Vinyl Collecting Tips: 3 Mistakes to AVOID!
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- Опубліковано 3 лис 2020
- In this video, I provide you with a few vinyl collecting tips--namely by providing you with three mistakes you should always avoid when it comes to this hobby.
Whether it's vinyl collecting for beginners, or you're a longtime veteran of the hobby, I think we'll all be much better off making sure to steer clear of these three mistakes the next time we're ready to buy or play a record!
Lastly, here are a few of my previous videos that you might find helpful:
1) Cleaning Vinyl Records by Hand with Household Products:
• Cleaning Vinyl Records...
2) Cleaning Vinyl Records Using a Record Cleaning Machine:
• How to Clean Vinyl: Ok...
3) Vinyl Record Grading 101:
• Vinyl Record Grading: ...
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Intro Music: Far Away (Sting) by MK2
Background Music: Erykah by Otis McDonald
Outtakes Music: Behind Closed Doors by Otis McDonald - Навчання та стиль
Tip: Be more selective with the albums you buy. It's a lot more of a hassle to skip songs on vinyl so make sure you like the album as a whole and not just a few tracks. That way you have an all killer no filler collection.
That's how I was even long before I started getting into records.
I have a "misc" category for those one or two songs but for 90% of my music I like the entire album or in some cases all the music from a band.
That's what annoys me about music on the radio, and especially oldies stations that only play select music through rose tinted glasses. Some people like that but I hate it. Full album or bust.
My problem was that when I first got into vinyl collecting, I was buying albums just because I liked one or two songs on them. I used to have over 300 records, not a lot compared to other collectors but I have very limited space for my collection. I can probably store about 350-400 LPs on the shelf I dedicated to them. Another issue was that I bought albums that were scratched up or dirty. The dust could be cleaned off but scratches can’t be fixed. I got rid of the records that were scratched up because they were not doing my good, clean styluses any favors. I also gave away the albums that weren’t 10/10. I used to own about 320 albums, now I have around 180.
1000% for example I love Björk If I could
I’d get her entire discography BUT I only like certain albums. Don’t waste your money! Only get an album that you deem to have zero skips because what’s the point in buying it?
Sometimes I blind buy albums. When they're good records and your system is good, a first listen to an album you like is AMAZING.
When buying a record online make sure it is something you really want and will listen to it more than 2 times.
Why? Lol
@@danieldesoto6787 Well I always felt if your only going to play a record once or twice and never again was it worth buying and did you really like it. Unless it's a rare record or something but yeah that is my rule
@@djvinylgoblin that makes sense. I bought a XTC record for $28 and I haven't listened to it enough. I Kno what you mean but you know that they are some records that you have just to have. I have rounded out X's catalog yet I don't listen to (album) Wild Gift much..
@@danieldesoto6787 Understandable! I have a few records I brought just to have mainly because of the cover but I try to at least play them every now and then
@@djvinylgoblin I do exactly the same! 👍🏼
Buy for your listening enjoyment, not as an investment
I buy for both. Because what I like IS an investment. 😏🍻
@@luisjiron8154 records hardly ever go up in value. Very likely to lose all your money in 20 years
@@lmc3307 I collect out of love. I’m not really in it for the money. Whether or not vinyl becomes the holy grail of tangible music, I could care less. To me, this goes beyond that. It’s preserving history.
@@lmc3307 except for like every record produced twenty years ago lol.
My advice is to try to concentrate more on what you have and appreciate your collection rather than on what you don’t have. Records are meant to be played and enjoyed not hoarded.
Very good advice! I used to hoard records that had a few songs that I liked but the rest I didn’t care for. I eventually got rid of the filler in my collection and now I can confidently say that I can enjoy all the albums I own.
Great advice
Tip: When buying used records on eBay, never buy anything graded less than Mint, Near mint, or Excellent. You wouldn't believe what some sellers class as VG+ unless you see them.
Very important tip. Thanks for sharing!
OR... just commit to "paying less" for used eBay records. Takes a bit longer and involves a bit of patience, but you'll either NOT be as disappointed by a poorly graded record you paid little for OR be extremely pleased with the nice record you paid little for.
Even with the best grading system its always going to be a gamble when buying used LPs online, sight-unseen.
Seller feedback is important. Buyers always call out sellers that don't know how to grade
I also prefer to buy from established record dealers with good feedback. As well as probably being more reliable, they tend to have an automated accept on their returns process - so I get an immediate pre-paid return label. At least, that's with sellers here in the UK.
@Alan Oscroft - I've graded stuff as VG or VG+ which record dealers have bought off me and graded up significantly at a higher price. I would say it's fine to buy records that are graded lower than Excellent, I've sold tons graded lower than that. Then again I try to be very conservative with my grading, and I have good pictures of the vinyl in good light. A lot of the time I will even include a sound file of the record(s) I'm selling.
Some people will often grade something as VG+ which is closer to Excellent or what some other people might even grade as Near Mint. Just pay close attention to each sellers listings including pictures and sound files etc, and ofcourse their feedback.
My tip - purchase the work from artists you enjoy completely versus having to have their entire catalog....have a collection you enjoy as budgets and your listening is most important. Ask yourself is you are honestly going to listen versus just having the work for the sake of completeness.
Great video!
Also, a lot of the same advise i saw in 4k collectors as well as manga collectors' videos: buy what you enjoy and want to own, budget yourself, do not let the hobby take over your life, do not compare your collection to the ones you see online
Definitely agree!
I've noticed when some vinyl records are stored in those polylined sleeves for extended periods of time, it often seems to leave superficial lines on the vinyl. I've got two pieces of advice when it comes to collecting vinyl. Make sure you store your records away from cold or warm heat sources, such as radiators or too close to the window etc. Also make sure direct sunlight isn't shining on them wherever they are stored as this can warp them.
Second piece of advice, don't be afraid to check out new artists randomly. In the age of digital media you can try before you buy, I've discovered tons of artists I probably wouldn't have ordinarily listened to this way. I've either discovered them by going through random records or by browsing online etc......
I'm at the beginning of my journey with collecting vinyl and this was great and informative! Thank you!!
Glad it was helpful!
I used to collect records when records were the primary music medium. I transitioned my collection to CDs and later digital technologies. One issue I had when collecting records was related to promotional records. Promo records are records sent by the record companies to radio stations, club DJs, juke boxes, and music critics. These were often white label records to discourage resell. If you find popular promo records look closely for wear. They would often be played to the point of being worn out. Also, professional DJs would cue up the records prior to play. This caused an issue called "cue burn". This was where the beginning groove of a track would show extensive wear.
Thanks. Very helpful. Knew most of what you said, but nice to have my (old) memory refreshed.
The best way to buy used vinyl is to do it in person where you can inspect the record you want to buy.
Right! Gotta support our brick and mortar record stores.
My good sir, let me just say I love this video and all your videos. You're such a joy to watch and your positivity and energy about this hobby are a delight.
My tip is, simply, have a way to display at least a few of your records out in the open (like you have with your wall.) It's more fun to see that artwork (and swap it out) then simply have the records on a shelf and never get to see the beautiful covers.
This is a really great tip. And thanks for the positive words!
I’d like to hang some of my albums on my wall but the problem with that is that access to those records would be less convenient than those on the shelf. I might buy multiple copies of those albums, hang one of them up, and keep the other with the majority of my collection.
I just found your channel a few days ago... you're criminally undersubscribed my man. You make good videos, especially for those just starting out. I've been collecting for quite some time, but I enjoy your videos anyways. Keep up the good work!
Thanks buddy! Appreciate you watching.
Love your videos, so many vinyl related channels come across as snobby but you always seem genuine. Keep up the great work!
Thanks very much. Yeah, I'm not a fan of the snobs in the hobby either.
I have just found your video by accidend and I think your terrific. I have just gotten in 45's and have a good repaired 45 rpm record player. And thank you for all of your tips in caring for our records.
Nice vid, enjoyed. As for Vinyl, buy and listen to what ever makes you happy.
Thank you! We just started collecting.
Tip: Decide whether you care if its a re-issue or not early on. The previous tip is especially important considering often times the original can be had for much cheaper. It adds to the cool factor in my opinion knowing its original. This mostly applies to vintage vinyl releases obviously, I mean which is cooler the original Billie Holiday Lady in Satin I got for $2.50 or the reissue for $17.00. That being said some re-issues have a gimmick that adds to the cool factor such as colored vinyl etc...
I just bought a Audio Technica Bluetooth TT and I've been looking all over UA-cam for tips and advice because it's going to be my first time getting into Vinyls. I'm glad I found your channel, very informative and I love the records you hang in the back. Thanks for the help!
No problem - - thanks for watching 👍🏿
whats a bluetooth???
To your question, despite my being able to buy high quality vinyl cheaper and quickly online, there’s still quite nothing like going to a fav or unique record store. Aside from coming across cool finds or things not available or too pricey online, you can also engage with others who not only like the vinyl sandbox but who also dig good audio systems that makes it sound fantastic. Record store owners can be an interesting lot too. With a high quality TT, I thought a weight was going to be perhaps negligible with new vinyl but when I got one (below 50 bucks), I noticed some productive shift in bass as well. Also, when I compared mine to my friends weight at 2x the cost, there was zero difference.
Nice: good solid and easy tips.
One of my tips that was not mentioned in this video is to make sure your records and turntable are away from direct sunlight. What would happen is if it’s near the sun and the weather gets warm, your records will get warped and as a result will no longer have good sound quality.
Great video! Very important first tip you give.
Keep in mind that you should also clean your new records as well before playing!
Very true. And thanks for watching!
@@leon9021 I respectfully disagree. Cleaning tends to neutralize the static charge that comes with new records. Even more so than blasting them with a Zerostat in my experience.
I “REALLY” like your content. You have a pleasant nature that makes it easy to watch, and quite informative! Thank you. Please try to make more, if you can!🙏
Rob B. Thanks for the kind words. I’ll definitely try to make more 👍🏾
First off great video and I love your sense of humor; a couple of additional comments realize that the grading system is very subjective so it’s just a guide; that being said ask the seller to send you a picture of the album cover and album he has graded; that you are interested in. If he won’t do it buy it somewhere else. When looking at used albums learn how to read the dead wax (the wax after the last song adjacent to the label) this will have a letter A-Z and a number 1-? You want the lowest letter and number A-1. This tells you which pressing you have. The lower the number the better the potential sound quality. Think of it like when you were a kid and your mom made pancakes the first 10 were perfect and after that you got what you got. Same with records but your talking about thousands and thousands of records unlike pancakes.
Also sound quality has a lot to do with your equipment; and it obviously depends on your budget but regardless of what it is 60% should always go on your speakers because that’s the sound you will hear everything else being equal.
Thanks for advice
I completely agree with your comments on the grading system. I generally am VERY picky about the records I buy on ebay. If it says anything below VG+, I am usually not interested. The only exception is if it's a record I REALLY want and better copies are either unavailable or too pricey. One example for me was the Beatles White Album. I bought a copy graded VG because the better ones were too expensive and I'd been looking for months.
One tip I would offer those buying on ebay is look at not only the condition, but also the pictures. Some sellers are lazy and don't take detailed photos. For me if there are no photos of the vinyl itself, that's a red flag.
Great points, for sure.
I would advice on buying dedicated anti-static brushes for cleaning both the record and stylus, they do some great cleaning
tuturuism That’s a really good tip 👍🏾
I really liked the video ...buuuut I would include one of my fav Tips for beginners.... go to real record stores... you can look at the record you wanna buy in person and If you can't find it in three different Stores you should Look online... I've bought too many "VG+" Vinyls that weren't even VG...
Great video my man
Thanks - - appreciate you watching 👍🏿
With the vinyl grading system, youre still at the mercy of the sellers bias. I still like to go off of good photos and the sellers rating as you mentioned. If seller as 100% with hundreds of sells it should be pretty safe to trust the sellers grading of the records
Some of my record collections skyrocketed in prices up to $1000 like Lana Del Rey, Japanese 80s and Bjork. I feel guilty when I first started would keep them in the paper sleeve or leave them out. I’m looking into proper cleaning. I’ve upgraded my turntable to the Debut Carbon and put them in jackets as to not fold or disrupt the packaging.
I’ve never had an issue with the grading system especially Japan sellers. Near mint always came with protective coverings and it appears the seller never played or professionally cleaned any speck of dust before shipping.
The advice to not buy from someone who doesn't grade is so key. Learned that one the hard way on whatnot.
good advice
Also on used vinyls…if you are buying a record that has the factory plastic still there, chances are is that the record is still in great condition (as in barely played or shows light play). Keep in mind, however, that just because a record shows that it’s it great condition does not mean that it’s guaranteed that it’ll play smoothly. Even if you clean the record, there may be a chance of a skip you’ll encounter (which happened to me for a few records that I went through). Anyways, just putting this out there.
Sealed records in mint condition can also be badly warped, you'll never know until you open them
"Moonlight and Music" right next to "Boogie In Your Butt." I can dig it.
EDIT: My biggest tip, don't play records you care about on a cheap turntable with a crap stylus, because when you upgrade, you'll hear the damage the crap stylus did to your records.
I like the way you edit your videos.
Thanks a lot. Appreciate you watching and commenting.
I believe the first thing is buy records you will listen too, unless you sell records. Next if not sure of music I buy cheaper copies like $1.00 and if like the music ( I have a extra table with cheaper cartridge to avoid damage to the good ones), search for a better copy. Buy most records local where you look at the records in person .I store my records the way they are in a record store, it makes it more fun when fanning through your music. Yes clean the records. But, also have a good tracking system with a good needle. There are brand new needles that tear up records as they play. I have records I have had and played up to 45 years old and most still play beautifully. Only records that sound noisy are used ones I have found and then will be replaced when I find a better copy. Note a good table need not be $1000.00's of dollars. Just study them. If buy vintage have them professionally serviced do avoid the headaches.
I am surprised at how many mint condition records I find at Thrift Stores!
Came for the tips. Sub'd for the Songs in A Minor record on the wall.
Ha--thanks for subscribing!
Lightly dry brush (with a good brush) before wet cleaning.
Steve
Wouldn’t consider myself a collector but I have a nice collection of house, Rnb, pop and rock from back in the day, I don’t want to part with them, but storage is an issue and I no longer have the good old stereo systems you could buy at Best Buy etc. That means I have to build a set ugh. I did buy a turntable but that is the end of it. Not sure what I need, don’t want big speakers but love and need my base. I also have cassettes yeah I have music I can’t play and won’t part with. What or how can I resolve this? No I won’t sell or give away my music lol..
I wonder why no one addresses the issue of display, or storage (what to keep them in). plastic crates, totes, wooden crates,,... and what to do when you have ittle space to begin with?
Bought my first two records just now. I also found The Stranger in my dads collection so I have 3 now
This guy's dad: Where's my f*ckin copy of The Stranger?!
If I don’t have another sleeve should I keep it in the paper sleeve for now
These are great tips! If i had one thing to say it would be that if you really really want a record and find it. Get it. If it's a decent price that is. I have passed on a few records in my time and I regret it every time. I have never regretted buying a record just because it has some scuffs or the art isn't perfect.
Wow, really smart tip. Regret is always a crushing feeling.
@@DevotedtoVinyl yes sir! You know the old saying that people die thinking about the things they didn't do, not the things they did.
GOOD POINTS, but if your inner sleeve is a printed original with lyrics and images, don't toss it, as it is part of the original art-work of the album,, just slip the new plastic sleeve inside the old inner sleeve...if its just a plain white piece of paper, go ahead and toss it, as it doesn't really add any value or quality to the album..
My mom's records were stored horizontally for 40+ years and they're fine and I've seen records that had the sleeve cut open by the record inside when stored normally.
Any suggestions for vinyl sleeves?
Nowadays I avoid buying in bulk. I'd rather spend a lot for a few records I'm going to enjoy instead of buying a box for the low with a bunch stuff that's just going to take up space
I don't completely agree with the last tip - sure don't buy records that have a bad or no description but if there's a decent description such as flaws and good pictures then I'd say it's fair game but obviously the risk is on the buyer. I bought a Taylor swift vinyl recently that was a good deal, granted it was pretty much new but didn't involve grading!
Keep
Everything if I had a dollar for all the ones that got away!
My recommendation is don't buy too many records, they take a lot of room to store and are really hard to move. I have 30 feet of LPs from when I was younger and have to put on reading glasses just to see the titles on the edges of the covers.
How about this: It's better to have 5-10 records that you listen to frequently than to have 200 that you bought, opened, listened to partially/once, then shelved for a year. Shell out good money on those special releases you love. Love Pet Sounds? Shell out $200 for a nice original copy maybe, and skip the audiophile pressing 180g $45 reissue of that Bob Dylan album which is your 8th favorite of his. Unless you're collecting purely for some sort of investment (dubious thing to do tbh), don't get caught up in the hype of what's "desirable" or "rare" unless it's music you actually love. If you don't particularly like Led Zeppelin II then why shell out $$$ for one of those ludwig pressings just because your local store has it?
1. Check seller feedback
2. Check seller feedback
3. Ask for pics
Heh. I never buy used off the internet. Frankly, I can't even imagine doing it unless I just HAD TO do it. I only buy from real stores, where I can LOOK AT the record. Heck, that's how I finally got "Thick as a Brick". And I burned through a LOT of record stores to find it. But that's half the fun. :)
That’s funny, I keep finding it in my local store! Have to stop myself everytime
@@chasegleason6948 I'll be honest: I put it on and realized I'd forgotten just how good it is.
If you live in a city that hosts record shows, GO! The deals that can be had at these places are wonderful, and the sellers are generally very friendly weirdos.
Tip .. you can be free from rule 3 if you go to the crate and dig.
New records have mold release compounds which prevent other materials from bonding to the record. These need to be removed from your records before playing. If not through friction they well become hard baked into the grooves of your records. At that point only enzymatic cleaners or ultrasonic record cleaners can remove them. Clean your new records.
how do you remove them?
@@samaal-jubouri9723 Cheap way? Enzymatic cleaners and distilled or triple filtered water. The best way? Ultrasonic cleaners. The Degritter is nice...and expensive. Though less so than the AudioDesk.
@@helgar791 wow the degritters are expensive :// but seen as though im just starting off ill start with enzymatic cleaners and filtered water. and maybe invest in a degritter later on :))
@@samaal-jubouri9723 If so then look online and on UA-cam on how to use enzymatic cleaners. It can be a labor intensive process. Now the Kirmuss Cleaning Method is only(?) $1000 and it uses an ultrasonic cleaner as part of the process. It is also very labor intensive, but is, all in all, the best cleaning method. But if you have an extensive record collection the idea of cleaning only two or three records an hour can be daunting. Keep these thoughts in mind. Also using enzymatic cleaners and a cheap vacuum cleaner is an option as well. Do your research.
@@helgar791 wow i didnt realise it was such a process, but thank you for the advice/info! i will definitely give it some thought as i didnt even know this was a thing, but thank you for being so informative :)
I'm inclined to think that the idea that stacking records leads to warping is not entirely true. I have records that were stored in a stack for many years (while I was still angry at my cat for scratching the record spines, I wasn't getting out and playing any records and just stored them away for a while; I've since forgiven the cat and found a better solution to prevent him from scratching them) and they don't exhibit any noticeable warping. But, I am careful in how I stack them.
If they are stacked on a level and flat surface, the size of the records doesn't vary in the stack, there aren't other objects in the stack and the stack is neatly aligned, the pressure on any individual record is relatively constant for its entire surface. The problem is when there is variation in the pressure, through uneven surfaces or different sized or misaligned records or other objects in the stack.
I think the biggest reason not to stack records is that it makes it hard to get any particular record out of the stack to play it.
The average temperature and humidity in the storage location (don't store them next to heating vents, for example) also play an important factor in how well records and their sleeves will fare over the long term.
I don’t think a few records stacked on top of each other will hurt anything, but 50 of them is an entirely different story.
I put my vinyls in milk crates and they seem to always squash eachother
Are cds different then vinyls and what are albums?
CDs are an entirely different format from vinyl. Vinyl has a continuous groove that mirrors the original recording and that groove is read by a stylus that vibrates to play back the recording. CDs are encoded with pits that represent ones and zeros that represent the original recording and is played back using a laser. A CD is 5 inches while a vinyl record is usually 7 or 12 inches. An album is pretty much a collection of songs that a particular artist put together for one to enjoy as a whole, kind of like a movie with different scenes except it’s auditory.
I disagree about the inner sleeves. I’ve been collecting vinyl for over 25 years & I’ve never noticed paper sleeves damaging the records. In fact I think they are better because they fit better than most poly sleeves & a poorly fitting inner sleeve can damage the record and cause excess wear on the cover
Hi where do you buy your vinyls?
I don't buy records to show off to my friends and family And also I only buy records online from folks who list the defects A grade is very subjective
How do I know if the album is vintage or repressed
Google “vinyl matrix runout”
Cat number to identify country and then look for the matrix number scrawled into the wax on the vinyl
I made a big mistake by only buying records that look cool with color and now I have a bunch that I don’t use
Is it bad to leave records sealed? 98% of vinyl are all new and sealed
It's a funny video :D I am doing everything you said.
Nice! Thanks for watching.
I would buy a brand new dj set up tbh
Ima simple person.....I see you playing SamCooke I subscribe
😂 thanks for subscribing 👍🏾
Buy to enjoy and check that i'ts not scratched
#1. Avoid input from your friends. They will tell you stay way from 80's, buy only Audio Technica gear, promos are worth so much money and tell you you shouldn't believe EBAY listing prices. And they will be the 1st to tell you overpaid or bought music that has no collector value.
You seem really in love with yourself...
and? self love is great!
Avoid wallmart sales lol
I don't 'collect' vinyl, I listen to records.
Don’t buy everything you see. Follow your testes, not the trend to buy a record because it “looks cool”.
Avoid Crosley Cruisers and other suitcase style All in 1 turntables because they damage records and sound like BS
Excellent tip and very true.
Technically all turntables damage records in the case of crosley's though it really is just the needle all you need to do is switch out the ceramic needle with a diamond one and your good.
MEMO: Those are toys. They're novelty. It's like saying avoid buying a bigwheel, and buy a real car instead. Now you got the memo.
why do you show 7'' records when saying '' dont store em horizontally ? ''
many 7''s have a thiccer label and are especially made to store em ontop of eachother [when in a jukebox or sitting on a turntable]
... had to nitpick this .. sry
The amount of money people pay for records these day is ridiculous. I've been buying records since I was a kid in the early 80s. I think the most I've ever paid for a record was £36! In the mid 90s I went crazy and bought up literally hundreds of U.K. Psyche/Prog and U.S. Punk/Hardcore LPs. Back then most of my vinyl was bought for £10 or under for an LP or £5 and under for an EP or 7".
Tip: look the other way your wallet will thank you!
That works too 😂
Wow, dude speak for yourself. I make sure all my records used or new are quiet as CDs. If it’s not quiet don’t buy it. Buy mint or EX and nothing less. They aren’t recorded with surface noise in the audio. I have a record from 1958, no surface noise. Shrink wrap didn’t even exist back then.