That Vinyl Thread - Where boomers and hipsters collide.

[Gordon Cole]

This thread is for people who wanna talk about vinyl, be it what they have, what they just bought, record players, etc. My player is an Audio-Technica AT-LP120 and I scored USA (The King Crimson live album), A Wizard, A True Star and Positively Dumptruck on my last haul.

 

[Samuel Belmont]

I had to abandon vinyls a couple years ago. The last one I got Random Access Memory by Daft Punk.

 

[Shokaract]

I used to collect, stopped when it became a bit of an obsession and cost too much money, also a bitch to ship back home ( I was studying abroad). I mostly got metal albums, my favorite

 

[Rand /pol/]

They're gay

 

[Mister Qwerty]

As much as I love vinyl and everything associated with it (album covers, nostalgia, dropping the needle, etc.) I’ll never go back. Too expensive, no money for audiophile equipment, no room or storage space for a record collection. It’s mp3’s and digital from now on.

I remember watching a documentary about record collectors (some of whom were no different from hoarders) and there was this one retired guy who lost half of his collection that he spent most of his life accumulating to his ex-wife (she didn’t even want them, she just instructed her divorce lawyer to take them out of spite) and he could never listen to them again. He just sat in his Archie Bunker chair starring at his LP collection, knowing half of its gone, that he can never get them back and wishing death to that harridan he married.

 

[ES 148]

Our kitchen has vinyl floors.

 

[The Shadow]

I like vinyl. I've only purchased 3 or 4 albums new. There's still a lot of great stuff to be had at Yard Sales. I found really nice editions of ABB's Eat A Peach and Willie Nelson's Shotgun Willie and paid a buck each for them.

 

[Keep Yourself Safe]

I have a crippling addiction to vinyl, I've had periods when I've kind of knocked it on the head for a while because it was just getting out of hand, but I'm actively collecting right now. My deck of choice is the Technics SL12xxMK2 and I wisely made sure I had secured myself a lifetime supply of them many years ago, I've got a pair of 1200's and 1210's. My record collection is small fry in collector circles but stupidly large by normal person standards, I've got a fairly well curated 3-4 thousand records.

I like vinyl. I've only purchased 3 or 4 albums new. There's still a lot of great stuff to be had at Yard Sales. I found really nice editions of ABB's Eat A Peach and Willie Nelson's Shotgun Willie and paid a buck each for them.

Not in the UK sadly, the second hand market has been thoroughly picked over in all available avenues, the only way you can ever get a bargain at a charity shop or boot sale is if you are solely looking at 7" singles because they quite often aren't always being priced up via discogs. It's created a bit of a barrier to entry for new collectors because second hand records have had their prices raised to match that of new records, you used to be able to pick up lots of great records for cheap because they weren't the sought after first pressings or rarer collectible issues, not any more. The upside of the record companies re-pressing everything is how easy to get good quality presses (most of the time, sometimes they fuck it up) of stuff that wasn't easy or nigh on impossible to get hold of before.

My biggest advice if you are getting it to records is get a good stereo to listen to them through, I'm not saying go audiophile (don't do this) but get a decent amp and speakers, if the room is smaller and you've got bookshelf speakers, get a sturdy pair of stands for them, you'll get a lot more feeling out of listening to music this way.

 

[The Shadow]

I have a crippling addiction to vinyl, I've had periods when I've kind of knocked it on the head for a while because it was just getting out of hand, but I'm actively collecting right now. My deck of choice is the Technics SL12xxMK2 and I wisely made sure I had secured myself a lifetime supply of them many years ago, I've got a pair of 1200's and 1210's. My record collection is small fry in collector circles but stupidly large by normal person standards, I've got a fairly well curated 3-4 thousand records.



Not in the UK sadly, the second hand market has been thoroughly picked over in all available avenues, the only way you can ever get a bargain at a charity shop or boot sale is if you are solely looking at 7" singles because they quite often aren't always being priced up via discogs. It's created a bit of a barrier to entry for new collectors because second hand records have had their prices raised to match that of new records, you used to be able to pick up lots of great records for cheap because they weren't the sought after first pressings or rarer collectible issues, not any more. The upside of the record companies re-pressing everything is how easy to get good quality presses (most of the time, sometimes they fuck it up) of stuff that wasn't easy or nigh on impossible to get hold of before.

My biggest advice if you are getting it to records is get a good stereo to listen to them through, I'm not saying go audiophile (don't do this) but get a decent amp and speakers, if the room is smaller and you've got bookshelf speakers, get a sturdy pair of stands for them, you'll get a lot more feeling out of listening to music this way.

Bookshelf speakers? HA. I've patched my turntable through my half-stack a few times. Incidentally that convinced me to upgrade to full range speakers.

 

[Keep Yourself Safe]

Bookshelf speakers? HA. I've patched my turntable through my half-stack a few times. Incidentally that convinced me to upgrade to full range speakers.

Bookshelves are good, unless you've got a big or a long room if you have floorstanders the sound is going to be projecting behind you and your not going to get the best sound out of them, mounting them on a pair of sturdy stands really adds weight to the bass.

 

[Trilby]

I think I was getting the good deals 20 years ago when I was buying LP's from garage sales a lot. I sometimes pick up an album or two when something catches my attention, but at present it's not a big concern for me, despite having hundreds of LP's already boxed up in several places.

 

[Sergeant Politeness]

Unless it's stuff that was meant for vinyl, I still don't see the appeal. I think it's funny that Steve Albini called CDs the big ripoff format because now I can buy any obscure-ass CD on Discogs for like a dollar and vinyl goes for way more, usually when it's the same master you'd get on the CD anyway. Might just be what I listen to though. Plus, the setup, the maintenance, it's all just seems like a big money pit status symbol to me.

I collect it sometimes (just picked up a Minutemen record the other day), but it's more out of a purism thing, like this is how it was meant to be listened to, not just that it's vinyl.

 

[Gordon Cole]

The other day my Dad & I went to a store that sells Japanese pressings, and I picked these up:

Spoiler: Pics

 

[Keep Yourself Safe]

The other day my Dad & I went to a store that sells Japanese pressings, and I picked these up:

Spoiler: Pics

View attachment 633713

I follow this Japanese DJ/Collector on instagram, the covers and packaging they have on Japanese records are fascinating.
https://www.instagram.com/showadonuts/

I'm also going to be doing a DJ setup in my spare room in the next couple of months with custom decks, I'll post some pics when it's all finished.

 

[Garfieldchu]

I used to collect a lot, but not so much lately. My only vinyl purchase this year so far was a photo book that turned out to also include a 7"

I miss the early to mid 2000s when I could go to the store and buy most new releases for $10-15, and now it's just ridiculous, what with the $30 novelty singles and all.

 

[Nurse Ratchet]

Double score today.

@CatParty I'm told that you love these geniuses as I love them? Can it be true??

 

[tehpope]

I have too many fucking records. I don't listen to any of them. I want to, but digital files are just easier for instant consumption than vinyl. Mostly collection House / Dance records. Do have a number of albums too. Last record I bought was Amplified Heart by Everything But The Girl.

My player is a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable with Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge. Preamp is one of these RIAA ones. TCC TC-750LC. I think its a pretty good setup.

 

[Trilby]

I have too many fucking records. I don't listen to any of them. I want to, but digital files are just easier for instant consumption than vinyl. Mostly collection House / Dance records. Do have a number of albums too. Last record I bought was Amplified Heart by Everything But The Girl.

My player is a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon DC Turntable with Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge. Preamp is one of these RIAA ones. TCC TC-750LC. I think its a pretty good setup.

The beauty of vinyl is that, while you are stuck with these albums taking up space for years, at least you have a physical copy you can break out at any time you want. Excellent specs. here!

 

[Chocolate Elvis]

Not in the UK sadly, the second hand market has been thoroughly picked over in all available avenues, the only way you can ever get a bargain at a charity shop or boot sale is if you are solely looking at 7" singles because they quite often aren't always being priced up via discogs. It's created a bit of a barrier to entry for new collectors because second hand records have had their prices raised to match that of new records, you used to be able to pick up lots of great records for cheap because they weren't the sought after first pressings or rarer collectible issues, not any more. The upside of the record companies re-pressing everything is how easy to get good quality presses (most of the time, sometimes they fuck it up) of stuff that wasn't easy or nigh on impossible to get hold of before.

So, so true, especially on the charity shop front. I barely go digging in them now because I know I’ll find nothing but stacks of classical music compilations that may as well be glued to the shelves. Fuck’s sake, Grandad, why couldn’t you have been a fan of James Brown instead of James Last?

That aside, another problem with modern vinyl collecting is just how widespread it’s become. HMV’s corpse is being propped up by it, supermarkets in the UK and US stock them by the stacks. A great starting point for new collectors, you might think - but not when every outlet’s stocking the same ten albums. There’s enough self-congratulating check out my epic haul threads on r/vinyl to make you think that Dark Side of the Moon and In the Court of the Crimson King are the contenders for best new indie album of 2019, alongside the obligatory Kendrick, Kanye and Tyler. Can’t forget that cheaply-made Crosley picnic player for that lo-fi insta flex, either.

It’s not a cheap hobby, and when you add badly-produced hardware to the mix, a lot of the newcomers to the scene might just end up ditching vinyl as quickly as they took it up. Maybe the vinyl bubble’s about due to burst. Or maybe it’ll just be recycled and overpriced to the next wave of art school kids looking for new wall decorations.