----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Biel" <[log in to unmask]>
> From: "Tom Fine" <[log in to unmask]>
>> I'm wondering about what's a good playback curve (turnover and rolloff
>> settings) for:
>> 1. the Columbia reissue Bix and Tram disks, albums were put out in the
>> late 1940s.
>> If these are just re-pressings from the original Okeh metal
>> parts, then they need the original Okeh early-electric playback
>> characteristics, right?
>
> Usually you can tell if they are original master pressings by looking at
> the lead-out grooving and the matrix numbers. Columbia often grafted a
> new style lead out on top of the original lead out, creating a very
> complicated looking mess. Some of these Columbia reissue sets were
> original masters in their earlier pressings and then got dubbed masters
> when the original metals wore out.
>
>> But if they are disk-to-disk transfers, I'm
>> thinking they'd be the 1940's Columbia curve, no?
>
> No, because it would also be affected by the curve Columbia would have
> used to play the original discs. Of course you could just ask George
> Avakian and see if he remembers what the engineers did. Anybody got his
> email address? He used to come to the NJ Jazz Bash that is coming up
> next month.
>
> By the way, the current ARSC Journal has Gary Gallo's definitive article
> on the Columbia LP curve and its relationship to the NAB curve for ETs.
>
Reissues of original Columbia or Okeh records from the 1925-3? era are
VERY commonly dubs...since the originals were 10.25" discs and the
stampers don't fit onto modern-day 10" records...!

Steven C. Barr