LP Vinyl: Quality, Pressing, Label, Weight, Where to Buy ???


Getting back into LP vinyl...its been a long time = mid 70s?  Searching for an educational review on the forum for buying decent quality vinyl LPs...an overview of quality, weight, pressing, label, and best source/location to purchasing (prefer to stay away from ebay as it seems to be hit/miss on what you get). Does anyone have suggestions for an educational review on the subject? 

As a discussion point...I was looking at buying an older LP (vinyl only); I did an internet search = "Faces" - The First Step Album. Online search produces numerous results with prices from $18 to $120...older, used, remakes/repressed, various quality ratings (is there a uniform rating scale), unopened...list goes on. 

Greatly appreciate the forums experience and insight!

jmrrobbie1

I was in you same situation a couple years ago. Now, absolutley back into vinyl after may absence since the mid-80's.

I have purchased mostly period pressings, and if in VG-NM shape they can be outstanding (depending how the original was recorded, engineered, mastered, etc).  Rarely do I buy anything less that a stated VG+ condition. 

As stated, Discogs. First, I began my Discogs journey by cataloging all my existing music into Discogs. Took some time, but worth it. You will find you will then have all the information you need in obtaining and searching out a particular pressing that are available, and also available for sale. Then, I began purchasing from various sellers on Discogs. This has been hit and miss. Try to stay with sellers who have close to a 100% positive feedback, that means even 98% may not be good enough. As you begin purchasing, you will probably find reliable and consistent sellers, and do repeat business with them. I find some have a very different idea what a VG, VG+, and NM may be. And that can be frustrating.

eBay. I have actually had very good luck on eBay. Plus is you can usually see pics of the actual album(s), which can give you a better idea it's condition. And, as with Discogs, I save sellers I get consistently good vinyl from, and repeat purchase from them. 

In general, I have purchased better overall period pressings on eBay vs. Discogs.

New vinyl, there are many good outlets available to you. Popmarket is a good place to start, as is Acoustic Sounds. I have actually got some very good priced vinyl from Target as well, albeit the selection can be limited.

Have fun, and enjoy vinyl again. I know I am. But, it is a very large rabbit hole.

I buy from a variety of places - Amazon, ElusiveDisc, Acoustic Sounds, Ebay, Discogs and of course local used record stores.  Of all the places, my favorite is Amazon.  Can't beat the two-day Prime delivery as I hate waiting for things.  Out of maybe 100 albums, I've only had to return two - that's not too bad.  Their customer service has also gotten better and their price for new albums is pretty competitive.  At one time, Amazon even mailed me an album in a plastic bag (and I even started a thread on it), but it wasn't damaged or anything.  Despite all that, Amazon is still my go to for new readily available albums. Ebay and Discogs are a hit and miss as the NM grading is severely abused and often leads to disappointment. The local used record store prices are close to a new copy - at least that's been my experience in LA.

+++ all the info above plus invest at a minimum in a wet / vac record cleaner.

i frequent Discogs, rarely buy below 99% positive feedback and never below NM- on the disc. 

Enjoy the rabbit hole as Brian so aptly  said !

Do the discog research, if you're set on getting period presses  to justify  possibly spending more for a quality pressing.

Get ready to do some eye squinting to reference the deadwax. It's all in those often hard to decipher etchings to determine pedigree of a possibly overpriced used LP.

First run doesn't guarantee the best SQ, but generally may provide best chance of getting "closer to the master tape".

Greatest hits LP's are generally inferior in SQ compared to the same cut on the original album. I don't bother with them.

Easy way to immediately spot a reissue is a bar code on the jacket. If the original was released before 1980 or so, it usually wont have a bar code.