How To Identify a Vinyl LP and Determine Value | Talking About Records

[@carpo719]

I go straight to discogs, and enter the record label number..... never fails. Except a couple of obscure LPS that had that I can't find any info on. The funny thing was I was looking through my Pink Floyd LPS and I found a reissue of Dark Side of the Moon I bought years back, turned out it was worth more than the original by far because of how many were printed. I had no idea😮

[@NTXVinyl]

Sounds like you may have found the 30th anniversary version of DSOTM. That's a fantastic pressing!

[@princegio1385]

What is discogs?

[@paulgowler5181]

What is a record label number?

[@paulgowler5181]

​@@princegio1385lol so you didn't watch the video at all? Almost the entirety of the video is about discogs

[@C90C60C30]

Great Chanel 👍. Been a member of Discogs since 2007. Been buying records since 1978 (I’m 54 !! 😮). It was only in your other video about recommending to catalogue one’s collection on Discogs, that I thought, yeh, I definitely should. I’ve just started doing it. It’s very addictive! True detective work! I have a couple or so thousand, so nothing compared with some of your audience! But the Discogs thing puts a whole new interest on what one has, and secondarily , what they’re worth 👍. Love the content mate 👍👍👍

[@mckeemichael1]

I'm not, at the moment, interested in those specifics or values, but have often wondered how to determine what you have, and this was a great video! Thanks for it!

[@donaldhumphreys1882]

Very helpful. Convinces me I don't have enough time left on the planet to value my 3 boxes of old vinyl records. Don

[@nutmegks]

I recently came across the box of records that still have the original seal on them. They're mostly late '70s and early 80s. Any additional suggestions on pricing them?

[@paulgowler5181]

It really depends on the record. Yes it's not a fast process, but this guy makes it seem like it takes longer. Here's what I do. I write the entirety of the matrix number of side A in the search bar. If there is anything particular about side B, such as a master engineer signature, I'll put that in there too (probably you can put the full matrix for both sides). Often this will turn up just a handful of records. Don't click from the drop-down, as if you do this and then click back you will have to reenter your search terms. Hit enter and there will be your (hopefully only) 5 or 6 results. Usually one of them is the master release, which is just a page to search all versions. Click on each result in turn. First things first, click through the images to see if the labels match. If they don't, come out and go to the next result. If the labels match, scroll down to the identifiers and see if any of the variants match yours (the variants arise because the pressing plant will likely have its own identifier, the record company may be quite meticulous about tracking records and stamp the generation number of the stampers and mothers, even the lacquer may be different. If your exact matrix number is not listed on a particular release but the only difference is that the one on discogs ends with a 4 and yours with a 6, it's likely that this is simply to do with stamper or mother generation, or the plant that pressed it. If the difference is so minor it's likely your copy is the same release. However, come out and check the other releases to see if you can find your exact matrix number (checking the labels first) as this will get you closer to an accurate valuation. Occasionally, none of the results are a close match, or the matrix number doesn't produce any results, or perhaps returns too many results to be efficient to manually check. In this case, that is when you would go to the master release to view and filter all versions. Use all the filters you know the information for, and look for particular markings in the runout of your copy that you can write in the other information field. You can also put one of the matrix numbers in here. The results will give you lots of information in this section without even clicking on it. For example, if it says Townhouse pressing and yours doesn't say Townhouse in the runout, that's not your copy. If yours is gatefold, ignore results that don't specify gatefold. If the result says embossed cover and yours isn't embossed, ignore those. Quite often, using the generic search bar that we started with, you will get one maybe two results. It will be easy. Occasionally, it can take a fair bit of time. It has taken me upwards of 30 minutes for a single record before, but that's rare. Probably the average is about 5 minutes per record. If you are quite into vinyl, it can be an interesting and rewarding experience. You get used to the various pressing plant identifiers, and you get a little spark about finding you have a monarch pressing or a Strawberry Studios pressing. You look out for engineers' signatures, hoping to see a BILL or a Wly or a HTM, or perhaps, "A PORKY PRIME CUT". I do think it must be tedious to do this if none of that is ever going to interest you. If that's the case, maybe only put records on if you want to sell them.

[@rayeckert9425]

Ultimately the value is what someone is willing to pay for it.

[@cuoresportivo155]

or how much you enjoy listening to it.

[@kevinjohnson8220]

No, ultimately the value of something is what someone is willing to pay for it over a set period of time.

[@paulgowler5181]

This is the best answer you can give to this. Unless you are going to differentiate down to a very high degree of accuracy, you won't know for sure. Discogs is quite low resolution, differentiating based on releases, rather than pressings. Your copy of Are You Experienced cut by Bill Lacey is worth so much more than mine cut by an uncredited generic engineer. Unless yours is the 900th record pressed from the 6th stamper from the 12 mother and mine is the 8th record pressed from a first generation stamper from a first generation mother, then potentially mine is worth more. But you don't always have that level of detail. So the best you can say is, what is likely to be the most someone is willing to pay for it?

Amazing work GI. This is a very good tutorial for someone who is looking to know the value of a certain record. I also use Popsike, it's other alternative.

[@NTXVinyl]

Thanks so much! I don't touch Popsike much because the "Sold Items" via eBay's filters is essentially the same thing - I think.

[@bacarandii]

This is terrific. I learned most of this stuff the hard way, through trial and error, back in the early 2000s, with some help from printed Goldmine guides. I wish I'd had this tutorial back then. (I just looked it up and Discogs launched in November, 2000, so before that ebay was pretty much the only online game in town.) I love doing research anyway, though. Thanks for the very well put-together lesson. Love the split screen and iPad screen recording.

[@NTXVinyl]

Thanks so much! Appreciate the feedback

[@JIMFROMANDROS]

Great video for grading Records. Allthough an European buyer I must testify that from my experience US sellers are by far the most honest about the condition/value ratio of the records. A record graded VG+ in US is graded Mint in Europe and costs more in Europe all the time.

[@NTXVinyl]

Thanks! And that’s interesting in regards to the grading differences depending on location. I wonder why that is

[@lawrence5368]

Thank you for the video. I've learned a few short cuts here for Discogs. It all boils down to one thing. It's only worth as much as what someone's going to give you for it. Just like anything you sell.

[@NTXVinyl]

You’re very welcome.

[@spy8464BB]

Easily one of the best videos on youtube. Thanks for the concise information 👍

[@NTXVinyl]

Wow, thanks!

[@springercollectibles]

Thank you for posting such a practical and thorough video! Fantastic info!

[@NTXVinyl]

You’re welcome!

[@cohuna15]

Excellent tuition, thank you. Pity you don't post to Australia, would love to visit your store one day

[@itsdamianb]

theres a couple discogs forum posts that also explain different pressing plant symbols that you can find in the deadwax. with really common labels like columbia for example, you can really narrow down your choices by knowing which pressing plant it was pressed at. its what really got me understanding how to catalogue my records more than any other info on the jacket or deadwax.

[@NTXVinyl]

Good call. And yes...the SP/AR/MO acronyms appended onto catalog numbers can be very helpful to fine tune a search

[@johnvideozen4821]

Very informative video, learnt a lot, thank you

[@NTXVinyl]

Glad it was helpful!

[@donnalhesler7329]

3:00pm Thank you for making this video, so very much helpful, thanks for breaking everything down to understand.

[@NTXVinyl]

Glad it was helpful!

[@FrankieLovesElvis]

I’m just starting to educate myself on the Discogs, trying to add to my collection. A friend of mine actually showed me his entire collection and on Discogs it came up between $45,000 and $92,000 , between medium to high. Unreal.

[@NTXVinyl]

www.discogs.com/user/ntxvinyl

[@shineonugrzydieman]

Very informative - thanks for pointing out Discogs app and handy barcode search Nice share

[@NTXVinyl]

Our pleasure!

[@dollyhall5696]

Excellent Video! So informative and I now have a great understanding of how to reserach my LP's, thank you.

[@NTXVinyl]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ultraphobic69]

Awesome video. Thank you so much from someone getting back into the vinyl game

[@NTXVinyl]

Cheers! Definitely browse our videos. Tons of useful stuff for ya.

[@cherylrippey5579]

Thank you so much! You are so patient and helpful in your explanation. My LP is still sealed so I can't read those numbers you were talking about. What do you do in this instance?

[@NTXVinyl]

All you can do is make an educated guess based on the cover/spine/etc

[@wyattfoley100]

Thank you GI 👍 That was very informative for me. I knew a little bit, but now I have a broader understanding.

[@NTXVinyl]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching

[@cuoresportivo155]

I use discogs to keep a record (pun intended) of what I have, and what song is on what album. But the value of records for me is in the music they contain, I don't care what someone else wants to pay for them.

[@RudyDeblieck]

Thanks NT this is very clear, I learned a lot😃

[@harrylakhaney4464]

Excellent advice - thank you

[@ViculacionRSE]

Great video !

[@NTXVinyl]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@andybertaut]

I like the discogs app but when I'm trying to figure out which pressing I have, I use the full website. The app is just too limited when you're dealing the a record with a lot of pressings (Dark Side Of The Moon - I'm looking at you!)

[@dimebagdave77]

Amazingly good breakdown of the facts of vinyl life🔥

[@NTXVinyl]

Thanks man!

[@TheCollectorCave]

Thanks so much for this video. I'm new to the vinyl scene (after years of wanting to finally get into it), and I've discovered Discogs and figured out quite a bit, but your video reaffirmed and also taught me some things! Great video!

[@NTXVinyl]

Glad I could help!

[@TheCollectorCave]

@@NTXVinyl Just for finished getting my collection on Discogs. All 22 records lol. It was really fun doing detective work on a few of those. Some of those old Rush records were tough to figure out!

[@nechadi]

I always highlight the matrix # and "save all" after I type in the matrix # into the search, because Discogs will usually time out after you search and miss the first version. Then just paste the matrix # back in the search bar to get those narrowed results.

[@NTXVinyl]

Good call. Will have to try that

[@emilymein]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@TheGlawton]

Bravo GI. I’ve begun cataloguing my collection and have already discovered all your pointers. But I have a challenge for you. I have found a number of records that have no exact matches on Discogs database. So I’m starting to figure out how to make a submission. And it’s a bear!! How about a ‘how-to’ on that? Thanks.

[@NTXVinyl]

It’s a pain in the ass! 😂

[@TheGlawton]

@@NTXVinyl OMG what a pain! It's making me want to cheat.

[@lorenzohoyt5529]

It's not that bad actually, once you've done several submissions. I usually copy and paste a similar version that I have on Discogs, then go to the dead wax that usually has the different matrix/runout. Done close to 250 submissions now, on vinyl and CD's. This helps Discogs to have even a more accurate website! Happy to do it, since I'm retired and have close to 1500 cds and records. Thanks G.I.!

[@jwbqjsux5f]

I always go to the Master Release of the album in Discogs first, by searching the album title. Then I use the filters for label numbers/runouts/country etc.

[@NTXVinyl]

I sometimes do this as well. Every record is different so it just depends. But most cases I start with the main catalogue number + US, assuming I know it’s a U.S. pressing. That typically takes me very close to a match

[@skykingimagery899]

A much better discussion of dead wax which is nearly impossible to read. Pitman vs Terra Haute is so difficult. May look just the same. But a much clearer attempt.

[@Daydream-Vinyl]

Thanks for making this video. Even for an experienced user of Discogs, this can be a tricky process to navigate. I miss logged a Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers pressing and oh man, it took a long to time to finally find the one I had.

[@NTXVinyl]

Our pleasure!

[@paulgowler5181]

There is a huge problem with discogs. It differentiates between releases, not pressings. A release may be pressed from different lacquers cut with different equipment by different engineers at different plants. For example, we may both have a pressing of Rubber Souls, but yours might be pressed from a lacquer cut by the renowned Wally Traugott at using excellent and well-calibrated equipment at Monarch, a plant well known for top quality pressings. Mine might not have a signature identifying an engineer, meaning at the very least the master is almost certainly lower quality, having been cut by an engineer of lower calibre, especially if it was cut at the Hollywood plant using a less well-maintained, less well-calibrated lathe. Maybe mine was even pressed at Scranton, a plant notorious for inconsistent quality, often producing records with a lot of surface noise, warp and distortion. Yours is worth a heck of a lot more than mine. I totally get that it would be impractical for discogs to differentiate between every slight difference, but it should be done at least by pressing. If I buy a particular record, I want to know what master it came from. Yes, I know from experience that that can be challenging. My copy of Dark Side of the Moon has side A pressed from a master cut by Ken Perry and side B cut by Wally Traugott. However, a single lacquer would be used to cut at least 15,000 records, and as many as 100,000 (possibly more if during a time of high demand and manufactured by a less discerning label, perhaps many of the latter end of the run being used as the notoriously bad club editions), so there are still considerable numbers of each individual pressing. I'm currently trying to find a copy of Dark Side of the Moon cut by Harry Moss, but all of his cuts are mixed up with lesser cuts under the same issue. What am I going to do, contact 80 different sellers to ask if their matrix bears the HTM signature? So, I would say that the valuations on discogs are at best very loose ballpark figures. If you want to know a more accurate value of your records, you'll have to do more research. This is why some copies of Are You Experienced sell for upwards of $200 and some sell for less than $20. Yes, condition has a lot to do with it, but it's also a lot to do with whether your copy is a cut made by Bill Lacey or some Tom, Dick or Harry (except Harry Moss 😂).

[@Classic.Hits-335.artists]

Can you help me find a resource that helps me find the gold mine standards? You mentioned the difference between grading the vinyl and the jacket. All I have found online is a grading that combines them both. I am trying to sell my collection and be able to understand how to differentiate between the two would be of great help thank you so much.

[@markkillion8980]

Very informative presentation. I agree that the dead wax characters are not the end all and be all for identification. The plant could have inserted the updated label while the same stamper remained in the press!

[@NTXVinyl]

Thanks for watching!

[@agomodern]

Checked out one of your booths and picked up an Aztec Camera album. I may already have a copy, but for 5 bucks I wasn't going to pass it up.

[@NTXVinyl]

Glad to hear it!

[@lorettaross5146]

Thanks for all the great information! One question-- how do you identify the pressing if the record is sealed and you don't want to open it?

[@NTXVinyl]

Thanks for watching! And great question. Unfortunately a lot of times if an album is sealed, especially an older pressing - it simply cannot be identified with absolute certainty. Many labels printed more jackets than LPs, and used them across different pressings.

[@lorettaross5146]

@@NTXVinyl thanks for answering me!

[@lorettaross5146]

@@NTXVinyl is it better to leave the album sealed or to identify the pressing? (We've got kind of a lot of sealed albums from the 1970s.)

[@NTXVinyl]

@@lorettaross5146 another great question! The danger with keeping albums sealed is that they can be prone to warp over time because of the shrink wrap expanding and contracting. I come across them often and many times when I do choose to open them they don’t lay flat. That said, I kinda think the damage would have already been done at this stage, as long as they are temperature controlled. It’s hit or miss. And can be risky for buyers.

[@lorettaross5146]

@@NTXVinyl thank you again for answering me! 😊

[@sefarba]

Hi G.I., thanks a lot for doing this, it’s really helpful for those of us beginning our journey into OG’s. Just a question, in which instances would you consider getting a record from a different country vs. US? I appreciate it, thank you.

[@NTXVinyl]

Really only if it was never pressed in the US, and/or if it is only avail for purchase overseas. Thanks for watching!

[@j.garcia6006]

There is also ValueYourMusic

[@rebelwithacause3574]

Does an autographed album always boost the value?

[@NTXVinyl]

Not necessarily, unless it is authenticated, many people will never purchase it

[@gw2man35]

I have a zepp ll with no barcode still sealed . Any idea how much it may be worth. Thanks

[@NTXVinyl]

Real hard to know since it’s sealed. It was obviously massively popular so it was repressed countless times throughout the 70s before bar codes got implemented. Could be a super valuable first/early press, or a very common repress. That one does have some indicators as far as the cover goes though. Several different styles of cardboard were used. Earlier pressings have a more matte look/feel versus glossy cardboard

[@FredVoomVoom]

There is something you forgot to mention. Selling online has a cost and a 100$ record sold is not 100$ in your pocket. There is commissions to pay. 9% to Discogs and another 4 to 6% between Paypal and banks..total is around 15%. It means you get 85$ left. You have to take this in consideration when you value a record which wont sell on Discogs or Ebay but in a record shop or on a Facebook page!

[@abstract_cosplay]

I honestly look it up on discogs especially it its an artist I've never heard of. Then again I'm never really looking to sell my stuff so it's more or less piquing my curiosity on whether or not I should buy it. I usually do in the end

[@JanaCoffman-lx1nh]

I own a copy of the “Concert for Bangladesh” and the record made a by rs🎉ads aresGeorge Harrison, “All things must Pass”. Jackets worn, Vinyl is pristine. Any advice for an old Lady trying to return some cash to my own. House after years of taking them❤ with me.

[@charleswade1673]

Lets say I have a perfect Mint Record but the album jacket sucks. Where can I get a new jacket or what do I need to make a new jacket

[@nickklapatch2062]

What do u click on when u get on discogs to scan and find out what u have? There's like 50 different things to click on. Do i click on buy or sell

[@NTXVinyl]

The barcode scanner is the small icon inside the Search bar (on the right) at the very top of the app

[@nickklapatch2062]

Got it now

[@nickklapatch2062]

Btw thanks for siamese dream been trying to get it for almost 5 years

[@NTXVinyl]

@@nickklapatch2062 awesome!

[@automatedelectronics6062]

Excellent explanation! Thank you! I'm going to have to watch your video a few times to figure out how to use Discogs like you showed. Even having used Discogs for years, some of the things you showed I've never seen before. I have found quite a bit of misinformation on Discogs and looking at the history of revisions, I have seen that at one time they had the correct information listed, but they someone changed it to incorrect info about the listings. Myself, I have directly been involved with Jerry Osborne Enterprises in their publications. The printed version is usually updated annually, but the online Cyberguides version is updated weekly. They get their information by observing the record sales industry and from people, like me, reporting actual sales prices to them. Many used record stores use their published information as a place to start. Too many record stores price their records at the upper limit or even more, which would probably a mint grade, but the actual records may be VG+ or worse. Many of the eBay sellers selling records are flippers and don't know how to properly grade records. Many admit that they don't have anything to play records on, but they might describe them as being mint, just from visually inspecting them. Records are meant to be played and not just looked at. Thank you again for the great video.

[@heckyeahbrother1613]

i would use discogs… but the records i just got were made before the barcode was invented 😂😂 so thank you for this video!!!

[@paulgowler5181]

I don't understand why on earth you don't use more filters in the search. You're going to potentially manually examine more than 70 releases? Filter additionally by year and label. Many of those 76 will be reissues, released in different years by different labels.

[@mr.george7687]

Maybe its just me, I use Discogs & the amount of information is confusing & overwhelming. Many times I give up!

[@davidgallistel2083]

What is your record worth? Probably not as much as you think!

[@NTXVinyl]

In many cases….correct.

[@thomasmagray]

if its sealed your screwed on what one it is

[@garyharper2943]

What’s my records worth? a lot to me and that’s all that matters.

[@NTXVinyl]

Agreed. Until you fall on hard times, have a fire/flood, or pass away.

[@garyharper2943]

@@NTXVinyl pretty sure when I pass away it won’t bother me at all.😉

[@OwlsRNotWhatTheySeem]

Tri colored Are You Experienced? OG pressing. Done. For vintage, JUST LEARN YOUR LABELS. The matrix obsession is weird and annoying. Now we got 432 versions of Grease OST or whatever because some newb found a copy with -GH2 on the end and now they're compelled to submit their newly discovered version lol. Please make it stop. And thanks for not even mentioning popsike. Terrible resource for common records.

[@JohnSmith-zl8rz]

This videos only helps to resellers and scalpers, so you need to pay more silly!!!

[@NTXVinyl]

I guess you could look at it that way 🙄

[@crazyfeet6170]

Yes @rayecker & someone paid $450.00 including shipping/duties for a sealed copy of Moody Blues Days of the Future Past first pressing (MFSL). U got to luv Vinyl.