Can you say more about what these pre-RVG remasters are, and why you prefer them?
Unfortunately, in the 90’s, CD’s became victim of the loudness wars, meaning they were mastered using more compression, a generally brighter tonality and overall, louder and less pleasant to listen to. Sadly, RVG fell into the same trap with his RVG remasters, whether or not that was his own choice. I have been seeking pre 90’s copies of classic RVG recordings because there was nothing wrong with the recordings, just that the mastering process changed over time.
Early 80’s CD’s tended to get a bad rap, but the AAD recordings done by RVG on the Verve label were absolutely fine, it was the poor budget CD players of the time that were the problem.
If you get a chance to get an early 1980’s copy of the same release versus an RVG remaster and can listen on a good CD player, I bet you’ll hear the difference in dynamics and lack of compression - you’ll just have to turn up your amp a bit more! I’ll be careful to add that it wasn’t just an RVG problem, it was a music industry problem and it is still going on today, rendering Hi-res releases pretty pointless when mastered in this way.
I must warn you though, once you’ve been bitten, the quest for early copies of old jazz classics is relentless.
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Hi @SoundsOfMusic - below is a copy of a post about RVG remasters that I wrote in the listening thread last year, which you may find of interest.
Herbie Hancock Takin’ Off / 1987 Blue Note / US CD / 094639275724
Recorded By Rudy Van Gelder + Digital Transfer By Ron McMaster
Herbie Hancock Takin’ Off / 2007 Blue Note / EU CD / RVG Edition / 094639275724
Recorded and Remastered By Rudy Van Gelder
As promised, I have dug out my 1987 US CD, and 2007 EU CD RVG remaster of Herbie’s Takin’ Off to compare. I know there are have been debates over the sound quality of all the different Blue Note LP reissues over the years, but thankfully the newer LP pressings seem to be keeping buyers very happy.
In the case of the CD issues, I am no expert and have only recently been building my BN collection, which was actually prompted by this CD!
The original US copy was given to me by a friend a number of years ago, and in isolation sounds very good - super smooth, great separation, plenty of PRAT and is very enjoyable. As the sleeve note states - the original 2 track analogue tape was used / no multi-tracking or mixing, transferring in one step by the appropriately named Ron McMaster from Rudy Van Gelder’s recording. The disc / case is quite old and not in perfect condition, so when I saw the RVG remaster edition in HMV for £4, I decided to take the opportunity to ‘upgrade’.
For the 2007 RVG issue, Rudy Van Gelder took his own recording and did the remaster using 24-bit resolution. As expected, it is clearly an improvement on the original - yes there is a shade more volume, but this issue makes the older one sound like the musicians are in another room! On the remaster, drummer Billy Higgins has finally properly joined the party with other players in front of you, and everything is much more real with the whole musical performance improved.
All the RVG editions I have sound great, and I can recommend them without hesitation.
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Thank you for that and very interesting indeed I concur. 
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I have a fair number of original and RVG remasters of the same recordings. I cannot think of one example where I prefer the original. Your description is very good.
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Completely agree Clive it’s as if the door got opened. 
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Not talking about exactly the same, but on original RVG vs remaster.
I have the 3 original Freddie Hubbard lps, Red Clay, First Light and don’t remember the third ( same years).
I bought the Pure Pleasure remasters for the three above.
Without hesitation the originals are more lively, and dynamic.
I am not saying it’s the case for all remasters.
If the RVG remasters are usually better than the originals is this because the originals are not mastered very well or is it the transfer to CD that has caused this?
It would be very interesting to hear members thoughts on original RVG Blue Note vinyl against both Music Matters, Tone Poet and Classic Series reissues.
Was RVG a genius engineer or just a very lucky one to have had the level of music he had to work with? No doubt he was very talented but he did have quite well documented failings recording piano for instance and perhaps the transfer on to CD via digital remastering gave him a chance to iron out some creases.
This isn’t quite the same as a CD remaster, as HiRes file playback has technical advantages over Redbook. My comparisons are via the Redbook originals v RVG CD transfers and the only way to find out is to listen for yourself.
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Great thread this. I have many Jazz albums from RVG Studios on CD format. I think mostly recorded in the 50’s and 60’s.
The CDs I have will of course be remastered at RVG Studio.
To my recollection they sound bloody amazing from where I’m sitting 
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Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus - 2006 - Prestige 25218810524
Recorded in New Jersey , June 1956, RVG Studio
Remastered in 2005 RVG Studio.
From a sound perspective, all I can say is “Wow!”
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The best RVG sound I have heard is from original Prestige, Blue Note and Impulse LPs - and Esquire in the case of Prestige. Might have something to do with the original metal masters and quality of vinyl back then. Having said that, Tone Poet, MM and later pressings (plus recent CD remasters) can be very good indeed and can run them fairly close plus you don’t have the issue of scratches and wear.
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Art Farmer/Gigi Gryce - When Farmer met Gryce - 1994 - Prestige OJCCD-072-2
RVG Studio Remastered, recorded in 1954/55
Great sound quality again, I really like this album.
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