Vinyl Lovers


After a marathon session of ultrasonically cleaning some of my vinyl treasures, I discovered that a few of them had what I'll call "skip-scratches" on various cuts. I have many more to clean (i.e.  somewhere around 5 to 6 hundred, mostly original 60s & 70s LPs) and fully expect to encounter more bruised babies along the way, not all of which I'll probably replace with vinyl re-issues or re-pressings. Some of my all-time favorites, however, I definitely will want to replace, providing I can find good quality re-issues/re-pressings. I know there is much to learn about this, and I am just beginning to scratch the surface (no pun intended). For example, there are issues of so called "virgin vinyl", quality of the vinyl mix, thickness of vinyl, recording from original master tapes, if still in existence and in good condition, quality of the actual pressing process, etc., etc., etc.

So, I guess my question for you all who know much more about this than I, is where the best places are to buy the best quality vinyl re-issues or re-pressings. Local record shops are few and far between and most of them don't have much in the way of variety or stock in anything other than used records. I'm familiar with Discogs but, frankly, am reluctant to buy used records on-line because I don't entirely trust the purveyors' ratings and the endemic hassles of possible returns. Most of the re-issues/re-pressings I've purchased, thus far, have been from or through Music Direct. I've noticed that some of their offerings actually come from companies like:  Island Records; Impex; RHINO and other sources.

So, what are some of your go-to, solid, reputable standbys?

Thanks Much!

oldaudiophile

Sorting vinyl? Reminds me of Nick Hornby's book High Fidelity (definitely read the book, not watch the movie), in which the main character's life revolves (!) as it were, about his efforts to find the best way of arranging all his vinyl albums.

Not that any of us resemble him in the least...

My Zerostat works great.  To determine the static charge of a record hang a piece of toilet paper down off of something close to your turntable.  Static charge is easily seen when the paper is attracted to the album.  Sometimes it practically glues itself to the paper.  I do four squeezes and the static is gone.  Then I place the album on the TT and use a high powered wired blower to blow off any dust.  Any brushing even with those "antistatic brushes"  adds static.  

This is the compressed air blower I use.  It's loud but does the job.  I also use it on the stylus, carefully.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BL111DFG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Ketchup, you may be correct about zerostat emitting both pos and negative ions, which is a subject I didn’t address, but what counts is neutralizing the negative charge on the vinyl surface. Which was my only point.

@jacksky 

I had my collection sorted a little similar to your system for separating into rock , folk and jazz , while I was sorting my classical selections by conductor then by composer  since they were all were all conducting the Chicago Symphony .

First I rearranged the classical , first by composer then by conductor then I tackled the big job rock , folk and jazz . I use the alphabet minus the word The , so Beatles, George H. by the Great Society and Grateful Dead , John L between John Cougar and John Mayall . and Paul M by Pink Floyd .  Where to put Rod Stewart ? with Blind Faith ? Faces ? no under R . Dave Mason = D , Traffic = T .  This way I don't have to remember which group somebody was in  . Do you have Led Zeppelin with the Yardbirds ? or Jeff Beck or Eric Clapton with them also ? kind of confusing .

At least it's one way to think about it .

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