Having a clear strategy is key to ensuring you are adding the most value to your collection from day one. Today I will be sharing some tips and pointers for newbies and experienced collectors alike.
Wow, Andres, there is so much great info here--and the way you lay things out so clearly, even the uninitiated like me can follow along. I remember my grandmother’s record player was a giant piece of furniture. The “newfangled” one my parents bought in the 80s was also furniture, but about half the size. Sadly, we never had many revords!
Thank you so much, Michelle! You have no idea how much this means to me. I am really glad that you enjoyed it and found it easy to follow. I would have loved to see your grandmother's record player! Sadly there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of museums or sites where one could see such treasures today (that I know of). Once again, thanks a lot for your kind words and remember, it's never too late to start a vinyl collection!
That was rural Mississippi in the 70s. Back then it seems a record player was as de rigeur for living rooms as the television and the sofa!
My brother-in-law has collected and played records for as long as I remember. He also made records with his old bands--the Brentwoods, the Rudiments, and later The Not-Yetis.
That’s fascinating. I grew up in Argentina in the 90s, so I obviously missed the golden years of vinyl. I’ve done a fair amount of catching up in the last decade or so, but still, I would have loved to experience that magical period.
So cool to hear your brother-in-law is a collector AND a musician too! I’ll definitely check out his work! Thanks!!
I didn't realize you grew up in Argentina! I only visited once--the year was 2002. We spent some time in Buenos Aires, then flew down to Ushuaia, then took a bus up through Patagonia. It was gorgeous. I've always intended to go back but never have made a return trip.
Yes I did! So cool that you visited, and glad to hear you enjoyed it! I go back once a year or so, mainly to visit friends and family, and I always enjoy it, but it’s so far! Hopefully you can visit again at some point.
My grandmother had one of those as well! It was beautiful, heavy wood, and the top slid back to expose the turntable inside. I wonder what ever became of it?
"...and you can’t beat the joy of finding a hidden gem when you least expect it."
Finally finding that record you've spent years looking for is one of the best feelings in the world. That happened to me recently, and I was on Cloud 9 for quite awhile.
As for my collection, 90-95% of the time, I'm looking for bands I like or have recently caught reviews on. Once in awhile the cover art alone will get me to buy.
I prefer original pressings, but don't think twice picking up a reissue- especially if it's something I just want to get home and listen to.
This was a great write up, Andres! Only thing I might add is this: If you're new to vinyl, stay off Reddit for awhile. Some Redditors are needlessly cruel. If you found a record and it makes you happy, then it was a "win," no matter what they post.
Thanks a lot, Kevin! Isn’t it such an undescribable feeling when you finally get your hands on that sought-after record you’ve been craving for?
Interesting to read that you sometimes get pulled by the cover art alone. I should experiment more with that (I often prefer hearing a bit first, but I can see the appeal of the surprise factor).
Definitely agree with you that newbies should stay far away from Reddit. So much unnecessary snobbery on that site sometimes, especially from people who only want to demean others.
Once again thanks a lot for stopping by and for sharing your very valuable insights!
resell value is now something i'll have to keep in mind with my ever expanding vinyl collection... thanks for the tip Andres! subscribed, excited to read more from you :)
Thank you so much for your comment and for subscribing! I’m glad to hear that resale value is an area of your interest, and I believe it is particularly important to have a clear strategy in order to fully unlock the real potential of your records. Welcome aboard and hope to see you around here soon!
"So yes, maybe don’t choose one that actually looks like a briefcase, because chances are it will sound like a briefcase."
Still remember how in love I was with those! Their shape and cute looks, haha. I am very glad I didn't follow that trend! I couldn't agree more with your views! My next step is definitely upgrading my turntable (one similar to yours possibly) and getting a nice amplifier! May be an end of 2023 or early 2024 goal :)
Haha, I know they look pretty, and I’m glad you resisted the temptation. Your turntable is pretty decent in my opinion but yes, you can always upgrade to a higher level within AT. Adding an amplifier will definitely be a good way of stepping up. It’s not always straightforward so make sure you do some research before choosing. The timing you mention would work well as it will give you some time to read and choose one that will work for you.
Lovely post here, Andres! The biggest factor when I choose vinyl is based upon the idea that if one of my favorite musicians or artists were thumbing through my collection, would this album make them pause? I know that sounds parasocial and fan-girly, but I put infinite trust in the artists I follow and am a fan of, and I tend to do deep dives on their interviews to get a better sense of their tastes, inspiration, etc. Do I sound like a freak? Haha
That's very interesting, Alex, and I can relate to some extent, so you're not alone! When I discover a new artist or record I'm obsessed with, I make a conscious choice to find out what artists inspired this certain artist or record, and I go check those ones out. That's how I have been able to discover so many great artists and records from all eras. I love finding out what or who inspired my idols. Thank you so much for sharing this! You don't sound like a freak at all!
Thanks bestie for all your info. I love vinyl but have old ones from childhood. I somewhat love the crackling sound of an old 45. Those were days! Keep on doing your good work. I’m listening. X
Thank you!! Yes, nothing beats that timeless crackling sound of an old 45 before the music starts playing. Thank you very much for your support. It means a lot!! Xx
Wonderful overview, Andres, on the "world of vinyl" for both rookies and vets! As a proud vinyl vet, I feel like, after a rattle and a bottle, a single or a tonearm might've been the next thing my pudgy little fingers grasped! As I've well-documented elsewhere, my bro and I grew up surrounded by 20,000 (mostly jazz) 78s and LPs Dad had amassed (in custom cabinetry) and card-catalogued during the '50s (I was born in '55, the same year as Disneyland and rock'n'roll!) thru '70s!
I appreciated your section on selling, as I sold my entire 2,000-unit collection (mostly white-label promos) on eBay at the turn of the century. Plus, I learned from you that Discogs (a valuable resource for writing about recorded music!) had a market feature!
I can also vouch for the notion that it helps to be well-versed in the values on the secondary market. In the '90s, I also did local record shows, renting a table, etc. I remember, as much as I was liquidating my collection, it was still tempting to rifle thru other vendor tables' boxes, and discover new finds...which, of course (being completely without self-control or willpower!), I'd have no problem buying! Such is the pull of the LP, the record....The Vinyl!
In short, vinyl has been my life, and it's so great to see your new 'Stack entry, Andres, being all-in on all things PVC! Casual reader, pull up a chair, join me in subscribing, and enjoy The Vinyl Room!
Thanks a lot, Brad! I would have killed to see your dad’s collection. Growing up like that is priceless. You can’t teach certain things... it’s in the blood. Yes, Discogs is great for buying and selling, especially if you’re after (or want to profit from) some very specific and rare collectible items.
I loved your memories of selling yet not being able to help browsing the collections of other sellers at the same time. Definitely vinyl has this pull, as you say, that simply cannot be rivalled.
Once again thank you ever so much for your very kind words and valuable contributions!
Wow, Andres, there is so much great info here--and the way you lay things out so clearly, even the uninitiated like me can follow along. I remember my grandmother’s record player was a giant piece of furniture. The “newfangled” one my parents bought in the 80s was also furniture, but about half the size. Sadly, we never had many revords!
Thank you so much, Michelle! You have no idea how much this means to me. I am really glad that you enjoyed it and found it easy to follow. I would have loved to see your grandmother's record player! Sadly there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of museums or sites where one could see such treasures today (that I know of). Once again, thanks a lot for your kind words and remember, it's never too late to start a vinyl collection!
That was rural Mississippi in the 70s. Back then it seems a record player was as de rigeur for living rooms as the television and the sofa!
My brother-in-law has collected and played records for as long as I remember. He also made records with his old bands--the Brentwoods, the Rudiments, and later The Not-Yetis.
That’s fascinating. I grew up in Argentina in the 90s, so I obviously missed the golden years of vinyl. I’ve done a fair amount of catching up in the last decade or so, but still, I would have loved to experience that magical period.
So cool to hear your brother-in-law is a collector AND a musician too! I’ll definitely check out his work! Thanks!!
I didn't realize you grew up in Argentina! I only visited once--the year was 2002. We spent some time in Buenos Aires, then flew down to Ushuaia, then took a bus up through Patagonia. It was gorgeous. I've always intended to go back but never have made a return trip.
Yes I did! So cool that you visited, and glad to hear you enjoyed it! I go back once a year or so, mainly to visit friends and family, and I always enjoy it, but it’s so far! Hopefully you can visit again at some point.
My grandmother had one of those as well! It was beautiful, heavy wood, and the top slid back to expose the turntable inside. I wonder what ever became of it?
Wow, now I definitely need to see one of those in person. Thank you so much for sharing such beautiful memories!
"...and you can’t beat the joy of finding a hidden gem when you least expect it."
Finally finding that record you've spent years looking for is one of the best feelings in the world. That happened to me recently, and I was on Cloud 9 for quite awhile.
As for my collection, 90-95% of the time, I'm looking for bands I like or have recently caught reviews on. Once in awhile the cover art alone will get me to buy.
I prefer original pressings, but don't think twice picking up a reissue- especially if it's something I just want to get home and listen to.
This was a great write up, Andres! Only thing I might add is this: If you're new to vinyl, stay off Reddit for awhile. Some Redditors are needlessly cruel. If you found a record and it makes you happy, then it was a "win," no matter what they post.
Thanks a lot, Kevin! Isn’t it such an undescribable feeling when you finally get your hands on that sought-after record you’ve been craving for?
Interesting to read that you sometimes get pulled by the cover art alone. I should experiment more with that (I often prefer hearing a bit first, but I can see the appeal of the surprise factor).
Definitely agree with you that newbies should stay far away from Reddit. So much unnecessary snobbery on that site sometimes, especially from people who only want to demean others.
Once again thanks a lot for stopping by and for sharing your very valuable insights!
resell value is now something i'll have to keep in mind with my ever expanding vinyl collection... thanks for the tip Andres! subscribed, excited to read more from you :)
Thank you so much for your comment and for subscribing! I’m glad to hear that resale value is an area of your interest, and I believe it is particularly important to have a clear strategy in order to fully unlock the real potential of your records. Welcome aboard and hope to see you around here soon!
happy to be here! thank you so much for also checking out FRESH :)
"So yes, maybe don’t choose one that actually looks like a briefcase, because chances are it will sound like a briefcase."
Still remember how in love I was with those! Their shape and cute looks, haha. I am very glad I didn't follow that trend! I couldn't agree more with your views! My next step is definitely upgrading my turntable (one similar to yours possibly) and getting a nice amplifier! May be an end of 2023 or early 2024 goal :)
Amazing post as usual! x
Haha, I know they look pretty, and I’m glad you resisted the temptation. Your turntable is pretty decent in my opinion but yes, you can always upgrade to a higher level within AT. Adding an amplifier will definitely be a good way of stepping up. It’s not always straightforward so make sure you do some research before choosing. The timing you mention would work well as it will give you some time to read and choose one that will work for you.
Thanks for the support! Much appreciated xx
Lovely post here, Andres! The biggest factor when I choose vinyl is based upon the idea that if one of my favorite musicians or artists were thumbing through my collection, would this album make them pause? I know that sounds parasocial and fan-girly, but I put infinite trust in the artists I follow and am a fan of, and I tend to do deep dives on their interviews to get a better sense of their tastes, inspiration, etc. Do I sound like a freak? Haha
That's very interesting, Alex, and I can relate to some extent, so you're not alone! When I discover a new artist or record I'm obsessed with, I make a conscious choice to find out what artists inspired this certain artist or record, and I go check those ones out. That's how I have been able to discover so many great artists and records from all eras. I love finding out what or who inspired my idols. Thank you so much for sharing this! You don't sound like a freak at all!
Thanks bestie for all your info. I love vinyl but have old ones from childhood. I somewhat love the crackling sound of an old 45. Those were days! Keep on doing your good work. I’m listening. X
Thank you!! Yes, nothing beats that timeless crackling sound of an old 45 before the music starts playing. Thank you very much for your support. It means a lot!! Xx
Wonderful overview, Andres, on the "world of vinyl" for both rookies and vets! As a proud vinyl vet, I feel like, after a rattle and a bottle, a single or a tonearm might've been the next thing my pudgy little fingers grasped! As I've well-documented elsewhere, my bro and I grew up surrounded by 20,000 (mostly jazz) 78s and LPs Dad had amassed (in custom cabinetry) and card-catalogued during the '50s (I was born in '55, the same year as Disneyland and rock'n'roll!) thru '70s!
I appreciated your section on selling, as I sold my entire 2,000-unit collection (mostly white-label promos) on eBay at the turn of the century. Plus, I learned from you that Discogs (a valuable resource for writing about recorded music!) had a market feature!
I can also vouch for the notion that it helps to be well-versed in the values on the secondary market. In the '90s, I also did local record shows, renting a table, etc. I remember, as much as I was liquidating my collection, it was still tempting to rifle thru other vendor tables' boxes, and discover new finds...which, of course (being completely without self-control or willpower!), I'd have no problem buying! Such is the pull of the LP, the record....The Vinyl!
In short, vinyl has been my life, and it's so great to see your new 'Stack entry, Andres, being all-in on all things PVC! Casual reader, pull up a chair, join me in subscribing, and enjoy The Vinyl Room!
Thanks a lot, Brad! I would have killed to see your dad’s collection. Growing up like that is priceless. You can’t teach certain things... it’s in the blood. Yes, Discogs is great for buying and selling, especially if you’re after (or want to profit from) some very specific and rare collectible items.
I loved your memories of selling yet not being able to help browsing the collections of other sellers at the same time. Definitely vinyl has this pull, as you say, that simply cannot be rivalled.
Once again thank you ever so much for your very kind words and valuable contributions!
Thank you so much, Mark! I really appreciate your kind words. Glad you’re enjoying!!