Oystein Moe asked a couple of questions:
1. An acetate of a Kraftwerk single. Nice one, Peo, well cool 2. An acetate of an UNRELEASED Kraftwerk single. Corblimey Peo, I'm drooling over my keyboard. 3. An acetate of an unreleased debut Kraftwerk single... fekkin' A. I'm lost for words.
Yeah, if this is true.. :) I'm currently trying to get hold of that South African sound engineer...
4. Early singles, normally pre-1964, were in mono. I have the South African Autobahn single (no wait, do I? I'm asking you, Peo, one of us has it...), that's in mono, so quite possibly, the single would have been a mono only release. So I don't believe that's why it wasn't released.
I agree, and yeah it's me having "your" Autobahn ;) That one just says it's in Mono, however, it really isn't.
5. I thought acetates were either hi-qual virgin vinyl or wax, and that the metal discs are called, er, metal dics? Is this _one_ two-sided record, made of metal, or could it be that what you have bought is the matrix which they were going to press the records from?
It's a one-sided disc, and no, it's not the "plate" - they're made out of solid metal and are "reversed" (i.e. mirrored) so you can't play them. I'm quoting the brilliant "Record Collecting Terminology" FAQ (http://members.tripod.com/~Vinylville/faq-1.html) "Acetate/Lacquer--Is usually a reference cut that is made on ultra high-grade methyl cellulose sprayed onto thick aluminum discs. Reference acetates are primarily to make certain the record will sound somewhat like the tape. Often they are also made to allow a club or radio disc-jockey to play the music on turntables before it has been pressed as a normal record. Acetate is a misnomer."
6. Is there a catalogue number? It would be intriguing to check whether it is pre- or post- the Autobahn single. Could it be they were intending to use it as a b-side perhaps? Like Kristallo and Vom Himmel Hoch in the UK?
Not really, no. Not on the disc itself anyway. Someone's written with a pencil on the cover "KRTW-1", but that doesn't have to mean anything... Could as well have been written by anyone feeling like it.
7. Can we have a scan sometime soon?
Sure! Just send me a scanner :) Jokes aside, I have neither a scanner or a digital camera.. I'll try to borrow from someone.
8. Are you sure this is intended to be played with a normal pick-up? I'm not sure I'd risk it...
Yeah, you can play acetates on normal equipment, no problems. They're of lower fidelity than a real vinyl, though, and the sound quality decreases every time you play it...
9. It's pretty normal that they press up test pressings before releasing a record, I had one of Sisters Of Mercy's Floodland LP where the sound quality was pretty low, this mix must have been rejected prior to release. John has a tp with a different mix of Neonlights. But I'm confused about the metal here; Peo, please pull me out of the dark! :)
Typically, all records are test-pressed at the plant, and the sound engineers play it through to make sure the transfer is OK. Most test pressings are destroyed directly after the testing has been done, however, that's why they're considered so rare. When acetates are made (I've understood they're not always made?), it's for the same purpose, to check the transfer from the master tape. I'm not sure if both acetates and regular vinyl test pressings are made for each record, however, since it sounds to me like they're made for the same reason. Anyone?
Cor. Where do you get in touch with dealers of acetates at all? I hardly ever see any, with any artists. Can I ask how much you paid the dude?
I'm searching a lot ;) Yeah, you can ask if you want.
Anyway, congratulations on the finest new entry to your collection.
Cheers :) I'm pretty pleased with my Philippines' pressing of ComputerWorld too ;) Peo