Buying Records


I always buy new sealed LP records unless new is not available. I only shop eBay. When buying a used record I buy near mint, nothing lower graded. I never seen used mint. I have had good luck with near mint. Most make no noise at all. A few have had a second of very light noise and I am ok with that. I noticed on the very light noise it about disappears if I track VMN95ML at 2.5 grams. It is normally a 2 gram tracking. So tracking on the heavy side may be of benefit.

jimbennet

@larsman 

You are correct. 
 

The exchange rate for the $ - £  was in the region of 2.40 dollars for 1 pound in 1968. An EMI group of companies record was £1/19/11 (one pound 19 shillings and 11 pennies) the closest you could really get to £2. CBS records were £2 1 shilling.

All a banker/mathematician needs to do is to work out the total inflation between then and today.

Any takers?
 

The Link is where I make some of my pre Xmas Hol's purchases of a Vinyl LP.

This is one way to ensure the artists receive maximum remuneration for their produced work. 

It is a shame such a portal can't create a streaming platform, where the artist get very fairly remunerated.    

https://bandcamp.com/discover/all/vinyl

For new pressings, I frequent MusicDirect, Elusive Disc, and Acoustic Sounds. I will only buy MOFI from MusicDirect and only buy Analogue Productions from Acoustic Sounds, as each are the respective manufacturers as well.  If there is a problem, returns aren't an issue.  I have found that if a MOFI disc is defective, MusicDirect will frequently just send a replacement disc without having to go through the return process. I will send a photo of the defect and that is usually enough.  The same is true with Analogue Productions and Acoustic sounds.  If you buy a defective MOFI from AP, you will certainly have to return the entire package, but they will make it right.  

Discogs is my vendor of choice for used vinyl.  If you know the exact pressing you want-(hint-not all pressing plants are created equal. There can be a significant sound quality difference between plants on a given release)-it can be easily found on the website.  I will also check from time to time to see if my favorite CD only releases have been remastered to vinyl.  Lot's of stuff in Europe that we don't see here in the states.  I only buy mint, or near mint, and choose the sellers carefully as some sellers are less than stellar with grading. The sellers are star ranked and their volume of sales is also listed. I used to buy from Ebay, but you cannot verify deadwax indices and the grading was awful.

In recent years I have bought mostly from Discogs and Music Direct.  I only buy NM or Mint LPs when buying used.  The large-volume sellers on Discogs use visual grading, and--even when accurate--that doesn't always indicate how the record sounds.

Like another member mentioned used records stores often have classical LPs in better condition than pop LPs, and I've had mostly good luck buying there if a record and its cover look pristine.