as are grainy, gritty, transistory ones.
When the horns have clarity, correct tonality, plenty of space around them and a solid, full-bodied sound, probably every other instrument in the soundscape will too. Other records with brass instruments that are good for testing can be found here.
Bashin’ ranks high on our difficulty of reproduction scale. Do not attempt to play it using anything but the highest quality equipment, properly set up of course. Naturally, we offer plenty of advice about audio, since without good playback quality, Hot Stamper pressings are a complete waste of money, which, sad to say, they are under some circumstances.
Further Reading