5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Collecting Vinyl Records

Whether you're new to collecting vinyl records or you've been around the block a few times, these are some important points to drive home in your brain. It's easy to get hoodwinked by marketing and advertising, especially these days, but these tips will hopefully help your journey go as smoothly as possible. Please leave a comment with any important tips you think I missed!
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[@TooManyRecords]

Drop some tips below ⬇️⬇️⬇️

[@the_padzer3456]

don't touch the grooves

[@bobbyseelye92]

hey.. quick question.. what polyvinyl bags do you use for thick albums. I just bought NIN The Fragile 3 Disc and the spine is over 1/2 inch thick. Any suggestions?

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

Don't pull a Linus tech tips and drop it.

[@Mrpancake-lol124]

Weights for warping could be the answer if it bugs you. I’m not sure if it helps the stylus,cor motor or not, I’m a new subscriber so maybe you’ve covered it!

[@Mrpancake-lol124]

Also, if you can’t afford a fancy speaker system, use a DVD player system with that subwoofer. I’ve yet to change mine up because it works so well.

[@andyshacks7812]

So glad you called out the BS around 180g It’s the cutting and the pressing which determine the quality not the thickness of the record. Also 180g records seem to be worse for static in my experience. My tip would be - just buy what you like and not what people say you should buy. It’s your collection and so it should reflect your tastes. Ok off my soapbox lol. Cheers Matt for a great video 🙏

[@mickschnabel]

YES, exactly! the static issue, now that you mention it, it really does seem like the thicker the lp, the more static is involved. Never really thought about that honestly until now.

[@latetotheparty7551]

I'm fairly new to vinyl but couldn't agree more about the static. About a quarter of my current collection are 40+ years old and have less static than my newer ones, on average. 180g is like "graphic novels" for comics. It's a marketing term and a "scam" for sure.

[@redlioness6627]

@@latetotheparty7551 All records prior to 1972 were heavyweight vinyl, and much more fragile too, the quality of the music was affected after 1973 but this was more to do with the change in type of vinyl used from the 1973-1976 oil crises, however the thickness does make a difference just as much as it does with musical instruments, but again the vinyl used today is just as different from pre-1997 vinyl as vinyl between 1973-1977 and 1978-1997 was to pre-1972 vinyl. I don't like modern vinyl, it differs in ingredients due to modern restrictions on certain chemicals that were once used prior to environmental laws. I find more often these days that new albums have imperfections that were way less common on old vinyl and I really don't know if that is due to the vinyl used today or if it is due to the method of modern quality control. I'm sure you have seen the old photographs where women are sat with about 50 copies of the same album which they were employed to just sit and listen to them all all day every day of the week. I just can't see that level of quality control being employed by modern pressing plants today and so more and more imperfect products make it not only to the stores but onto out turntables.

[@latetotheparty7551]

@@redlioness6627 Thanks for that detailed reply. The historical perspective helps.

[@redlioness6627]

@@latetotheparty7551 The vinyl from the 60's was more brittle but it was thicker and harder vinyl that generated good resonance like a musical instrument relies on resonance ie the sound wave travels through it via vibration. By 1972 some companies were introducing their own variations of vinyl such as RCA's Dynaflex, this resulted in records that were seriously thin and very flexible, you could almost fold them in half without breaking them and the would flex back into shape. By 1973 the OPEC oil crises kicked in and certain oil products became scarce which affected the ability to produce vinyl for the record industry, this resulted in companies having to create composite vinyls to use which were effectively diluted vinyls that produced thinner more flexible vinyl for records that was still harder than Dynaflex but softer than the 60's vinyl. Now the thing about both the Dynaflex and Oil Crises vinyls that with them being softer they were less durable than the older harder vinyl and needles would eventually wear them down far more quickly than the older vinyl. This is all the more sadder as it coincided with a period that many consider to be the greatest period in Rock music when so many if the Worlds greatest bands released their greatest albums. They quality of the music stood out greatly compared to music produced before this period but the vinyl let it all down imho. When the oil crises came to an end companies were reluctant to return to the old vinyl as they had seen costs reduced and profits increase and going back to the old vinyl would increase costs once more so they came up with a compromise which was thinner and cheaper than the old vinyl but more durable than the oil crises vinyl, this vinyl was in use right through until the age of the cd came and vinyl went out of popularity except for white label dj discs. Since then all of this environmental awareness has resulted in cleaner products and cleaner production which means that the vinyl used from 1977 to 1997+ is no longer in production. Going back to resonance on vinyl records, no matter how much some people will deny it is true, you can easily find out for yourself by just listening to any compilation album of various artists from the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's, albums by K-Tel are notorious for it as well as Now That's I Call Music series of albums too. Thise albums tend to cram as many songs onto one side of a record as possible, so just find one of those records and play a song from it and then play the same song from the original album it came from or from the 7" single and you will notice that the various artists album version sounds more compressed, there will be more distortion in the audio quality. This is because of the gap between the groove being too thin that sound bleeds from the groove either side of the part of the groove where the needle is playing at any one moment. If you cut or press an album with more space between the groove then there is more mass for the sound to travel through between the groove which reduces noise/sound bleeding but more mass for sound to resonate through where the needle is playing which gives better audio quality (especially at 45rpm). Others will inevitably rubbish that but it is true when you know, it does help listening through a decent system as listening to great audio quality will sound utterly dreadful through a rubbish system. I personally have been listening to vinyl for 50 years now and have many albums from various years and on various forms of vinyl and I have to say modern heavyweight vinyl is nowhere near as good as the old pre-Oil Crises heavyweight vinyl and as I said in my comment above, all modern vinyl is poor quality vinyl compared to other previous vinyls used to create records throughout each period of vinyl production. By the way, I am now awaiting some folk to jump on me for saying "vinyls" LOL, despite what others may say it is perfectly acceptable to say vinyl's, but only when referring to the many different forms of vinyl used in the production of records, it is not really seen to be correct to call multiple records vinyls, but if I am honest, if you have a stack of records and they are all made from all of the various different types of vinyl then realistically speaking it is fully correct to say vinyls, but we live by "social etiquette" according to the World of record collectors and they can often be the most snobbish of people at times. I apologise for making you read the 2022 Edition of War and Peace but long story short is yes, more mass equals better resonance equals better audio quality equals more enjoyment.

[@scottylovesthings]

#4 is the tip I wish a lot of collectors would learn to live with. I’m a bit older, and started my love of music with vinyl when I was a kid. I actually don’t mind a little surface noise at all, as long as it’s not obnoxious, like you mentioned. My only tip, mainly to myself, is to only buy albums on vinyl that I know I’ll listen to more than once, even if the album is a super collector’s edition. And the albums I usually end up selling are those I realize I’ll never listen to again. I’ve departed with some nice ones because I was brutally honest with myself about how much I would listen to them. But I also don’t collect vinyl just to own it. I collect music to listen to it, no matter the format.

[@TooManyRecords]

Respect, Scotty!

[@vitalyluckoanov5024]

Totally agreed! Especially with the last sentence!

[@dillonwalsh976]

Well said. It’s so easy to get caught up buying records you “kinda” like when you’re at the record store lol

[@emancaindec9731]

That's why its soooo important to research an LP to ensure that you really love it before you buy it. Also, it helps to lessen the chance that you might regret buying it later on and saves you the hassle of selling it.

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

@@emancaindec9731 So true!

[@69pilon]

I had albums when I was a kid that were scratched and had pops and skips but I played them anyway, now I own better copies but my brain still adds and expects to hear the imperfections every time I play them. All:part of the music and memory delight.

[@ThePsychoCzech]

one of the first records I ever bought was John Coltrane's My Favorite Things from a record store in Houston. turns out it had a big scratch on the B side that makes the stylus skip. learned that lesson the hard way.

[@aaronblizzard8659]

I’m 20 years old and I didn’t grow up on records, but this is absolutely why I got into it. The auditory feel of the records imperfections, as well as the ritual of putting on and listening to a whole album is make the experience so much more meaningful than just throwing something on Spotify.

[@abbibishop5620]

I agree with the one about imperfections on vinyls because there is something so comforting about listening to an old album and then there's those little pops and crackles

[@tima.478]

This bodes well for us older guys, that maybe had records playing inside the home when you were a kid but this new breed of listeners, maaaaannnn most of them lose their minds when music isn't digitally clear...lol.

[@Servergmr]

So, what does it sound like when it's warped to hell and scratched? I wanna know.

[@tima.478]

None of my records are in that condition!@@Servergmr

[@rustypipe]

sibilance and distortion cracks and pops and especially new releases

[@mikepotter3802]

When I first got back into vinyl, I assumed I was in a very slim minority of the population and thought I'd have no trouble getting what I wanted. I wish I had known earlier on that when something comes out that you really love and want, you should not wait on it because there are more people out there buying up copies than you think. Plus, it seems the labels know the demand pretty well and always under serve the public with how many they release...with the exception of Adele apparently.

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

And eBay flippers

[@Pauldjreadman]

The one thing I can't stand about the NEW MARKET is that limited gets snapped but then people sell them online and hike the price up. That should be illegal.

[@CarlC9898]

especially after the covid pandemic got all these new people to buy records

[@rubysroom9469]

I have a chuck berry's greatest hits vinyl from 1978. On the back of the cover is a mini biography about Berry. Now this was written before he passed away in 2017, so it's oddly nostalgic reading about him in the past tense. It's weird because I'm 14

[@AKLabs-xl4re]

I really love the 4th one that you said. I think those that have issues with imperfections of vinyl are just collectors that displays them and does not play them or just have an OCD. It’s sad that I see newly bought vinyl being sold online half it’s original price just because it has creases on it’s sleeves or have noticeable warps. Personally I don’t have any issues with these as long as it has no skips. It’s all about music.

[@manchesterexplorer8519]

I agree I found U2 the Joshua Tree in what appeared to be NM condition from a thrift store for $2.99 . Side B has a nasty looking scuff about an inch long but it plays through with no major issues other than a few minor clicks . This is a collectible record that goes for over $100 -$200 but nobody would buy it due to the scuff even though the sleeve is in beautiful shape and so is side A . It's a keeper to me !

[@Trippsy05]

I try to keep my collection as good as I can afford, especially my favorite albums. Sometimes creases or warps happen, and sometimes it's just not worth sending back. I have one limited edition record I was told was NM but showed up with a big ol crease in the album cover but it was $30 and the record was fine so I didn't care. Another one of mine came from Amazon very noticeably warped but it was another $30 record and played fine so I didn't worry too much. I would say it applies when you spend a lot for one to collect rather than play a lot. I'm super glad none of my rarer records have come with imperfections, in fact really the only bad ones were from Amazon so I guess the moral of the story is that Amazon doesnt care for their records very well.

[@fetamean]

As a fairly new collector, the only tip I can give collectors' is this: Spend a fair amount of money on your turntable. I was turned on to the Audio-Technica LP120 after originally buying a Victrola suitcase from Wal-Mart. Let me tell you, the Victrola suitcase for $65 was TERRIBLE. Even my record store guy was like, "I know why your records are skipping. You have a Victrola suitcase, don't you?" And he was right. I spend about $400 to buy all the setup I needed for a good turn table and I do not regret it. The sound quality is pristine. I got the LP120 because everything on it is upgradeable if something breaks. With other cheaper turntables, that's not the case. That final point about getting the original vinyls that are pressed with the MASTER recordings is a BIG ONE. My guy that I go to guarantees that he only gets master audio file recordings. If you go to a website like "freestyle vinyl" or one of those sites that can print you your own vinyl "mixtape," sure, you can do that but you might sacrifice a lot of quality when you give the site a bunch of Mp3 recordings of the songs you want. Getting the original masters is not something very easy to come by, unless it's your music, so I would recommend talking to your record guy and making sure he gets you the original analog masters when he special orders your vinyl. A-A-A. I didn't realize that 180 gram was a scam. I always assumed it was a thicker pressing for a less-easily damaged product, but if you say it's a scam, I could believe it. The imperfections thing is something I wanted, in a way, when I got into vinyl. I like hearing the pops when a record ends and spins off the tracks to the center. I like hearing the imperfect pops even when a song is playing. Especially on an old Neil Young record that was pressed in 1971. It just feels like the past. However, that doesn't mean I expect skipping or imperfections on every record I buy. For most new record presses I've gotten, they sound perfect with minimal pops/scratches. I think we forget just WHY vinyl went out of style in the first place. When compact discs were coming out, people liked that they removed the imperfections. No more pops! It was only until CD's had been around for a decade when people realized that they're imperfect, too and vinyl could've stayed. I personally think that CD's have their place but what kills me about CD's is the "glass" jewel cases that are easily replaced but so cheap and dingy, I couldn't force myself to collect them, or even buy a good hi-fi stereo to play them. I just don't care. I'd prefer vinyl to that. Few CD's I own like Tyler's "Scum F*ck Flower Boy" are a cardboard case rather than the plastic glass jewel case and I'd collect far more CD's if they were all like that.

[@jamestomlin4705]

Vinyl is imperfect. That's what I like about it. It has character.

[@mileshigh1321]

Don't cheap out on a turntable! If you start with a low end or suitcase style one, make sure to plan to upgrade, so you do justice to your vinyl, and you will also notice a big sound difference!

[@TooManyRecords]

100%!!!

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

I upgraded my tone arm in my Crosley and have it hooked up to my television. Adhio file.

[@Chowmder]

What players would you recommend? I’m planning on getting one soon but I don’t wanna get one that’ll completely warp or ruin a record

[@cdsackett]

@@Chowmder Just got my first turntable. Audiotechnica LP60XBT. It’s awesome for a beginner

[@Newtined]

@@Chowmder audio technia stuff.

[@user-ue6wg1mp3f]

As a vinyl DJ, I can tell you that 180 Gram records are harder to cue. Where the platter should be able to still rotate freely under the record with the slight pressure of your finger on the edge of the record, many 180s causes the platter to slow down or stop.

[@terryleewest11]

thats because the extra weight is used as A distibutor. back in the day true audiphiles used them to stop the surface sounds.

[@Pauldjreadman]

That never used to happen with 12" dance and dnb. That must be recent. I used to deal in the DNB and nothing was 180 unless it was the odd picture disc

[@janoskis2725]

Great video, Matt. My advice for novice collectors would be to try and buy most of their records in person, at least initially. Look around where they live, find record stores or record fairs. Ask around in their friend group for people that are vinyl lovers and connect with them in person. This fucking pandemic is isolating us, but whenever I can, I visit my local record stores and have friends over to spin some records. That's the best part of this hobby. There is an undeniable endorphine rush when you hit "Buy Now" on an online purchase, but it just can't compete with holding a record in your hand and deciding to buy it, then taking it home and putting it on the turntable. Speaking of... a lot of people wet clean their records, then put them in antistatic inner sleeves before they let their stylus touch the grooves. I always though that to be a bit overkill, but I do understand where they are coming from. So another one of the pieces of advice could be to take good care of your records - they (as well as your stylus) will thank you.

[@francescotenti193]

I have been listening to records/albums, no one called them vinyls back in the days!, for many decades, since it was the only medium to listen to music, besides tapes and FM radio, all analog. When a new album, or a single, was released we ran to the record store and bought it, that simple! Now buying records has become "collecting vinyl" and the industry, smelling money, has gone completely crazy. "Collectible" special editions, limited numbers, deluxe sets with booklets, photos, you name it, 180, 200 grams, why not 190 or 225?, audiophile pressings...., and with all that prices gone through the roof, no thanks, not for me, I never fell into the trap of "the must have", sit behind this keyboard and put my credit card(s) on overdrive. I still go to record stores for new and used ones and thrift shops and garage sales and you can still find "gems" for pennies on the dollar, plus you can see/touch what you're getting. Buying online? Never. New to your channel, nice video.

[@anthonybest7193]

Nice video as always Matt! #4 is one that I’ve managed to come to terms with over time, and #3 is one that I’m really trying to embrace these days and just be patient for represses to happen

[@TooManyRecords]

It gets easier as the collection grows lol

[@nataliedesenhacoisas541]

I'm a semi- veteran collector. The first collection was nothing but, jazz and classical as I was trying to be sophisticated at the time.

[@sailornamaste997]

I liked how you mentioned checking reactions on discogs. Sometimes I might look for an album and a certain color variant will peak my interest, until I read the discogs comments and learn that maybe it was a bad pressing. It’s saved me some money to do that little bit of research before spending the money for the “shiny object”.

[@crusheverything4449]

@Sailor Namaste - It’s pique my interest, not peak.

[@CarlC9898]

@@crusheverything4449 peak ;)

[@eddiemosssax]

Your points, all well made & 100% relevant, certainly resonate with me, especially love the vinyl that one already owns. Great work 👍🏼

[@Parasyte316]

Just collect whatever you want. Don’t get peer pressured into genres, artists, or albums. You don’t like a “must own” record don’t buy it. People think your music taste is too generic and “normie” who cares. Your music collection should be a reflection of you, not whatever people say you should own.

[@mosespray4510]

Great video. Thank you! For me a lot of the joy of record collecting and playing arises from vinyl's failings and inconsistences. You have to accumulate a great deal in knowledge about your subject to know what you're looking at or looking for, and honestly that's a big part of the fun. The possibility is always there that you will be at a garage sale or the Salvation Army and there will be a record there that you know is good, while most people have no idea. When you buy it for $2 it's as if you found King Tut's tomb.

[@terriatmore1133]

Happy New Year, Matt! I refused to pay a ton of money for Garbage 2.0 OP and waited, and waiting, and waited. FINALLY, it got a repress and I couldn't have been happier about it! The wait was worth it! Thanks for sharing those great tips!

[@TooManyRecords]

Happy New Year Terri!

[@Loverera2023]

Tysm for this as a new record collector. Recently I’ve gotten my own record player and I’ve had to learn to take a deep breath too and just let there be imperfections. This was so helpful to know abt and I will definitely be coming back to this.

[@joeblack9213]

Best video of this sort I've ever seen. Great advices! Most important one is '4. Vinyl is imperfect" ... true vinyl lovers knows that imperfections are what makes them unique in ones collection. Almost every record vinyl lover collection also have it's own story which makes it perfect just in your heart.

[@Ludamage]

Thank you for this video Matt! Love your videos and opinion! I knew some of those facts are true and sort of a hooks for the most part of begginer collectors as myself. However, i dont regret i bought enough already limited editions just because of it's fact. I always overpaying for shipping but thats not a thing that ever stopped me whatever im feeling i could buy it somewhere way cheaper. Unfortunately, i have to buy some records in specific music ganres that in biggest part are hard to find in my country. If they however reach my regions they goes for overprice obviously so...i see no other option is to move at least to Europe one day which econome my budget in certain amount but that wont be too soon or sounds as a plan for a future days. Time will show but i wont stop collecting vinyl for sure, i love it's imperfection and history that still lasts. Probably im not an audiophile in regular meaning and more like standart lover of the rough, sometimes dirty and avantgarde sound.

[@miguelalbarracin9077]

Everything will be repressed. Yes, yes, yes. I actually just received the advice last year and taking it really benefited me. We’re even getting to the point where records that have never been available on vinyl are being pressed. Just the other day, Utada Hikaru’s entire discography was reissued. Preorders sold out immediately but still. Lost in Translation got a reissue, the soundtrack to Her got an LP, Corinne Bailey Rae’s debut, Sade’s discography. Hell even the highly sought after Almost Famous soundtrack. Worth waiting!

[@TooManyRecords]

Yep, all great examples of big wins in the past year or two.

[@frankkuth5635]

Unfortunately not

[@darenhayes1297]

Love the video Matt! Nice to see all the comments too.

[@mickschnabel]

Yes indeed, I am very SLOWLY learning to wait on 'big' purchases until they (hopefully) do a reissue. However there are some that I've waited and waited for, and have never been done! Like Westside Connection 'Bow Down' for one example. Luckily my wife got me that for Christmas this year, I was stoked!

[@stephen3511]

Great video. You raise some brilliant points 👏🏻

[@vinylsolution2522]

All great points sir. I don't sweat the imperfections anymore.

[@sunny-no3zg]

i love your channel man, i’ve learned a lot :D only started collecting a few weeks ago & i already feel like i know enough haha

[@TooManyRecords]

You never can know enough ;)

[@mojopin2000]

I always enjoy your content. You manage to educate me on our hobby AND encourage me to keep collecting. The 180 gram hype always struck me as bullshit. I compare my vinyl from the 70's to brand new 180 grams and I can tell instantly that the extra weight is meaningless.

[@TooManyRecords]

Thank you! Hearing comments like this really helps me stay encouraged to make videos :)

[@terryleewest11]

thats because the extra weight is used as A distibutor. back in the day true audiphiles used them to stop the surface sounds.

[@billa5289]

Pops, clicks and surface noise often exist on the best sounding early analog pressings of many records. If you can train yourself to ignore it, you can enjoy all the better analog sound quality over a modern reissue. Of course there are exceptions with some reissues being done better than the original but not the norm. I prefer a VG+ OG press over a NM or M reissue in most cases.

[@mikechivy]

Define "better analog sound quality"

[@terryleewest11]

thats because the extra weight is used as A distibutor. back in the day true audiphiles used them to stop the surface sounds.

[@bluzage8485]

I simply love 180g pressings... how thick and sturdy they are and they usually come with better packaging too... also, most times 180g is almost for sure an official pressing... Ive only seen a handful of 180g bootlegs/unofficial pressings

[@christopherarnicar265]

Thank you Matt for your insight on collecting vinyl

[@emancaindec9731]

My only mistake when I first started out is that I buy the bnew ones that are abundant or most commonly found on stock. Which it makes me think later on that I didn't stretched enough my money to buy other records. The moral lesson is that if you're just starting out, make sure you buy the album LPs that you really, really love, especially the songs inside that ideally all of the songs if not the majority of it you love listening to more than once. That's why research is key to avoid the scenario where you'll regret on buying something, and can save you the hassle of selling it later on... I should have prioritized more the used ones that most of the songs inside that I really liked rather than the new ones that is still aplenty to be found on stock. I've realized that mistake costed me to missed some opportunities to get some used 1st pressings that are on the top of my wantedlist.

[@fulg3n]

this are actual so useful tips! tysm

[@grapefruitplussoda]

#3 is a big lesson I've learned in the last year and a half too. Patience is the game!

[@TooManyRecords]

Easier said than done but a good mantra nonetheless

[@jeffclawson9236]

Fantastic info! Deadly accurate!

[@mercurialmagictrees]

#3 super valuable tip for me. Thanks Matt.

[@scott112883]

Nice video Matt! 🤙🏻

[@gopalakrishnasrinivasan1162]

Hi, Cheers from Mumbai. Lovely video. You have said things rather boldly and somewhat bluntly - which is good. It would induce people to introspect a little, get a bit practical and not get too overwhelmed. Vinyl collection (and listening to them) is great fun but it has its challenges. Maintaing a proper balance with the REAL world is essential - your Video emphasizes just that. Thanks. P.S: I said vinyl collection (and listening to them) is great fun. It is also fun listening to the collectors and their experiences as well :-)

[@lunchbreakdrumming6785]

Great video!! I love this

[@dl.puncea]

I eventually came to agree with the 4th point. I usually buy records online from the same site and if it's scratch, bent or it pops heavily I usually tell them and they change it. Last time I ordered they sent me an even worse record than the one I got at 1st. I just got over it and as I go on in the record collecting I start to accept the records as they are more and more. Absolute great point that records are not the cleanest medium and we have to accept it.

[@theladubfovi909]

“Don’t believe da hype!” 😁🙌🏾🙌🏾. My major gripe, along with the transparent and lame attempts at marketing bs, is the “collector clique”, who over-inflate prices and don’t even listen to their acquisitions (some don’t even open the wrapping!🙈🤦🏻‍♂️). This prevents true aficionados from even being able to acquire the sounds that they’d appreciate and savor!

[@mickschnabel]

Don't believe da hype(sticker)! ha! seriously though, I try to keep mine in the wrappers IF they have hype stickers, so I carefully slit them open to get to the records without completely destroying the outer wrapper. I then of course put a legit sleeve over the outside.

[@reddyred5715]

Am I the only one that loves the surface noise and pops, it makes it so natural i love it

[@ComicBookHangover]

All the things you listed as imperfections are the things I love about vinyl.

[@christiangarcia1546]

Great practical tips. The “everything will be repressed” tip is especially true when someone dies or a hand breaks up. Everyone rushes to pick up their albums at ridiculous price points and then they get repressed within a year. If there’s money to be made right?

[@TooManyRecords]

Exactly.

[@Johnnystrangeways]

this happened with daft punk random access memories, after the break up, the record shot up to $200 or more, now it's back to regular price

[@stevelanemusic4463]

I don’t mind the pops, I actually kind of like it 😆. I’m glad you mentioned it..!!

[@mrhoffame]

Thanks for pointing out the 180g one. That one BUGS DA' HELL out of me!! lol I think another tip I would give new collectors is about the "care" of the lps. I think many new collectors, for obvious reasons, don't yet know the staggering appreciating value of records. Even though they could care less at moment (or even later), I don't think many pay much heed to putting a crease in a corner, some extra scuffs that could be avoided, etc. Usually the "attention to care" for lps comes many, many records after starting a collection. Now I'm not saying you have to give two craps about the values of an lp if that totally is not of concern for you, but why lower the future value for no reason beyond how you set a cover down is what I'm saying.

[@TooManyRecords]

Very true!!

[@leahgagnon9237]

Literally the imperfections in records are part of the whole reason that I collect them cause it’s so cool and they have memories from other ppl

[@Pluralofvinylisvinyls]

In that case, I like records that suffer from dementia.

[@OlixCopyright]

I’m aggresively new to collecting vinyl, I just got a new record player and only have 4 albums on vinyl in total (the records in question are Portals Bloodshot edition, Midnights Lavender addition, Born to die Deluxe, and Ultraviolence) but this has really helped and I will be using these

[@sam6665]

I’m new too in the game and my first vinyl was Portals 🧚‍♀️

[@wrenne_claude]

For the people who collect older niche stuff and are waiting for a repress: Numero Group is your friend! They have gospel, soul, funk, and some more recent post-rock and "slowcore" things

[@sorysrgee]

Barry Grint also listed as Bazza is a awesome sound engineer and does some really good work when it comes to vinyl copies of albums

[@JawdysBasement]

Excellent reminders! It's funny to me - you are probably the same as me with patience. Yes, everything will get repressed.....but I want it NOW. All good tips and thank you for saying the Audiophile one out loud because JEEBUS do people sit on that word like it's gospel. It's such BS! What sounds "audiophile" to one may be trash to another. We all have different ears.

[@raggeragnar]

Speaking of warped records , my original 1975 copy of Kool & the gang’s ”Spirit of the boogie” (cool 70’s funk) , is warped to the maximum. BUT........ you can’t hear it. It plays perfectly. + the cover looks like it came out of a landfill. I don’t mind that either. The sound is excellent , that’s all that matters to me. Sidenote : their previous album ”Light of worlds” is even better. Listen to the song ”Summer madness” and just drift away.

[@mickschnabel]

And that's all that matters! I have a couple w/ pretty bad warps, but if it sounds good then so be it! as long as you have your tone arm aligned etc, it should be good to go for the most part.

[@screaminglordmabuhayka]

This will be good info for a newbie to records, found it interesting and useful.

[@TooManyRecords]

That's my goal :)

[@Hexen525]

I could knit-pick here and there, but all-in-all, a solid clip. One thing I'd like to comment on is #4, the snap, crackle, and pop. I have a few records from the early 70's that were almost unlistenable due to the noise. Snagged a quality record cleaner off of Amazon. They cleaned right up. Not perfect, but WAY better sound. Highly recommended if you buy a lot of used records.

[@Doegiz]

I made the decision some time ago to only allow new albums in my vinyl collection that I truly love, ones that are good at least most of the way through. Otherwise I'd never have any money left in my bank account, but it is nice having what I consider to be a greatest hits collection of the albums I love most. The first point made is one of my biggest pains. Often times, represses exist but it is also true that they sometimes don't, especially the case with smaller artists on bandcamp and alike. That's just a reality you have to accept sadly when you are a guy like me with an average joe kind of job. You can't just go spending over 200$ on that one record you missed because you love it so much. But it can't hurt to wait, it's not like I can't simply enjoy it elsewhere.

[@harrylanza]

My comment on your tip #4. I have been buying vinyl for 50+ years. Yes you are correct, vinyl isn't perfect, but if you have a good relationship with the record shop they will swap out a warped vinyl for a good one. Also, don't be shy about asking them to put the record on the platter and spin it before you buy. I get some of my records from Amazon and have returned bad pressings without a problem.

[@jacknjill3000]

The thing that just popped into my mind when collecting vinyl is moving your records. I had a huge collection that I had for 29 years , from 85-2014. I worked at a dance record store and had my own from 90 to 02. So I had over 10,000 records and most of the store stock. Sadly when I had to move, I was in a financial mess and had nowhere to move and sold most but just threw out the rest. Well, I managed to save about 2000 and that was a miracle and managed for 10 years paying high costing storage. So, unless you are just planning to collected 200 to 400 records. You need to be in a financial position and ideally own your own house to secure them. A dj friend of mine that never got married and has his own house, have a large record collection and even has a big room in the basement dedicated to his records. So meaning if he went through a messy divorce or even got married, his wife wouldn’t want him to have a big dj room and that would have to turn into the kids room. So yeah, that’s one thing ppl. that collect records don’t typically No about and why you still find records being sold at flea markets and garage sales. Hmmm?!

[@joeytrust4393]

I hear you on represses. I picked up Snoop’s “Doggystyle” about a year ago from Turntable Lab, mostly because I missed out on the VMP pressing, which furthers your point. Since then I’ve seen Get on Down release multiple new color ways.

[@jasonk19xx17]

Vinyl is imperfect: True! And it's clear that the pops, ticks and surface noise became a thing endeared to people who listened to records in their lives. Look back to the CD era when a few artists would start an album or a song with intentional "reproduced" vinyl surface noise on their CDs. Beastie Boys, for example.

[@mrrubot4678]

#4 - You are so right... Thank YOU!

[@n3bruce]

I look at inexpensive vinyl as a way to get deeper into an artist's catalog. I have a vintage Marantz turntable with a good cartridge running into a multimedia system through a preamp. I have a second setup with an old laptop, Technics SL B10 turntable, a computer speaker system, and another preamp to run USB audio into the computer. This is for cleaning up records that have pops and skips, or even loops. I use audacity to do the cleanup to put the records on a digital format I can play anywhere. It is time consuming, even a decent record takes a couple of hours, but it is satisfying to salvage. As a rule I clean the record thoroughly before even trying to record to digital. By thoroughly I mean dawn dishwasher soap and a microfiber towel on a flat surface then rise off in the sink. This is risky to the label, but it works better than my Discwasher with homemade cleaning fluid. If I don't, the needle soon becomes clogged with grime and fuzz from being stored for 30 or 40 years.

[@Wegethighwegetfat935]

This was so helpful because my OCD is bad whenever I deal with my Vinyl😌😭

[@rcctseb]

never seen your channel before, been collecting for only 17 years but wanted to see what you had to say. admittedly, i spent majority of the time gawking at your DRUKQS BOX SET ON THE SHELF!!!!! WOW!!!!!!

[@alejandropesina98]

Thanks for the tips!!

[@TooManyRecords]

I gotchu!!

[@false_binary]

Great vid! Completely agreed on #3...look at Acoustic Sounds and Blue Note Classics for example...in some cases reissues better than OGs. Sorry cannot agree on #4, unless it is vintage (like you mentioned) but I INSIST on high quality vinyl, ESPECIALLY new! Send a message to labels and pressing plants to get it together...I will not work with a seller unless they expect to refund their crappy copy they just sent me (knowingly or not). Recent example: 7 Cage the Elephant "Tell Me I'm Pretty" copies later and finally got a pretty quiet sealed copy.

[@octoberstorm3333]

A lot of records I first got when I was uneducated on vinyl care are now off the market and in high demand making them go from $35 to listings of $200-900. It sometimes makes me nervous to play them !! which defeats the purpose. I collect them for the joy of having unique pressings but now that I have a high end turntable and vinyl cleaning gear I spin my records much more. A wonderful recording passion to have 💛

[@wandagreer9144]

I love the tip of A-A-A! Thanks! Do you have any other "secrets" to share? Would love to become more knowledgeable on deciphering deadwax symbols, letters, sequences and numbers. How to tell a Monarch pressing from a Pittman for example. Or how to tell a first pressing from a first (or only) edition? So many questions! ~ Thanks.

[@martinkdoorstoperception.1913]

i love the vinyl for the rice crispy effect thats what gives vinyl its sounds..im on a vinyl hunt now im like a junkie with vinyl one is never enough..just spent 500 euro..vinyl binge.

[@DJSwitchPDX]

Dude ... we are FOR SURE gonna have to talk about this, but while I completely agree about the 180g not making a difference on record quality, it makes a HUGE difference when you're DJ'ing because they're so heavy your fingers get tired after a couple hours. I played a four-hour set on a pair of 200g control records in a club about 12 years ago, and I actually pulled a muscle in my hand! I've stuck to 135-150g records since, because FORGET that nonsense 😂😂😂

[@trevbjorge9968]

Appreciate number 4 I’ve been collecting for about a year and always thought occasional pops and cracks where because I was good enough care even though I do a bunch to protect my records

[@mikepokorny2835]

Some re-issues of records are a plain cashgrab by the label. There are 2 Michael Jackson records that come to my mind. The first pressing of Jacksons HIStory 3LP set came with a hidden voice massage of Michael Jackson to his english, dutch and german speaking fans respectively. Also some songs were uncensored like Scream, They Don't Care About Us and then there was an unlicensed snipped of "Pictures at an Exhibition". Later CD releases got more radio-friendly and said songs were changed or altered. Also Jacksons 1997 remix album Blood On the Dance Floor had a limited vinyl run that featured a 10:21 minute mix of "This Time Around". HIStory got re-released as picture disc a few years ago and the songs are the radio friendly ones. Also Jacksons greeting to the fans is not there. Blood On the Dance Floor never saw a second vinyl run making it the only Jackson record shy of any reissue.

[@ka-pop2243]

Wow, such level headed logic just got you a "Like" and a new subscriber. I grew up in the 70s when vinyl was pretty much the only music medium (don't remind me of 8 tracks). But when CDs took off I got rid of all my albums (go ahead, kick me). However, I've recently got back into collecting records and quickly discovered how much I don't know. To your points: 1. I recently ordered an album that was supposedly limited to 450 copies black vinyl and 450 red/black swirl. The colored version was said to be sold out so I ordered black. However, I received the red/black version with *no numbering* to indicate where it was in the run. Made me wonder... 2. Thanks for this one. I've sort of wondered, if 180 gram is so great then why do I hear so many stories of disappointment with some of them? 3. Key words: "For the most part." 4. Even slight surface noise can be a *bit* distracting to someone who's been spoiled by CD quality. I can deal with moderate noise ok between tracks. But during songs, I *really* hate to hear loud pops/clicks. Skips or loops? NO, absolutely not. 5. In a word: Marketing. I'll check out some other videos but I have a couple of questions. First, is there a reliable source for determining first and subsequent pressings? People usually say stuff like, "It's in the run off," or "check the catalog number." I've found both can be quite confusing. Second, why does it seem like record club copies carry something of a premium?

[@TooManyRecords]

Hey, thank you for watching and enjoying! RE: Your question, Discogs is the best source. You can go there and find all the pressings of an album and usually they'll have enough info that you can match to your release to see which pressing you have.

[@DarkSideOfThePepper]

When I was younger I played my Vinyl. As the digital age came, I get the digital copies of the Vinyl I buy and I NEVER open my Vinyl. Growing up my older brother and I kind of competed for Vinyl. He is now 60yrs old and stopped around 20 yrs ago. I havent. 180gr means spit to me, When you mention Bernie Grundman or Kevin Gray remastering a record that I want I am all ears. Seems though those buzz words like 180gr Limited Edition are also thrown onto those pressings to ask even more money for them. I know it is funky to not play my vinyl and my wife thinks Im wacko but she will enjoy the $$$ when I am gone and I enjoy just knowing I have some of the albums that I do.

[@kittiwakedave]

Great video. Another thing I have always wondered about is how good does your system have to be to discern the difference between a good pressing of a record and a UHQR or Mofi quality pressing? Keep up the good work!

[@TooManyRecords]

It's a hard question to answer... you won't really be able to tell on a really entry level (sub $250) but the more you upgrade your equipment, the more those pressings shine. It's kind of a linear progression.

[@seand67]

Great video….I’ve learned to accept slight imperfections on vinyl.

[@davidcurry8440]

Also some sellers equate original pressing with first pressing. I’ve heard some sellers at the Austin Record Convention interchange original press with first press just to sell inventory to new collectors.

[@KeezCEOKidd]

Great video! Number 3 and 4 are the ones that I found the most relatable. My main two rules I've developed since starting my journey are: 1. Patience is better than FOMO 2. A false negative is better than a false positive When I first started collecting, I bought so many things - almost for the sport of it. I thought it was blasphemous to go to a record store and leave empty-handed. Given that I'm not rich, I eventually realized this was the wrong approach. The sport should not be in the act of BUYING records, it should be in the act of LOOKING for records that are worth buying. And if the goal is to look, it's understood that you may or may not find. And that's okay. Less can be more! And ultimately, appreciating the records you already have should be at the forefront. If you can't appreciate those, why should you even buy more? Figure out what classifies as a "good purchase" to you, and learn to say no to anything else. Also, I would institute a monthly budget as early as possible. It helps with all of these things :)

[@nizelydunnmusic590]

Vinyl 4 life❤ love your videos bro

[@caolannhaughton]

Just a quick note on what he says on adding things to your cart; in an ideal world he’s absolutely correct but if you’re shopping from smaller stores (which a lot of these limited edition products will come from) the stock limitations will vary hugely on the OS that they use. I work in an industry where reselling is huge and our livestock system isn’t super reliable as it pulls from snapshots of our stocks over a given period of time that isn’t updated constantly. What I mean is that if we get a new product in on a Monday and we devote 10 units of that to our online sales stocks, sometimes by Tuesday morning we ‘sell’ more online than what we have because of instore purchases and people get that horrible ‘we’re so sorry but we don’t have the stock that you bought, you’ll get an instant refund’ email. It’s no fault of our own, it’s just super outdated retail OS that a lot of smaller businesses have to deal with. That livestock number represents stock we have both instore and available to purchase online. Sometimes the sales instore outrun the online and you’re left with a deficit. Your best bet is to call your local shop and enquire directly.

[@SteveBMor]

Reviving a really old post just to say that the record on my want list for 3 years has just been re-released! I knew you were right! In case you’re wondering, St Jude by The Courteneers

[@Steinjung]

Vinyl is an imperfect medium. You said it. And maybe this is part of the charm. I personnaly kind of like it.

[@bostonian9947]

So I just picked up a vintage turntable ( sounddesign 6773 ) and it doesn't have an adjustable counterweight. I couldn't find any info on it but I was just wondering if I should keep it as my main setup or sell it for something better quality. I'm new to vinyl and don't want to damage my records so any advice is appreciate

[@gringogreen4719]

I would add that when you buy a record to not have an expectation. What I mean by this is take the record at face value and see if you like it or not. For me I tend to be happier with my purchase. Also getting both CD and the record helps the artist. Then you have a perfect copy and the record. You will also be able to hear the difference. If you have high expectations off the bat, more likely than not you will find some way to be disappointed. Keep in mind from the artists perspective, imperfections might be baked in to the recording and not a problem with the pressing or in the CD. Keep in mind you do not have perfect hearing and the human ear prefers a dirty sound. That's why pure digital recordings sound sterile.

[@thesixthbeatle]

YOu can never have too many. Nice video, and BONUS!! Maslof is not here blowing his over-inflated hole!

[@jesushuerta9878]

great video !!!! and that goes also for people that complains about Cd digipaks being awful, or when they order a new record and one corner is 0.33 cm blended and they post it on FB and make a rant of 10 lines...pheww..go after streaming then people.

[@Th3UglyP1atypus]

Invest in antistatic sleeves!! Now for me personally, I don't think you need to go crazy and put every vinyl into an antistatic sleeve, but having some on hand is always extremely nice. Some vinyl records will be released with gloss paper sleeves and these things are the bane of my existence. The record itself feels like it's super glued into that damn sleeve and it's always full of static. Having a pack of antistatic sleeves for this situation has become a must for me.

[@nateb9768]

My grandfather has a 1960’s full McIntosh amp setup that’s in full working order. I’m an avid iPhone listener and want to enjoy my music with that warm feel. All I need to do is buy some records!

[@Love_Street]

Good points on vinyl imperfections, I’m the same way. Sometimes you gotta just deal with it😡 Also I have zero audiophile albums or original masters. Not that I don’t want them but I’m not gonna pay that, regular albums are expensive enough and if you have a decent cartridge etc. that’s enough imo .I’ll look for og or reissues I don’t think if I could actually hear a difference anyway with omtapes vinyl.

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

Been into vinyl for decades. #1 was helpful, never thought of that. #2 should have been #1. SO MANY people fall for this! And, I have had countless "debates" with people online about this. I was also add that colored vinyl is no longer special. in the 60s, 70s and 80s colored vinyl was indeed RARE and special. It barely happened. Usually on 12" or 7" singles. A person with a big collection MIGHT have 2 or 3 colored vinyl records, maybe. Now most albums are colored. Looks cool, but definitely not rare or special if you already have a dozen or more colored vinyl records.

[@paulaj2829]

1. Just buy the Album. 2. 180 grm is better. 3. Just wait & buy for £25. 4. Contact needle to vinyl with always have some noise. 5. Audiophile is someone who is up his own backside. BUT I would say that all of the things you mentioned could be yes or no.. but each to his own really.. because Vinyl is what we all love when we start the journey but when you get Audiophiles trying to tell you that they can hear tics & cracks on their 50grand system but say they still have a better system than you.. fare enough .. but who is the more content person... the little guy who is just coming into HiFi & thinks that his first system is great & then after saving up his pocket money for better kit will then realise that his new system is better than his old faithful system & so on.. But I love the way you are so excited & interested to let & help everyone into your ideas which are all helpful in the music world we all enjoy so much.

[@VIDSTORAGE]

180 g is better than thin records that can have warping issues a bit easier possibly ..I have 40 year old MSFL album and nothing was advertised on it about the weight of it and it is a thin album made from the JVC Japanese translucent super vinyl with no warps. If you want a quieter less crackle sound, you have to make sure the vinyl groves are totally clean and play it once after the cleaning to make sure no dirt is still in the groves ..Get a can of -Gruv Glide- ,no gimmicks crap ,it is legit and is a 40 plus year old product that reduces the friction and static charge of the vinyl and does a light cleaning and the stylus will last longer ,just a one time treatment for a lot of plays . A record should only be deep cleaned just one time and light cleaned with a micro fiber dry cloth if dust gets on it when you take it out of the sleeve

[@Andersljungberg]

pops can be due to particles in the track. and the particles Can be removed by cleaning NOTE correct cleaning set. Antistat treatment can also improve sound.

[@milanlyczak4664]

At the moment I’m starting to get into vinyl but need a player so the only records I’m buying at this moment are hand signed ones from artists I love. I’ve been looking and a decent record player is expensive

[@rthompson6193]

Yeah, those splits in the covers are probably caused by those heavy-ass 180-gram records. Before 180-gram I don't remember any of my albums having split covers. Nowadays if you have one shipped to you it's a gamble. I like that some sellers will open a new album and ship the record outside of the jacket if you request them to do so.

[@wayverleesoulsong]

I wish my favorite vinyl creators would continue making the lofi vinyl I love instead of limiting them. I’ve missed so many vinyl because I didn’t realize they had a store😭😭😭😭

[@beanie4882]

Icl. I recently got into the hobby and i just buy albums i like or albums that i think look interesting (obviously if its visibly in bad condition il think more about it)

[@sethmishne]

I was unsure if I wanted the magnolia variant of lucy dacus new album but I'm glad I got it as I would have been disappointed I didn't get one before they sold out. I always feel pressured with limited variants as I don't know if I want the album but if I wait too long the variant will be sold out and be costly to get. I really want californian soil by London grammar, everyday nothing by brooke bentham and glow by Alice phoebe lou. What do you think the cheapest way to get them would be as there is no us release for these albums aa far as I know. These albums are probably the closest things I have to a iso. They aren't super rare records as far as I know but they are hard to get in the us because they are sold here to my knowledge.

[@TooManyRecords]

Gotta get lucky on Discogs