thebunk

So I am kind of new to the hobby and since I am only 30, I sort of missed the "vinyl" era as I listened to tapes when I was a kid and CDs in my yeenage years. I used to buy a couple of CDs a week (or more) until the Internet and Napster came along and I discovered mp3s. Ever since that time, I continued to download music (for free/steal) and pretty much stopped buying CDs all together. Just recently I discovered the wonders of vinyl.

The artwork, sound, the wholr experience. I feel my already rediculous relationship with music has been elevated to a whole new level. I feel like a kid again, looking through the bins of records stores for some hidden treasure or combing through the listings on ebay for a great deal (just bought a selaed version of Belly's "King" for less then $6.00!)

Many people do not seem to know (or care) that current artists still release their material on vinyl. Also many artists are including extras such as additional bonus tracks, a free EP or even the ability to download the tracks from the album from the bands website.

So, who here collects vinyl?

Wildo1966

After buying and selling records for over 20 years I now just collect 45's and sealed albums. There is still a market for them, especially on Ebay, for choice pieces that are in pristine condition. I also know collectors love the Master Recording LP's from years ago, they swear those sound as good or better than cd's...

thebunk

I would say that there is a market for both new\sealed and used albums. I am shocked that used albums by Spoon and Modest Mouse are hitting the $100 dollar mark for certain used albums. Crazy stuff.

jonnyrocks

As far as new stuff goes, I usually buy an album on vinyl after first hearing it on CD and thinking, "Man, this would sound awesome on vinyl." Of course, this only applies to artists (and labels) who still release their their stuff on vinyl, but, for what I listen to, that likelihood is very high. Then, there are the artists who release some material exclusively on vinyl, which is always great.

I try to spend time backtracking and buying older stuff on vinyl, especially for albums that are not currently available on CD. This requires spending hours in record stores, but that's all part of the fun of buying music anyway, right?

The Infidel

I don't really collect them myself, but I have a collection. I acquired my mom's album collection when she passed away in '02. She'd been collecting albums from the time she was a young girl, so I have vinyl of tons of different artists from all the way back to the '40's and newer.

Maybe one of these days I'll have the time and motivation to actually sit and catalog them all, as I'd like to find a way to sell them, eventually.

Jason Bovberg

I recently got back into vinyl. Bought a new Technics SL-1200 and a nice Grado cartridge. I have a small collection from when I was growing up, and now I'm starting to find all these great little outlets in town, including a flea market with a large booth containing really great-condition LPs for $6 or less. I just picked up some Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Suzanne Vega, Oingo Boingo, Missing Persons, and Blondie for $3.99 apiece. I brought them home, gave them a Spray-n-Wash bath and a nice groove cleaning, and gave 'em a spin.

I've always thought vinyl sounded fuller and more resonant than CDs. And listening to LPs just makes the whole listening experience more nostalgic and special for me. I love it. I even love the little snaps and crackles.

wendersfan

I still buy vinyl, but certainly not like I was 20 years ago, when I'd go through periods of buying an album a day.

Giles

well with the UK market pressing new releases on 7 inch vinyl now, with alot of music becoming vinyl exclusives... yes, I've been recollecting records.

nodeerforamonth

I only buy vinyl if the songs on it are exclusive. Which happens more than one would think.

Giles

it's a definately a subject (which I know we have talked about) but even here in the states an occasional album where the vinyl version is superior to the CD version

- Luna's Live album, vinyl version features more songs
- Chemical Brothers: 'Dig Your Own Hole' vinyl version remixed to be more bass heavy.

where is that thread?

spinning plates

yes i do, and am actually about to head off to a record store.

Jason Bovberg

I'm taking a trip to 'the OC' in May. What are your favorite record shops in that area? I envision a day devoted to vinyl and In-n-Out Burger.

nodeerforamonth

Do you mean "Orange County"? If so, Vinyl Solution in Huntington Beach (Beach Blvd) is the one to go to! There a few other good ones too, but Vinyl Solution is the main one I visit between trips to LA. If you're going to Orange County, you may as well drive an hour north and hit Amoeba Records in LA>

spinning plates

vinyl solution is good if you're looking for 'punk'.
bionic records was good, but just recently closed which i found out today they have another store in cypress (haven't been to that one).
fingerprints on 2nd street in long beach/belmont shores, which is by far my favorite. great instores and sandwhiched between z pizza and buffalo exchange.
tape and record room in downtown long beach by the movie theater.
and of course, like nodeerforamonth mentioned above, there's amoeba, the mecca for record digging. i've spent an entire day there before. i've pretty sure there's an in-n-out like 4 blocks down the street. they also have stores in berkeley and san francisco. i like the sf store better than la.

edit: just remembered goathill records in costa mesa on harbor blvd. near the start/end of the 55. mostly collectible-type records, owner is a big beatles fan.

hopefully others will list more stores in la/oc. that's all i know about.

Gigantopithecus

i have nearly 2 thousand records.

im not really into collecting rare records or anything like that, i wont pay over $10 for a record, unless its something i really really want. i mostly buy it because i prefer the sound of music on vinyl, AND its way cheaper. i happen to live super close to an amoeba records....so im in there at least a couple times a week.

RATRUNICK

I have ~500 or so records.

I've recently gotten a lot more into it, and have been buying a couple newer releases and reissues each week. I can't believe it took four years of living in NYC and being surrounded by great record stores before the bug bit again.

BlackSol

I have been buying/collecting since around 1979 or so.

I am now up to about 3500 vinyls.

Nowadays my music of choice is Black Metal and there is alot of it that is only released on vinyl, so I really don't have any choice but to still buy them.

calhoun07

I also started re-collecting vinyl, but I don't buy a whole lot. My main goal is to find great records that are not on CD, or have songs by artists I like that are not on CD.

Cheapo Records in Minneapolis, MN is a record collector's haven, if you ever have the chance to go there. Mint records that would sell for a lot on Ebay are for sale there for quite reasonable prices. $50.00 can get you quite a haul.

Jason Bovberg

Thanks for the SoCal suggestions!

I'd like to get my hands on some brand-new 180g records. Anyone find a place to buy these at reasonable prices? Online?

boobietheclown

Kind of Off Topic but what is best way to go about buying a decent $100 record player? I can't seem to locate one.

Thanks!

The Infidel

1. Find store that sells turntables.
2. Hand clerk $100.
3. If clerk wants more than $100, repeat step 1.

thismeansyou

I usually buy the LP of any album that I forsee myself listening to in 50 years, if it's available. When I DJ I just use mp3 records so that I don't have to purchase all the vapid music I have to play at parties

boobietheclown

Yeah big help

I was referring more to the fact that I cant seem to find stores that sell turntables.

Anyone?

Jason Bovberg

When I started my search, I began at Best Buy and Circuit City, both of which sell turntables in your price range. In fact, Best Buy has this Audio-Technica AT-PL50 for $80:



Honestly, the turntables in this low price range are all pretty much the same and will get the job done--barely. Early in my search, I considered this Sony PS-LX250H, which my local Best Buy had in stock:



But after doing some online research, I quickly decided to upgrade my tastes. If you want good fidelity and performance out of a turntable, you're going to have to graduate to a beefier model that lets you choose your own needle/cartridge. But that's getting up into the $300-$400 range. At least! I went to an audio show last fall, where I saw turntables upward of $20,000.

And they sounded GORGEOUS.

But with that kind of money, I'd probably buy a car or something.

Jason Bovberg

The Technics SL-1200 that I chose is widely considered one of the best, most dependable turntables on the market, and it's fairly reasonably priced. I got it for $399, plus a $60 Grado cartridge.