78rpm pressing: Stomp It Off - Jimmie Lunceford and his Orchestra, 1934 - Decca 712

[JCJasion]

I have this one too Mark. Bought it from a collector back in '67. I've always been impressed with 2 things that jump out at me.

1. Loose informal groove - very relaxed

2. On a technological level, now didn't many of those early American Deccas have a nice CRISP fidelity response. They must have been using those Western Electric ribbon mics too!

[SwingMan1937]

The early ones sure did - then their pressings slowly worsened as the 30's turned to the 40's.

The Decca Sunbursts were of relatively higher quality - got a couple of Earl Hines orchestra 1st pressings on Decca Sunburst labels (1934-1935) & they're out of this world!

[JCJasion]

It seemed that the grooves were actually wider on some from the early 40's and a very wide diameter needle was needed.

[SwingMan1937]

All I know is, before I started using elliptical needles (before elliptical stylus' were available for 78's, actually), many of the Decca 78's I've got from the 1940's had an irritating "fuzz" to them.