Ben Webster GENTLE BEN Reel-To-Reel Tape - 1/4 Inch 15IPS AS NEW/MINT

$

384

Ben Webster GENTLE BEN - REEL-TO-REEL TAPE, 1/4 INCH 15IPS - A swinging date backed by the Tete Montoliu Trio, it's a sonic stunner. Ben Webster's evocative, breathy tone has never been captured so well (btw, my reference here is Analogue Productions' 2LP 45RPM edition).
ABOUT REEL-TO REEL TAPE: A few years ago I thought that I would invest in a serious Reel-To-Reel tape deck that could offer audiophile-grade 15IPS tape playback. Owing primarily to space limitations, I never purchased that tape deck. However, over time I did acquire a handful of extraordinary releases based on the assumption that I should grab the software while it was available, and acquire the hardware at the appropriate time. As I've abandoned the hope that I'll have 15IPS tape playback in my listening room, I will be selling the tapes over the coming weeks.
Each of these titles are "AS NEW." NONE of them have ever been played or taken out of their boxes. All of them have been stored in a climate controlled, smoke free environment. 
These tapes are being sold "AS IS." If you know the marketplace, you're aware of the fact that these titles retail at $450 or more. The low opening bid of $200 (NO reserve!) reflects that I'm A-OK with the fact that any potential losses on my part are very much the bidder's gain. I'd rather these tapes find a happy home where they'll be played. 
ANALOGUE PRODUCTIONS PROMOTIONAL DESCRIPTION ABOUT THIS TITLE:
Analogue Productions Ultra Tape reel-to-reel reissues! Twelve masterpiece titles, each a 15 ips, ¼-inch 2-track (½ track) analog tape copy Sourced from original master tapes Transferred using ATR-modified Ampex Tape Machine with flux magnetic heads Custom slipcase cover - highest quality tape reissue! From Acoustic Sounds, Inc., the world leader in audiophile music sales, comes the highest quality analog reel-to-reel tape album reissues — Analogue Productions Ultra Tape! Twelve masterpiece titles are featured in this new reissue series, each a 15 ips, ¼-inch analog tape copy (IEC equalization) sourced from a copy of the original analog master tape. Transferred real-time, using an ATR-modified Ampex Tape Machine with flux magnetic heads. Custom slipcase cover. The first two titles — Janis Ian's Breaking Silence and Ben Webster's Gentle Ben are releasing before 2016 ends.
Gentle Ben was made 10 months before Ben Webster's death in 1972. Webster, who had left the United States in 1965 to settle in Europe — first in Copenhagen and then in Amsterdam — was visiting fellow musician and friend Tete Montoliu in Barcelona. Webster and pianist Montoliu went back a ways, having played together regularly in Webster's Copenhagen days. In fact, Montoliu cited Webster and Don Byas as his two chief musical influences. Webster and Montoliu understood each other deeply, and their comfort with on another is palpable in this recording. Their accompaniment of one another is seamless. On board with these two is Montoliu's regular working trio-mates, Eric Peter on bass and Peer Wyboris on drums.
There's no shortage of Webster's trademark breathy, fat tenor tone here. In fact, given the sparse arrangement, that rich, humid, giant sax blooms like on few other recordings. Highlights include "Ben's Blues," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "The Man I Love" and "Don't Blame Me."
ABOUT SHIPPING AND HANDLING: Please note there is a $5 fee included in Ebay's estimate of Media Mail shipping costs. I believe the best way to ship an LP includes a 13"x14"x3" "pizza" style box, 12"x12" cardboard flats, outer shopping bag, and bubble wrap. The shipping boxes alone cost me over $3 each, and the average total cost of shipping materials is around $4.72, so this is NOT a money-maker for me. However, it does ensure, consistently, that these high value LPs arrive safely. Please check my feedback and I think you'll see that buyers appreciate the care with which these precious artifacts are handled.

COMBINED SHIPPING: I am more than happy to combine shipping. Ebay buyers pay the actual postage costs. If a single LP is purchased, the buyer pays actual postage and $5 for shipping materials. If two LPs are purchased, the buyer pays actual postage and $5 for shipping materials. If three or more LPs are purchased, the buyer pays actual postage and $0 for shipping materials (I will absorb the cost of materials). As the final amount can only be calculated after auctions have ended, I will issue the appropriate refund on the day the LPs are shipped.

About Me: I'm a long time Ebay buyer intent on selling a significant portion of my LP collection over the next year or two (or three!). I believe in the auction process, so I'm NOT going to list records at absurdly high prices, and I look forward to getting rare, out of print records into the hands of music lovers, record collectors and audiophiles (I consider myself all of the above). All LPS stored in a smoke-free, climate controlled environment. 

Please check my feedback and BID WITH CONFIDENCE. Also, please take a look at other items I'm listing (new items will be listed on Sunday and Wednesday nights), and good luck! 

PayPal Payments Only. Payment required within 3 days after the end of auction. All records will ship USPS Media Mail.