Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin II

So i just got my VG copy. BLOWN AWAY :)

anyone has ripped this edition? i would love to hear it

The best part about this version is trying to find the perfect one to keep. It’s not a rare record but it is however, hard to find one that plays with little imperfections. Even the cleanest looking copies have background noise, pops, etc. I would sacrifice a bit of added bass, that the RL gives off, in exchange for the GP cut. Turn up the GP an extra notch and it sounds the same as the RL; and for a fraction of the price. When searching for an RL I would prefer to spend a few extra hundred and get a cleaner copy. Buying VG quality for $100 usd or more isnt worth it for the RL. If we are buying this version based on the sound quality then having a VG or lower quality takes away from this. My point is that a VG+ GP sounds better than a VG RL. Alternates to the RL include the Spanish Alvear and obviously the 1977 George piros cut. Between the Alvear and the GP I would choose the Alvear though.

People were right, a VG- copy is enough ! Even if the record is scuffed as hell, you won't hear a damn thing, bass really powerful and drums too, like if Bonzo was playing in the same room as you.

Variant 2. Holy shit this thing BANGS. Got it on the low end for being in between VG+ (280). Sounds absolutely fantastic. Surface noise is not an issue at all. Slams you in the face full force.

The crown jewel of my collection! Thank you Half price books for not knowing what you had 🙏🏻 best $7.99 I’ve spent, and the moment I knew nerding out over pressings meant something!!

Got a solid VG for $20 over the weekend, they didn't know what they had. These can still be found! I A/B'ed with a repress for my wife who doesn't care about mixes one way or the other and she said this is unequivocally the ONLY way to hear this album. Take it from the most casual of fans, this is absolutely worth the money.

After going through a few different copies of Zeppelin II, I eventually settled on the '77 Piros cut with the X in the deadwax, which I have always heard referred to as the "poor man's" Ludwig. I've been quite happy with it - it sounds fantastic.

Then, somehow, last week I found a VG / almost VG+ copy this Presswell RL at an antique store for $45. Needless to say, I couldn't get it home fast enough. Either the store owner didn't know what he had, or he got it for cheap and was doing a solid for someone who knew what they were looking for. Weirdly, I feel like it's the latter, because every other record felt accurately priced.

After spinning it... I get the hype now. Absolutely fantastic sound. What really sticks out is how clear and present the bass is, yet without being overpowering. The drums also sound more upfront and real than I have ever heard them before on this album - tons of detail and perfectly clear. And of course, the guitar sounds as powerful as ever, and the vocals soar. The only negative, as someone else said, the end of Thank You has a bit of distortion, but I see that as a small issue when the rest of the album sounds as good as it does.

Overall, despite the minor distortion issue, this is an 11/10 and I still can't believe that karma was on my side to finally find one of these for that price.

That being said, though - finally hearing this also confirms to me that the "poor man's" Ludwig moniker is appropriate for the Piros cut. It's 95% of the RL, but at 10% of the price - and depending on your preference in sound, I could see how some people may even prefer it. It's more "polite" sounding and doesn't have the in-your-face punch of the RL, and some people may prefer that. Personally, I like the RL slightly better because it's NOT polite, which to me is Zeppelin as it was intended.

In the end, both things can be true - the RL is amazing, worth the hype, and probably worth the money to a certain group of people. But, the Piros cut is also fantastic, and if you can put aside the FOMO of not having the Ludwig, it's clearly the economical option.

This is the Piros press I'm referencing, for anyone interested: https://discogs.programascracks.com/release/4088373-Led-Zeppelin-Led-Zeppelin-II

I put this on after a good year of it sitting on my shelf as I was feeling some Led Zeppelin II for the first time in awhile. I forget how good this pressing sounds. Its one of the few albums I will say its absolutely worth the price it goes for. Like others have said, a G+ to a VG copy is good enough for this album because there are very few quiet ages. In almost every instance, the music overpowers any sort of surface noise. The only place you might be distracted, depending on condition, is "Thank You", but I personally think its the weakest song on the album so I'm not really that heartbroken over it on my VG- copy.

As long as it doesn't skip and you have at least a mid-level set up, you will definitely reap the benefits of this mastering. No, its not a "hot mix", its the same mix that has been around 50+ years its just mastered like a monster!

Glad I got mine back in 2015 for the princely sum of $8. The cat wasn't completely out of the bag back then.