About

Custom record mastering and pressing facility in Hollywood, California (USA), founded in 1957 by . For the associated label see .

The company was specialized in short-run high quality pressings, mostly for local colleges and small firms. In 1967 a professional audio equipment sales division was formed that catered to studios across the country. In 1970 a special products group was formed to package oldies for radio stations. (This was intended to provide more business during the non-school months.)

Identifying marks are an etched CF or a stamped logo (see pictures) in the runouts. Pressing ring size is 73mm (1962-1975).

In the early 1970s a new mastering process was introduced, using a Neumann VMS-70 computerized lathe with Neumann SX-68 cutterhead and amplifier for tape-to-disc transfer. By mid-1975, they were in trouble with their creditors and began making plans to file for bankruptcy. On July 8, 1975, all of their assets were auctioned off which included: 1974 Neumann VMS 70 lathe, console, Disc Masters Control Rack, 2 Ampex Tape Decks, Small mixing console, 2 Harris LT 1647 29" x 26" presses, 60" inch Chandler Knife, ATF Chief 15, Nuarc 22" enlarging camera, Nuarc 42" Flip Top, Paper Drill, Power Corner unit, Punch press, Crochett Album Gluer & Sealer, IBM Selectric Composer and some office equipment.

Engineers known to have worked here (and their signatures):
- (WCW): mixing, mastering;
- Jack Williams (2): recording;
- Mike Levey (3) (M.L.): mastering, mentioned as chief in 1972;
- (SH): re-mixing;
- Terry More (THM or TM): mastering, re-mixing;
- : recording, mentioned as chief in 1968.

Custom Fidelity had associations with studios and independent engineers throughout the United States. Sometimes the runouts also feature codes indicating the provenance of the recording. Some of these associates (and their codes) include:
- Alex Hassilev Studio/West Knoll Recording Studio (WK);
- Custom Fidelity Associates, Cincinnati, Oh;
- Dwight Crumb (DC).

Catalog

493 releases
Music For Sensuous Lovers
Music For Sensuous Lovers
"Z"* · 1971
Black Mass
Black Mass
Lucifer · 1977
Rappin' Black In A White World
Rappin' Black In A White World
The Watts Prophets · 1971
Looking Young Forever (Through The Asher Snider System Of Isometric Facial Muscle Exercises)
Looking Young Forever (Through The Asher Snider System Of Isometric Facial Muscle Exercises)
Asher Snider · 1970
Louisiana Cajun Music Volume 1: First Recordings - The 1920's
Louisiana Cajun Music Volume 1: First Recordings - The 1920's
Various · 1970
Hot Blues
Hot Blues
Smoky Babe · 1971
Hooker And Steve
Hooker And Steve
Earl Hooker · 1970
Son Of Quashed Culch
Son Of Quashed Culch
Maximilian Schubel* · 1974
Sonny & Brownie
Sonny & Brownie
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee · 1995
Cuffed, Collared & Tagged
Cuffed, Collared & Tagged
Swamp Dogg!* · 1972
The Havenstock River Band
The Havenstock River Band
The Havenstock River Band · 1972
The Adventures Of Robert Savage Vol. 1
The Adventures Of Robert Savage Vol. 1
Robert Savage · 1971
Early Recordings Vol. 2
Early Recordings Vol. 2
Lightning Hopkins* · 1971
Sam Stone
Sam Stone
Swamp Dogg · 1972
Carolina Bluegrass
Carolina Bluegrass
Snuffy Jenkins With Homer "Pappy" Sherrill* · 1972
Malvina
Malvina
Malvina* · 1972
Grassroots Guitar
Grassroots Guitar
George Cromarty · 1973
Takin' My Time
Takin' My Time
Charlie Musselwhite · 1971
Turn On With B.B. King
Turn On With B.B. King
B.B. King
Jazz/Concord
Jazz/Concord
Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Ray Brown, Jake Hanna · 1974
Seven, Come Eleven (From Their Live Performance At The Concord Summer Festival)
Seven, Come Eleven (From Their Live Performance At The Concord Summer Festival)
Herb Ellis & Joe Pass Also Featuring Jake Hanna & Ray Brown · 1974
These Trails
These Trails
These Trails · 1973
The Only One ... Music For People Who Are Still Growing
The Only One ... Music For People Who Are Still Growing
George Cromarty · 1973
Louisiana Cajun Music Volume 3 (The String Bands Of The 1930s)
Louisiana Cajun Music Volume 3 (The String Bands Of The 1930s)
Various · 1971
Grand Dad Of The Country Guitar Pickers
Grand Dad Of The Country Guitar Pickers
Sam McGee · 1971
Packin' Up My Blues (Blues Of The Deep South 1950-1961)
Packin' Up My Blues (Blues Of The Deep South 1950-1961)
Various · 1971
Alabama Slide Guitar
Alabama Slide Guitar
Johnie Lewis · 1971
Roosevelt Holts And His Friends
Roosevelt Holts And His Friends
Various · 1972
Bee Houston
Bee Houston
Bee Houston · 1970
Holy Man / Hallelujah, Baby
Holy Man / Hallelujah, Baby
Diane Kolby · 1970

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