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Vinyl 101:
After reading these you'll be able march up to the sales counter and confidently look those hipsters right in eyes
BUILD A KILLER VINYL RECORD COLLECTION ON A BUDGET:
THE SHOPPING GUIDE (vinyl record beginner guides)
Vinyl is back in the spotlight, and that is a good thing and vinyl record beginner guides cover everything you need to know. Once dismissed as a hipster trend, building an authentic collection of shiny records that you can play for your friends is very much en vogue in 2019. While digital is the best for price and convenience, for the best sound quality you can get on vinyl is unparalleled.
The resurgence of the vinyl record has been so overwhelming that in 2017 alone more records were sold than in 1978-79. Plus you would never have to worry about your records having a corrupted file, as the only thing that could happen to your vinyl is to get dusty, which is easy to solve. Not to mention the fact that vinyl is aesthetically pleasing and adds character to the room.
Ok, Ok, enough chit chat and without further ado, let’s get those records playing.
TIPS FOR BUYING VINYL RECORDS ON EBAY (vinyl record beginner guides)
When it comes to buying vinyl records, eBay is one of the first platforms that come to mind. It is easily the largest and most trusted online marketplace according to our vinyl record beginner guides. The assigned reasons are possibly the high degree of policing that sellers have to undergo, the feedback system is quite transparent, and purchases have a guarantee in case of issues. However, everything is not fair and excellent.
So how do you purchase your favorite vinyl records on eBay, whether you are a one-time buyer or a collector?
THE RECORD COVER
The record cover can often tell what you can find inside. While minor tear and bent corners shouldn’t be concerning, a highly battered cover can be a red signal. On the other hand, if something seems to be well taken care of, then it indicates that the disc has also been similarly taken care. A good example is an outer cover having a plastic sleeve. If there are not many tears in the inner sleeves, it means that the record has not been pulled out and placed back too many times.
A GUIDE TO BUYING A SECOND-HAND RECORD PLAYER SETUP (vinyl record beginner guides)
If you are looking to buy a record player, whether a new one or a second-hand one, you would want to get the best value for your money and our vinyl record beginner guides can help. And most often used turntables can provide the most benefit if you can find one in good condition. Since the technology involved in turntable setups hasn’t evolved much in the past few decades, you can find lots of used equipment available for sale. And many of these products can be as good as new ones. So how do you make the right purchase? This guide will help you with it.
BEFORE YOU START
Before you start looking for used record player setups, you should address the following points:
- Set your budget and try to stick to it. So, it should be something you can afford. Find the best-used setup for this price.
- A record player setup comprises of 3 units – turntable, amplifier, and speakers. It is recommended to spend equivalent amounts on all these three units. Follow a simple rule in this regard – look for similar quality in all three components.
INSPECTING USED VINYL: WHAT TO LOOK FOR BEFORE YOU BUY? (vinyl record beginner guides)
There is a simple rule for testing a used vinyl – you should listen to the album before purchasing it. There is no other better way to inspect a vinyl but listening to it. But even before you listen to it, you should check the record based on many factors. Find out what you should look for before investing in a vinyl, especially if its price is in the mid-range or high-range.
MUSIC GENRE
If you want to buy a rock album with loud music, minor flaws can get masked due to the kind of music it is. On the other hand, if you are into jazz, you will have to be very careful about the quality of the vinyl. Any scratches or noise can not just interfere with the music, it can only ruin the whole experience.
PRICE
Consider the price of the record and follow the guidlines in our vinyl record beginner guides. The inspection should also take this factor into account and match it with the condition of the vinyl. Do the quality and price match? Check whether the seller is ready to make some compensation in the price based on the condition of the record.
Before you start the inspection, make sure you are in a place with excellent lighting. The following steps will involve looking for minor flaws that may not be easy to detect in low light conditions.
The Should Nots to VINYL COLLECTION
Collectors cherish vinyl for so many reasons. Even in this age of digital technology, many people admire it for its inherent vintage value and a unique feel that is hard to find elsewhere. The ever-increasing cost of vinyl records is also one of the main reasons for the popularity of vinyl collection.
Even when there are many reasons to build your vinyl collection, there are things you should avoid, especially if you are new to it and our vinyl record beginner guides can get you started. Here are ten things you should avoid as a beginner.
1. STACKING VINYL RECORDS
Don’t stack vinyl because this increases their risk of getting warped.
- Avoid records being stacked on top of each other, not even in their jackets
- It can also cause cracking due to the weight
- It is going to create ring wear and scuff marks on the album cover
You should always store these discs uplight similar to books on a shelf. You should create a specialized record storage shelf for storing your collection. So even before you start collecting, you should invest in its storage systems.
A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR GRADING VINYL RECORDS
As a vinyl records collector, you are going to buy and sell vinyl at one time or the other. And whenever you decide to trade, it will be required to grade the LPs. So, it is essential to have an excellent understanding of the grading system. Interestingly, it is not a standardized system and can vary from one user to another, especially in the online domain.
There is still a reasonably standard grading system in our vinyl record beginner guides to help you with your buying or selling process.
BASIC GRADING SYSTEM
We can grade Vinyl records into the following categories based on their condition.
1. MINT
An LP in ‘mint’ or M condition is considered to be perfect. It means that it is usually sealed and has never been played.
- The record is in brand new condition without any surface marks
- There is no deterioration of sound quality
- Cover and additional items such as booklet, lyric sheet, and poster are in excellent condition
TOP 12 BEST VINYL SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES (vinyl record beginner guides)
Music subscription was once a great way of acquiring new vinyl records. As vinyl collection makes a comeback, there are dozens of vinyl subscription services available today. So, find out which are the top 10 best subscription services where you can find just the right records you are looking for, including the top labels.
1. WAX & STAMP
If you want to build diverse records collection, this service is for you. Moreover, Wax & Stamp has a unique model.
- Every month they select a record and invite a guest to pick the other record
- It is a UK based website
- The website is owned and run by a 2-man team
- Also, the collection includes everything from comedian Josie Long to DJ Steve Davis and many other label managers, DJs, and genres.
- The subscription costs £30 per month
2. VNYL
VNYL started as a Kickstarter project offering used records. It soon grew into a new subscription model and now also provides its record player.
6 THINGS TO STRICTLY AVOID WHEN YOU ARE NEW TO VINYL COLLECTION (vinyl record beginner guides)
It is a great hobby to collect vinyl records. Also, it has a kind of vintage appeal to it and makes you feel special. It can also help you stand out from the crowd once you have built a decent collection. But there are many things to be avoided before you start your collection.
Here are six things to avoid when you are new to the vinyl collection.
1. NOT LEARNING ABOUT THE SIZES & RPMS
Someone new to the vinyl collection should avoid many things. Not building your knowledge is one of them. Many newbies never bother to learn about the different sizes and RPMs of records available.
- Records are available in different sizes depending on the music contained
- A 7-inch record contains lesser music than standard size vinyl
- The amount of music that one can add to a side also affects the quality of sound
- 12-inch standard records can hold a maximum of around 22 minutes of music
- Albums made for CD can hold about 60 minutes of music
RPM (revolutions per minute) is the number of times the platter spins in a single minute. There are three speeds at which your vinyl records can play:
VINYL RECORD SIZES WITH THEIR SPEEDS – WHAT DOES 33 – 45- 78 RPM MEAN? (vinyl record beginner guides)
If you are listening to music on your record player, the chances are that you are looking for a full-size 12-inch vinyl. It must be spinning at 33-1/3 RPM. Else, it should be a 7-inch single and spinning at 45 RPM. Many times artists use 12-inch records for producing EPs and maxi-singles and also spin at 45 RPM. Vinyl records are available in different sizes and RPM capacities. Make sure you know about the classification before purchasing them and playing them on your turntable. It needs to match the player’s configuration to the disk’s rotation limits. Otherwise, the vinyl may distort.
Our vinyl record beginner guides should help you learn about the different sizes of vinyl records and their speeds.
STANDARD VINYL SIZES
Vinyl records are different in terms of their sizes based on the amount of music stored on their surface. There are three standard sizes in which the disks are available:
- 12 inches
- 10 inches
- 7 inches
RARE VINYL RECORDS THAT MAY MAKE YOU RICH (vinyl record beginner guides)
The vinyl record culture is making a comeback with a sell of over 14 million records just in the last year. Vinyl collectors know where the real money lies. It is the original pressings. Moreover, classic albums are among the biggest revenue generators here, with their original pressings and reissues creating the most revenues for collectors worldwide.
So if you are serious about becoming rich with your vinyl record collection, there are a few rare albums that can do the wonder for you. So, here are 10 of the unique records you should consider owning.
1. SGT PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND – THE BEATLES (1967)
When it comes to the most valuable vinyl records, the list would be incomplete without the mention of The Beatles. Also, you should consider owning Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, their 8th album, which belong to 1967. So what adds value to this LP?
- The Beatles worked for over 400 studio hours within a few months to make this album
- Moreover, it has 13 tracks, including the most famous songs from the band
How To Tell If A Record Is An Original Pressing (vinyl record beginner guides)
There comes a time when you have to part with a record. It could be you have upgraded your copy, or you are trying to create space in your library, and you want to sell the duplicate, or it could be you want to make some money. While selling your records should be very easy, it can sometimes prove to be a challenging task. You may have seen a copy of some record sell for only a few dollars and seemingly an identical copy of the same sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Many things can cause this, including varying conditions of both vinyl, but one of the most critical aspects associated with such is the specific pressing being offered. Keep reading below to learn how to tell if a record is an original pressing so you can make a better decision when buying or selling a record.
To be precise, this is a very extensive subject matter. Every record label has a unique way of cataloging their records. Rather than cover all the possible variations, which can be thousands. Here we take a closer look at the fundamental steps you should follow to know if your record is an original pressing.
STEP 1–CHECK THE SLEEVE
Many original pressing of a classic record has probably been frequently used. Chances are the sleeve of an original pressing, possibly from the late ’70s will not be in the best condition. This does not mean that near mint original pressings do not exist, but such pressings are very rare to come across. This is particularly true for many party records. In most cases, reissue or newer pressings will have a crisp, clean sleeve with vibrant artwork.