Anyone else here collect Vinyl Records?

[LynneSin]

I have about 200 records on Vinyl. I kept buying them even when cassettes were the norm for buying music. But some 15 years later I haven't done much with my collection and sadly some of my albums aren't holding up to well.

But the past 6 months I've started listening to some of my vinyl records again. I've got everything from Zeppelin, just about everything by Queen, about 17 Bowie Records, a ton of Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, Yes, Pink Floyd, King Crimson and other great progressive rock groups. I still have the first 2 vinyls I ever bought - ELO's "Out of the Blue" and Supertramps "Breakfast in America". I have like 6 U2 albums, 5 REMs about 7 Grateful Dead (Including Dylan & the Dead) and oddly enough 5 Devo Albums.

So I got myself one of those cheesy record players from the 70's and I've been playing my vinyl again. There is something so alive about the sound that comes from playing these classic relics and I've decided to start buying more classic Vinyl records. First purchases are to replace a couple of albums where the covers got mutilated from flooding in my old apartment. I had a container of albums near the doorway and some of my Zep covers were destroyed or badly damanged ( :cry: ).

So anyone else a fan of collecting Vinyl Records? Anything interesting in your collection and any recommendation for great online sites for buying more Vinyl. I did about 5-6 stops at Record exchange stores in Princeton & Philly and all I came home with was Robert Fripp's "Exposure".

[evlbstrd]

1. I love vinyl!

I agree about the sound quality. Something's missing from CDs, besides the pops and hisses.
I have Beatles to Zappa (lots of Zappa!).

[LynneSin]

4. I have Beatles and one Zappa album

:D

My list goes from Aerosmith to ZZTop (although I won the ZZTop album in Radio phone in contest)

I have a ton of local stuff from Harrisburg Area bands including The Sharks, The Inciters and KIX

[evlbstrd]

19. I didn't list any A's, did I?

Joan Armatrading, Ginger Baker's Air Force, etc.
Like you, I have a few hundred actual records.

[LynneSin]

20. Just checking - thought you might be "Anti-A" or something

:shrug:

I don't have a good "A" collection. Aerosmith, the soundtrack for Animal House and something else with "A" that isn't too notable which is why I can't remember it.

It'll come back to me

[evlbstrd]

21. Anti-A would just be wrong.

I haven't alphabetized in some time. I feel guilty about it.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. I will never get rid of my vinyl!

I have a good 600-700 albums, and most of my classical ones will surely never ever be reprinted on CDs.

Now, I need to get a turntable. I had the albums all in storage while I was in NYC, and now that I have been reunited with them, it's time to get a turntable...

[anarch]

6. I, too, have a bunch of old albums, but no turntable

Most of my LP's are gone now, though. I don't even think I have 100 of them anymore. It's very sad...all kinds of stuff that will never be released on CD, mostly casualties of group houses or being sold to pay bills. :cry:

[jane_pippin]

3. Well, I'm not a big collector but my boyfriend is a total nerd about it

I have some records, about 50 maybe, and some 45's too, new and old.

He's got thousands, and every day he seems to have some new project relating to them. (Selling them on Ebay, buying more on Ebay, ripping them to the computer, putting them in the iPod, pulling them off the shelf to sell, changing his mind putting them back...oh it goes on and on.) Oh, and playing them. I forgot that part. We usually--unless we only (and by "we" I of course mean "he") have something on cd--listen to records in the house.

[B3Nut]

5. Be careful with cheesy record players

Cheesy ones usually use ceramic cartridges, which don't track the upper treble very well. The mistracking can wear out the treble information in the grooves, causing a "raspy" sound. There are many excellent choices for a good high-fidelity turntable out there, both used/vintage and entry-level-audiophile new 'tables. Vintage 'tables from Dual, Thorens, Pioneer direct-drive decks, or new ProJect and Music Hall decks are good choices. Pair with a good entry-level magnetic cartridge (Grado Black, Shure M97xE, or Audio-Technica AT440ML) and enjoy. Make sure your receiver, amplifier, or preamp has a phono input.

The industry-standard DJ table (Technics SL-1200MKII) is an excellent machine as well, and has quite an audiophile following. Great bang for the buck.

Also, avoid the newer record players with the plastic platters, cheap arms, and that red pickup...they are found in those faux-antique-radio-looking stereos. Those horrid things will eat your records in short order.

If you really want to get into this, head over to www.audiokarma.org - lots of audio heads there (with an emphasis on 70's-vintage equipment as well as new high-end). Often members have very good turntables for sale, at reasonable cost, and unlike most eBay sellers actually know how to pack a turntable so it will arrive in one piece and ready to play.

Todd in Beerbratistan, audio scrounger

[LynneSin]

9. It's much appreciated but most of these albums have been played

on a stereo system bought from Sears.

To be honest, I'm not collecting for value here - most of the stuff is sentimental. I really don't have a stereo system in my house because all my CDs are loaded into my computer and I use that as my stereo (CDs are saved for in the Car and Travel).

My records are like baseball cards. We bought these things with no idea about the future values. I had rookie cards that maybe if I took better care of them I could have made some money off of them but what did we know? I'm just glad that I still have them - the sentimentality of them could never be replaced!

[Rabrrrrrr]

29. What's a good turntable less than $200 that has a pre-amp

built in (I have one of those newer stereos that doesn't have the old-style phono input)?

The Technics you mentioned is too much, though it looks like a hella machine.

Mostly, I want a turntable so that I can spin my albums and record them to CD, and occasionally play albums just for listening.

Plus, i don't have the $$$ to get a nice, professional level $500+ machine, let alone a $2000 one.

[B3Nut]

31. Best bet here would be

a used vintage unit like a Pioneer PL-518 (the rubber foot inserts on these machines will be certainly rotted, but functionality isn't really impaired, just more susceptible to bumps, my old one still sounded gorgeous) can be had for less than $100, and you can get accessory phono preamps for as low as $29:

http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.401/it.A/id.1675/.f

There are low-end 'tables that have built-in preamps, but a used 70's deck (if you get a belt-drive unit make sure the belt is good or factor in a new belt, usually $5-$10) from Pioneer, Sansui, Dual, etc. paired with an accessory preamp will sound better.

However, this Audio-Technica machine (built-in preamp) for $99 will play records without eating them, and won't sound bad (just not as solid or detailed as a sturdier deck):

http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.46/it.A/id.852/.f

Needledoctor has a wide range of nice gear. I've never bought from them but I've heard good things.

I haunt thrift shops and yard sales for stereo gear; I've found some neat pieces here and there. I do all my own electronics repairs, though, so I even grab broken stuff.

Todd in Beerbratistan

[seemunkee]

7. I have a bunch, hit the yard sales every summer to get more

Next real purchase will be the reissue of All Things Must Pass.

Get a good turntable and don't ruin your vinyl. Music Hall makes the cheapest audiophile TT around.

[LynneSin]

11. Unfortunately it's probably too late for the turntable

I've owned these things for life and have used them on cheap record players my parents would buy me.

But I have considered getting some rare import & bootleg Led Zeppelin vinyl so it might be something to consider if I go in that direction. I've also found a few sights with a large collection of Green Day on vinyl, which I think would be fun to own!

[MadHound]

8. Over here!

I've got about 1000 or so, comes from being in the radio biz when I was younger. I still pick up vinyl once in while, though mainly I do so out of collection's sake, or because they simply haven't released that particular album in CD format.

But I rarely play my vinyl anymore due to not wanting to damage them or wear them out any more. Instead, what I've been doing is recording all of my vinyl onto CDs. It is pretty easy and cheap, once you have the right software and proper cable, the only other expense is the blank CDs.

I also still have my twenty five year old Technics turntable, two in fact, the second is for replacement parts and/or backup. Fortunately I haven't had to use it. I did have to go out and pick up a fifty year RCA turntable, one that played 78rpm albums, since I've recently picked up my grandparent's record collection.

It's a fun little hobby, and when a whip out a batch of new CDs, it's just great to get reaquainted with some old friends.

Unusual stuff in my collection, hmm. A Child's Garden of Grass, great stoner comedy album. It's a Beautiful Day, lots of punk, New Wave stuff, lots of old rock, Cream, Blind Faith, etc. My music tastes are quite wide and varied.

Good luck, I would recommend Vintage Vinyl in St. Louis, but their collection of old vinyl has gone down drastically. I frequent a little shop here in Columbia Mo called Whiz Records, but don't know if they do mail order. Other than that, it is kind of catch as catch can, picking up stuff from flea markets and garage sales.

[Beetwasher]

26. I'll Bet I Have The Same Turntable

My Technics is about 25 years old too!

[MadHound]

27. Probably so, those things are so damned durable.

One of the best stereo decisions I've ever made. I got hooked on them working at a radio station, and didn't look back. But if you haven't replaced your needle lately, I suggest you do so. A couple of years ago I had a horrible time finding replacements, and when I did I bought a handful, hopefully enough to last the rest of my life.

[Beetwasher]

28. You Mean You Don't Have the Moonrock Needle?

(old Steve Martin joke, have all those albums on vinyl too!)

Where did you pick up new needles?

[MadHound]

30. Oh Lord, I've forgotten, someplace on the Net

It was a couple of years ago, and I doubt that I even have the bill anymore. They were about twenty dollars a pop. You might want to start with Radio Shack of all places. While no one store carries a complete line of needles, you might be able to pick them up on a hit or miss basis. I managed to pick up a couple of needles for my fifty year old RCA turntable that I use for 78rpms. If not, start digging around on the net is my best suggestion.

[CanuckAmok]

33. Googlophonics!

"I must be stoned..."

[edbermac]

10. I have two...and I miss album covers!!

Those little CD booklets just don't do it for me...

[LynneSin]

16. I have that one but this has to be my favorite album cover...

Hopefully this won't be a red X

[Beetwasher]

25. That One Is A Lot Of Fun W/ All The Inserts!

The Zeppelin albums were great! III has that moving dial thingy...Cool stuff! Can't get that w/ CD's.

[SharonRB]

12. I don't collect them, per se,

but I have tons of old ones -- I never got rid of them. I have quite a few albums and hundreds of 45s, but none of the 45s has a sleeve. I keep saying I should catalogue them and find out what they'd be worth, but I never seem to find the time. It's a huge job.

[Initech]

13. No, I'm more of a CD collector

I would buy a record player, but that would mean having to buy a ton of records, then justifying both the record and record player purchases, then having to convert the records to MP3 format so I can listen to them on my computer.

[swag]

14. I have a couple thousand albums, and a couple hundred singles

I don't buy many any more, but if I see an old album I really want or a single with a nice picture sleeve, I'll go for it.

I like the tactile medium of the album cover, and the larger artwork.

[no name no slogan]

15. Vinyl RULES!

I've got a pile of LPs in my mom's basement, some of them quite rare. Unfortunately I no longer own a turntable, but I will probably buy a new one in the next year or so, once I get settled down a bit.

I love the sound of the needle finding the groove-- you can't beat it!

[CanuckAmok]

17. I have about 3500 LPs and singles left.

Lots of interesting stuff. Mostly UK and German punk, industrial, experimantal stuff from the 80s.

I used to have about 8,000 titles, but I've replaced many on CD, and have sold a bunch on eBay.

eBay is a good place to shop for rarities; I recommend it.

On-line shopping has really altered the rare market... I used to have a list in my wallet, of specific records I was always looking for. I had to recopy it a few times, because it got so old and mangled. Once eBay came around, I filled most of my list in a week. That's satisfying, but it's also fun digging through used shops and stuff, and I seldom do that anymore, because doing it from home is so much easier.

[pintobean]

18. I still have all of mine.

I still buy them at garage sales and the used stores. Mostly for the art.

[tigereye]

22. lots of records

sitting around alas, since we have no working turntable. Some of my music obsessive pals would probably scream at me if they saw how the records are stacked up.... A lot of folks I know still collect vinyl and prefer it, actually and there is a great vinyl only store here in Pgh.

I can't bear to get rid of them and some of them - esp. the 60s to 80s stuff are unlikely to turn up again. And the artwork was really cool. Just can't get that great art on CDs.

have fun.

[khashka]

23. I love vinyl!

I've got a lot (but not as much as you).

Finding a halfway decent turntable in the age of CDs was a major bitch - I eventually ended up with my Dad's from the 70's. Top of the line at the time - and all it needed was a new needle.

But vinyl gives - how do I describe this? - a feeling of space in which the music is played. Digital doesn't. I didn't believe that until an audiophile friend made me sit down and listen to the same songs on vinyl and CD.

Khash.

[Beetwasher]

24. Yup, I Got Some Great Classic and Rare Stuff!

I have hundreds (maybe 500?).

Some of the rarest ones:

A first printing of Roger Waters "Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" before it was recalled and they put a piece of black tape over the naked girls' ass. This is VERY rare as it was immediately recalled. I also got it signed by RW.

A copy of Sid Barret's "Vegetable Man". Very rare.

An original copy of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention "Freak Out" in mint condition.

Beatles "Magical Myster Tour" first printing in mint condition w/ the booklet intact.

There's more....

[LynneSin]

32. If I had anything of value it's probably not in good condition

I mourn the condition of my Led Zeppelin LPs because of the damn flood. My whole apartment was not flooded but waters came in through the front door and hit anything nearby including a crate of records I had on the floor.