I have found so many good sounding records, old and new, that I’m not deterred by the ones that sound bad. Yeah, there are some records that I love that sound kind of terrible, but I’ve gotten more open minded about more different kinds of music (not suggesting you aren’t open-minded, only that I was locked into an audiophile rut that came from the ’sonics’ school of what to play). Standard issue records that sound killer and aren’t expensive! Decent reissues, sometimes pulled from a digital file that are great! New records that I enjoy. So much out there.
Pricing and condition in the used record market is all over the place so part of the adventure is finding the gems. Sometimes they are pricy but if I’m shelling out for something that’s spendy, I will have verified with others I trust that what the sonics are like- comparing different pressings, etc. Condition is a whole other issue, but I usually have a dialog with a seller in advance, so neither of us waste time or effort. I've been pretty lucky on that front.
I’m not a thrift store buyer, but I still like to find stuff that isn’t crazy money. There was a guy that salvaged a bunch of sealed, fairly rare jazz records made in Pittsburgh by Nathan Davis in the early ’70s- still sealed. Even though approaching three figures, these were a bargain in my estimation, given the quality of the music and the sonics.
There’s so much out there, in the used and new market, on LP that it’s a question of getting enough time to listen, not what to listen to-- and when I’m at a loss, like hmmm, what next, I’ll pull out something I haven’t heard in years. If it sucks or I’m bored, next! (Some of it is mood, too).
Record buying is an adventure to me and a journey into the history of the music, the artist and the pressings.
And when you find those gems where the music and sonics coincide, that’s about as good as it gets. But, I guess part of it, to me, is the hunt.
Pricing and condition in the used record market is all over the place so part of the adventure is finding the gems. Sometimes they are pricy but if I’m shelling out for something that’s spendy, I will have verified with others I trust that what the sonics are like- comparing different pressings, etc. Condition is a whole other issue, but I usually have a dialog with a seller in advance, so neither of us waste time or effort. I've been pretty lucky on that front.
I’m not a thrift store buyer, but I still like to find stuff that isn’t crazy money. There was a guy that salvaged a bunch of sealed, fairly rare jazz records made in Pittsburgh by Nathan Davis in the early ’70s- still sealed. Even though approaching three figures, these were a bargain in my estimation, given the quality of the music and the sonics.
There’s so much out there, in the used and new market, on LP that it’s a question of getting enough time to listen, not what to listen to-- and when I’m at a loss, like hmmm, what next, I’ll pull out something I haven’t heard in years. If it sucks or I’m bored, next! (Some of it is mood, too).
Record buying is an adventure to me and a journey into the history of the music, the artist and the pressings.
And when you find those gems where the music and sonics coincide, that’s about as good as it gets. But, I guess part of it, to me, is the hunt.