A viewer recently asked me if it’s too late to get into vinyl – too late to start a record collection. Here are my thoughts.
#vinyl #vinylcommunity #records
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Prices have gone up on everything. If you have a hobby or leisure pursuit, you’re paying more, simple as that. One solution is to cut back on the # of records you buy and be more selective. I consider vinyl a premium format + my investment lasts forever, so willing to pay to play. Agree the vinyl selection now is fantastic.
Yes,yes, yes. More people means more represses and more titles available!!
Love this hobby! I started collecting 3 years ago. I love almost everything about it. The only downfall of it is the lack of Quality Control of some of these newer pressings and that some albums are pressed in limited quantities. Not many of us can get our hands on some of these limited albums.
Yes especially used , many are selling their collection's . Plus many stores have New Old Stock from past RSD's . Lots of Cool LTD Indy releases out there to scoop on .
Yes, but here in Portugal, paying, for instance 60€ (about 79 CA$), is quite heavy. I've been buying roughly 90% Cds , lately!
You won't know if it's for you until you give it a go, just try not to go into debt.
Jim 🏴🙂
I just got into it maybe two years ago now and I say absolutely. The only two issues I've run into is prices and the fact that I didn't expect records to be as "scarce" as they are. My plan was to make a big list of records that I wanted and just check one off every month, grow a collection slowly over time picking up only my absolute favorite albums. Unfortunately with how records are done these days you really have to buy them when they're being pressed because next month there won't be any, and it'll take a while before it's pressed again. This has made my collection grow much faster than expected and made me spend much more money than I intended to.
I get the 8 track news letter and apparently there’s a guy designing a new 8 Track player usb and everything and it supposed to be much more dependable without the old issues! It’s almost ready for mass production! We have that to look forward to! Think about it 8 tracks are the most compact format! All in one and it fits in your hand perfectly!
I mostly buy 70s reissues. They are around $20 to $30 and they sound great.
Love how you have Maggot Brain in the background too! Fantastic album
I think it’s a good time to start collecting records even with higher prices. You can be more selective by listening to albums on streaming services before buying.
Yes it is.
I've never been out of record collecting I started in 1969 and have about 2000 records and have no intention of stopping now
If you enjoy the cost, and the inconvenience sure
It's never too late to start a record collection, my Girlfriend and I started collecting this year and our collection of records is fast taking up the space in our place, but we wouldn't change it for the world! Get a decent turntable, Hi-Fi amplifier and speakers and away you go (they needn't be that expensive). Also Discogs is your friend in working out what pressing the records are, Originals are always COLLECTIBLE, but not always the best sounding, but every album is different. Japanese records are collectible because of the OBI strip and they are generally meticulously looked after as well as being really quiet (e.g. not crackly), but many have strange EQ choices in the mastering. Always check your local independant record shops and particularly in the "Bargain bins", as you can often get some gems. The vinyl that we have bought and it ended up being too noisy or we've later got a better copy (to listen to) we turn into art by hanging it up 🙂
I haven't had much luck with new releases. About one out of two records I've bought in the last few years is either of very poor quality (pressing cut from bad mastering or from a CD source, etc…) or just defective out of the sleeve (surface scratches, inner groove distortion, split seams from shipping, etc…). You really have to do your research if you're going to buy new. Not to mention the ridiculous prices they ask now. And now the Sunrise Records where I used to go don't even take back defective records anymore, so I'm basically stuck with bad copies. I feel bad returning records but on the other hand if no one complains the music and record business will continue selling us their bad quality records. So I try not to buy as much and listen to hi-res streaming instead.
Newbies are a necessity to record collecting. Nothing brings me more joy than selling a record to a 14 year old. Just had a teenager at my record sale , I asked how many records do you have . His answer? 10
I think it's a great time for somebody to get started!! Just the reasons you mentioned a lot of great albums being reissued, the opportunity to go good sounding system. Hell I may sell my collection and start over..lol
Great video my friend
Agreed,, anyone not getting into record collecting must be a foool.
You can still get good stuff without breaking the bank, you just need to dig a little harder, know where to look, and most importantly have patience.
If you start a hobby for the enjoyment of the activity, it's always a good time to start. Be it record collecting, sewing, art, sport…
Yes, prices of new goods may be going up, but vintage / original pressings, assuming they keep the same demand / supply ratio to keep the price the same goes down in real terms. When inflation is high, anything that stays the same price gets cheaper as the buying power and value of cash goes down.
Thanks for the great times… FJB
Hi Frank: It is a great time to get into vinyl. It is an even better time to get into CDs. 😃. Rock Always! – Heather
Kind of an absurd ass question, anyway. I mean, we're talking about 70+ years worth of records out there at Thrift stores and other places. A lot under $10! You don't have to spend $45 on a record to have good records.
The pressing quality is a major issue now though. For every 10 records I order, I'd say 4 on average come warped, off center, labels over run out grooves, ect… I don't even buy albums now unless I can physically examine the record or I know it's coming from a label I trust. If it's an older album, I just spend more for a first press/earlier version instead of bothering with a new reissue. Sounds better every single time.
Certainly glad I bought the vast majority of my collection from 2010-2015. A lot of things then were still five bucks, or waiting for you at the thrift store or in the dollar bin. EVERYTHING is scrutinized now and sold for top dollar. It is what it is. I’m honestly glad more people are into it. Eventually supply chains will work themselves out and new vinyl will come down in price. IMO: Certain things are going to be forever priced in the stratosphere however.
I've kind of got mixed feelings as far as recommendations go. If a person is really serious about a passion and hobby and they love the audio sound, or even if it takes them back to when they were younger collecting records, whatever the reason; if they're serious about it then yes. I'd say jump in with both feet in 2022. But if somebody can't tell the difference between listening to an mp3 and the audio playing on an LP, providing there's no memories involved, then I don't necessarily recommend it. It definitely costs a lot and I'm sure there's plenty of people that are satisfied and really don't know any better that are happy with their mp3 audio collection. They really just don't know any better and it doesn't make a difference to them sound wise. There's no real memories involved or audiophile types of reasons they want to start the hobby for.
I really had no idea just how expensive this was going to be when I got back into the hobby/passion a little over a year and a half ago. I've been wanting to go back to analog and vinyl for listening to music for a long, long time. But I do live on a pretty fixed income due to my blindness and I wasn't sure I'd be able to do everything I need to be able to do to maintain equipment and do the job right. But I took the plunge with the ATLP120USB turntable, I bought the $150 stylus, and I haven't looked back. I'm already wanting to upgrade to a newer and better turntable even though I've been very happy with the turntable I got. So I'm being patient right now I'm just watching prices.
I got to looking at my collection on Discogs a few months ago. In the Notes area, I always add the price I paid, including the shipping if applicable and tax, and it really blew me away to see that I had gotten close to 300 LPs that I purchased in just a little over a year. I've been spending saved money, extra money, and just doing whatever I could do in order to get some of these LPs I have bought. It's very easy to get yourself into debt but thankfully I haven't done that. But I really do love the sound, the whole ownership of the LP and looking at something bigger than a CD that I can actually see better, and just the collecting community. I think the community itself is the cherry on the top. Channels like yours and many others bring a lot of great information, talk about interesting topics, and news of new releases coming out. And I have a lot better time watching the YouTube vinyl community channels than I do watching anything on TV nowadays. I'm thinking of cutting off my cable service.
I've been given one collection already by a friend that was getting rid of probably 250 – 350 LP's and thankfully he thought to call me before throwing them away or taking them to Goodwill. Almost every one of them is in mint condition and has hardly ever been listened to It sounds like. There's a lot of music in his collection that I'm not familiar with and it's opening up some doors to possibly coming across something else I may like. I know this has to be the case across the country still where some people just want to get rid of the collection they've had stored for decades. So that's a good opportunity for someone, especially when they don't have a lot of money to spend, to get into the collecting hobby and see if it interests them. I haven't added up how much I've spent buying new releases and pressings over the last year and a half, and to be honest, I don't think I want to add it up and know. I've definitely spent some big bucks that I could have used on a lot of other things. But I don't regret it for a minute because I have something to show for my money and it's something I really, really enjoy!
So in closing, I definitely would recommend the hobby to someone but only if they really are serious about it and want to learn. Otherwise, I would say don't waste your time or money if you're not really passionate about it or it doesn't start getting that way for you once you begin collecting. I know I won't be looking back and regretting it…
New pressings and used have gone $$$ and has me buying only those that I really want and then I have to think twice…
Yeah, all these great things for vinyl…gear, intel, selection and access. But, what about us 8-Track fanatics, eh? What about us? 🙁
While I generally agree with you on this topic, Frank, showing a copy of Maggot Brain directly over your shoulder and saying "it's a good time to get into vinyl" represents conflicting things. If you don't have a clean OG now – such as if you're a new collector – good luck. Otherwise, agreed. I hope all is well! Should be a big year for the Oilers.
Cheers! Tom
just buy vinyl that you enjoy,secondhand and new it will eventually turn into a collection that you will cherish ,get decent gear it will drive you to get more vinyl lol…
that was a great video Frank ! I always a positive stuff like you have mentioned 🙂
I live within 10 minutes of three indie records shops and a vintage audio gear store. Prices on vintage gear are still affordable here and with new gear like Cambridge having great prices I think it’s a great time. Never has the hobby been more accessible and fun.
I think if you love music and have a record deck their are still affordable vinyl and vinyl does have it's own type of sound so for me i buy new vinyl for special albums.
My buys of late are
Sigur ros debut album, guns n rose appetite for destruction. , johnny depp and jeff beck 8 gold disc edition. GREGORY ABBOTT – Shake You Down –
Michael Jackson thriller mofi. I have been a Jackson fan since the 80s and saw him live in his bad and dangerous tours. I have the original thriller album two copies from when it came out so i want to compare the mofi edition. Thriller albums that have just quincy jones as producer and not Michael Jackson are the first analog albums. Later sources may be digital files. Thriller was recorded and mixed on a all analog desk but bad was recorded and mixed on a all digital desk. So I'm looking forward to comparing the mofi edition which i believe uses a dsd file.
It’s definitely worth getting into records in 2022. My wife and I jumped in with both feet about a year and a half ago, and it’s been a great ride so far. I’ve already seen myself getting better at leaving those low priced records that are in less than great condition behind. At first, I wasn’t very good at that!
There are also great represses being released all the time for reasonable prices. I just received the latest press of the Charlie Brown Christmas Special Soundtrack from Vince Guaraldi Trio this week and finished listening to it a little while ago. I have so many good memories associated with those tunes.
If you’re resourceful, you can find some really good records on the cheap. I have a few thrift shops that get new stock of used records all the time, and if you’re willing to dig through a big pile, you’re likely to come up with 5 or 6 that are in near perfect condition for practically free.
Hi Frank.. love your points… and your enthusiasm. I agree 200%. Also… the re-emergence of the CD… giving your dollar more flexibility if the vinyl counterpart is too steep. God bless you, your channel and music 🎶
I reckon it might be to late with the prices right now. Glad I started in 2018 and have all the records I want.
I'm relatively new to vinyl and the only downside for me really is just money, everything else is awesome
Sure, why not?
What I like about physical collections is scanability, being able to see hundreds of titles in 15 to 30 seconds with CD's. With albums I go by color, can find any album quickly like that.