Worst Record Collecting Mistakes - Avoid at all Costs
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- As record collectors, we all make mistakes from time-to-time. Particularly when we're new to the vinyl hobby, there's a lot to take on and learn.
Even the most seasoned of vinyl hoarders would be hard-pressed to say they never make a mistake or skimp over the details. If not, well, you're a better man than me!
We've rounded up the most common mistakes made by record collectors. What would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments below.
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How to Store Records:
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Best Inner & Outer Sleeves:
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Goldmine Record Grading System:
www.yoursoundmatters.com/how-...
My Careless Record Mistake:
www.yoursoundmatters.com/what...
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What I have found which is annoying is buying a record getting it home and finding you’ve already got it you’ve just never played it
Oppps!
I remember having done that myself once, and I was rather frustrated--well, at least at first. It turns out that the duplicate that I had accidentally picked up was in much better shape than the one I already had in my collection.
Very familiar and i have a whole bunch of probably at least 10-20 various dvds with older childrens movies mostly I accidentally bought twice, darn the “buy two for a reduced price” offering at the store! :)
I resemble this comment😢
That's part of the reason I have my collection cataloged on Discogs. If I can't remember whether a record is in my collection, I just look at the Discogs app on my phone.
Definitely agree with not keeping records you don't listen to! Just cause others say it's something you must have...if it's not your taste don't buy or keep it!
It really helps keep your collection lean.
Absolutely!!
Not checking the vinyl is the biggest mistake but also giving records to friends is another. I’ve gifted a few that I didn’t listen to only to find out later that they were valuable.
If you still use pvc protection sleeves, get rid of them. They were quite common in the eighties and I had lots of them, buying them with every new record. When warm, they breathe out the chlorine, which will then land on the next glossy or vinyl surface. In case of a glossy sleeve, it will land on there, possibly making the sleeve look older. But if the sleeve is matte or just only a little bit glossy, then the chlorine will pass right through it and it will land on your record. It will look like it is clouded. You can never get that off. It will give a little bit of extra surface noise, if you are lucky.
If you're in bad luck, the plastic sleeve will be stuck on your record sleeve and your record itself will be dull.
Nowadays you can get PP or PE sleeves. One is thin and almost invisible, the other is thicker en not entirely invisible. But they are both good.
Good advice. Those PVC sleeves have wrecked a LOT of records
I store records vertically but my moms old records were horizontally for 40+ years and they're just fine
Throughout my life I have found a curious constant.
When I am making good choices in regards to how I treat the people with whom I have contact, completely unrelated things in my life tend to go very well.
Ben Hogan said, "The more I practice, the luckier I get."
It sounds to me like your parents are likely very good people.
Kind, understanding, sincere.
Storage warps happen to ass holes......mostly...
Lol...
Dont go killing your needle with a long sleeve shirt on
When buying used. Spin the record on your fingertip to see if there is any warping.
Always check title and artist on labels that match the album. You dont want to buy My Aim Is True and accidentally get This Years Model inside the jacket.
If you collect 12" singles. Switch out generic covers for ones that are in better shape.
Deutsche Grammophon and Angel make nice poly n paper sleeves. You know, in case ya want to switch those out as well.
One of my worst mistakes was having to many friends "or at least I thought they where friends" around for a listening session, Only to discover that quite a few of my records had been stolen, Now my collection is strictly for myself and for my ears only.
Blimey! Dirty thieves!
I clicked on the links above for Cleaning, Storing and Sleeves and I was both STUNNED and DISAPPOINTED by the overwhelming number of 'pop-up ads' that blanket the information. As soon as I X'ed to cancel an ad to read the text, another ad popped up covering the info again. VERY FRUSTRATING!!!
Can't afford rare records? Buy less food! Love it.
🤣🎶
discogs is my hero - helps me not overpay for something and also helps me not accidentally purchase the same album twice - one of the mistakes I've made several times already
It really is a superb resource :)
What happened to just buying records for the pleasure of hearing the band play, just like we used to in the good old days? There are many of us who bought & still buy records from singers/bands we liked to listen to with no thought of whether it's rare, or whatever.
I have a record collection of over 700 7.5" 45s, about 50 10" Disco singles and about 500 12" Lps from the 50s upto 90s ALL bought because I liked the artiste NOT specifically because they were rare though many have become iconic since I bought them back in the day. That was the real, and to many still, joy of buying and keeping records.
In the early 70s I bought Elton John's "Captain Fantastic", and T-Rex's "Electric Warrior", Jeff Waynes "War Of The World" plus many others I know not nor care if they're worth 1p, or 100,000p I just like hearing them and remembering.
You have to understand that currently you can play any song from any artist in about as much time as it takes to type the name of the song in the search bar, nowadays you can basically listen to anything anytime, so vinyl is not really "needed" anymore which is probably why records are skyrocketing in price. More and more people are looking at vinyl as a collector item and an investment, or a statement of who they are, rather than buying the vinyl to just listen to songs they like.
Replacing a good sounding CD with a record that turns out to be digitally sourced and sounds about the same. With the cost of new records being so high I'm trying to focus on music I don't have already or solid upgrades.
Ah man :( - Lots of folks were swindled when CDs came in. If you're lucky, you held on to both.
Being of the CD generation, I developed a love for vinyl off the back of my frustrations with loudness war compression. Never looked back. It's expensive, and you have to be selective, but nothing beats the experience of vinyl for me. Enjoy the music :)
@@soundmatters CDs definitely went wrong in the late 90s and 2000s, but it was not a swindle. Most of my collection is pre 1995 and there are some great sounding discs in there. Loudness war stuff happened to vinyl too. I have several Dynagroove discs from RCA and those can sound pretty loud. Motown isn't much better. I like vinyl but I have gotten a few bad pressings and mediocre sounding ones lately so nothing is perfect.
loveing this channel!!! vinyl collecter from Holland here.
So glad you like the content. Welcome!
Great video, and i agree with you. One thing i would suggest, is making sure that that you turntable are on a level surface, and on a stable surface. Stylus wear is higher on a non level surface. If the surface is not stable, the stylus could skip, and being damaged and the record scratched. Mine are on a concrete wall.
Great advice and nice addition. Happy spinning! 🎶
Something else to avoid is keeping new records sealed for too long. A few times already I've opened a record I've kept sealed for many months or up to a year, only to find a record is really warped or pressed off centre, or even worse on a 2LP set I found a duplicate Side C/D , and by that time there was nothing I could do about it.
I definitely relate to number 7. Sometimes I have been drawn to a bargain price for a record that it feels like I want, but later on down the line I'm left looking at my collection saying to myself "did I actually need to buy that?!". I'm currently limited on storage space so am definitely valuing having records I really want and love, over just having a big collection.
Good point well made. Open those records when new and make sure they aren't a dud!
Not necessarily true. I think storage conditions and temperature have more to do with warpage subsequent to pressing. I found an original press unopened Bonnie Raitt debut album from 1971 that was perfectly flat when I opened it. Same with an original Talking Heads Stop Making Sense that had been sealed since it was pressed in 1984.
I just recorded 660 songs from vinyl that have been sitting in my storage room for almost 20 years. High quality inner sleeves made the single largest difference of anything by far. The wax paper feeling kind were the best. Next was having plastic outer sleeves. The floppy bag like kind were the best overall. The thick stiff plastic kind had a tendency to want to adhere to glossy album art. If it didn't get stuck it did provide a better seal though. Next was placing the inner sleeve back in sideways so the top of the record is not open to the environment. Next was storage on a proper surface so you don't damage the cardboard outer sleeve. Some of my records were one shelves, some were in crates, some were flight cases. Obviously the flight cases were best. You can mimic that result by storing records on a proper shelf and covering them with a sheet like furniture in an abandoned house. If you play your records a lot that isn't real practical but if you save them as a media source it'll work great. Just be cautious removing the sheet. No matter how clean your house or air is 20 years of dust is 20 years of dust. Obviously your records should be clean before they get put up for storage. I'd think that goes without saying.
Discogs record grading is as unreliable as it gets. The variation from seller to seller is vast. NM from one seller can mean VG from another. As far as I know there's no way to save seller info or set preferred vendors. After a while you will learn who bullshits their gradings and who grades conservatively. Remember the names of the good sellers and avoid the bad ones. You have to do it on your own. Keep a notebook or something.
I skipped a tonearm across a record a few times. I've never dumped a drink on one though. I did spill a whole glass of coke into my receiver about 15 years ago though. All that happened was it steamed. It still works, I still have it and still use it in one part of my house. Vintage gear has a good rep for a reason. I did have a moth decide he wanted to die by being impaled under my stylus/tonearm once while I was playing out in the desert. That record is toast. There's no getting moth dust out of a record.
Discarding a record because it jumps.? WAIT ! I've never not been able to remedy a jump! Magnifying in and using a wooden toothpick has worked every time. Unless something like superglue has been dropped on the vinyl you should find it to be a bit of cleaning residue from the pressing factory or just a bit of gunk that has wedged between the grooves. Just get the wooden toothpick on a low angle and gently go in the direction of the grooves. To find the spot, watch at the tip of the rotating label. When it skips make a visual note h at which part of the label it is near and how far in on the vinyl. Anyway, give it a go , you will be surprised !
Hey! Actually, funny enough, I’ve done a video on this very topic:
th-cam.com/video/gwIt-U56mCs/w-d-xo.html
@@soundmatters ah…! Didn’t intend to steal your thunder ! 👍
@@ArtbyJoeH - haha! Not at all meant that way. It’s a great technique; thanks for bringing the topic up on this thread. 🎶
Wow! Just discovered your channel and subbed you up! Thanks for sharing the great info, Peace!
Thanks for watching Mike! Thanks for the sub and happy spinning.
I specifically have two Christmas records that have scratches from my playing them during a holiday party with a few adult beverages on board, unfortunately my Son gave me one of them so I still play it despite a pretty big scratch
Don’t store your vinyl within reach of a 3 yo toddler, who also thought it was convenient to store his cheese sandwich in the VHS machine. He is now 40 and I bought his 3yo son a drum kit and anything with small pieces… happy barefoot walking!😂
HAHA! Revenge is sweet. I like my retro 60s cabinet with very difficult handles for avoiding little folk ;)
That's naughty!
#4 is really good advice. I've checked the surface of many used records without paying much attention to the beginning grooves where even a small nick can result in loud pops at the start of a record. Frustrating to say the least.
Not checking condition of used lps. I have gotten some really good deals on Records and come to find out that they are scratched to hell.
I've bought the cheapest LPs, don't care about the sleeves but don't want anything scratched beyond the usual that makes you know it's vinyl. They sound great and it's just a bit of fun, I have high quality streaming for pure sound so the new turntable is just to play with and it's very good so all good here, I don't take it seriously and certainly won't be cleaning the records lol, just bin it if if skips and get another one for 4 quid
Great stuff. Glad to hear you're enjoying records as part of your listening mix. Happy spinning
One thing I’d add is the easiest mistake to make and it’s one that I along with most of my friends who collect vinyl have made: buying an “all-in-one” turntable. These turntables are quick to experience problems and the sapphire stylus it comes with needs replaced much more often than the Diamond styli that come in a majority of other turntables.
The built-in speakers could cause your records to skip not because of scratches or defective pressings but because the speakers are built in and are in turn on the same surface as the player which could cause vibrations causing the record to skip.
I’ve heard all the claims that they destroy your records but I have also seen plenty of people say they don’t. One thing that’s universally agreed upon though is they wear your records down faster than other players due to the heavier than recommended tracking force that you cannot adjust. And who would want to reduce the lifespan of their records when they could enjoy them much longer with another turntable.
You don’t need a crazy audiophile setup to enjoy your records, but you deserve better than a system like that.
Indeed. They have their place, but if you want your hobby to be more than just a fashion accessory, a good separate turntable and speakers is highly recommended. Very true point about those much softer sapphire styli too
A great, very informative, and valuable video on "Worst Record Collecting Mistakes". On point number 5: Most of the time you get what you pay for, but I very much like to search for a bargain. So far the most I have paid is up to 10, at most 12 dollars Canadian currency. My limit can be up to $20 if it is an record album or single LP that's is almost mint condition that's more wanted, and valuable, to me, anyway. 🔉🎵🎶
I've made all these mistakes on my record collecting journey. Not my mistake but my friend found a 78rpm copy of SH-BOOM by the Crows. When he stepped out of his vehicle the record fell out of the sack and shattered. He still had a pretty cool label to show for it.
Ah, damn. Old shellac records are so brittle for sure!
Damn!
Make sure you use a quality turntable and cartridge that’s set up properly, and never never play records with a worn stylus.
Luckily we don’t have nice sunny days in the UK. The risk of warping is therefore just theoretical.
Haha! Except for the 2 weeks in the year when we get an actual summer before being washed out either rain until September, right? 🤪
@@soundmatters Exactly. Or the very sporadic partly cloudy spring day, like today.
Tis a beautiful day today! Have a great long weekend 🎶🎧☀️
@@soundmatters you too.
Just got one of my favorite bands new albums, and it’s my first ever LP. Then a few days later a pre-order for their live album is on sale. So tempted to pre order the live album since it’ll bring back memories again.. but it’s $51.00 🤔. Just saw them a few weeks ago in person, Florence + The Machine.
Lungs👍
Nice meters album! I love the song Aint No Use! Recent found a Terre Haut promo!
I guess my advice would be don’t get Too crazy about finding a nice original press! I do sometimes lol
Love that album. Nice VMP re-issue :)
Also, good advice
The flipside (pun intended, ha ha ha) of hanging on to too many records that you don't play, might be getting rid of something too hastily. A few years ago I sold a bunch of my records, for various reasons -- I needed the money, or I had the music in another format (CD, mp3, flac, etc). Since then, my mindset has changed, and I value the vinyl discs more than those other formats, and I sold some really great stuff, that I wish I had back. In fact in some cases, I've bought replacement copies, but had to pay way more than what I sold them for.
Good point. Actually, my dad frequently tells me the story about records he sold and ultimately regretted.
I have done that as well. My biggest selling vinyl regret was I had the Mobile Fidelity OMR Woodstock box set. When I had it I also had found a reprint copy of the program that was sold (or given away?) at the festival that I put with the box set and sold them. I think I got like $75. I bought it brand new for somewhere between $150 - $200 whatever it was going for around the time it originally came out. I hardly see any copies of it available for sale and when I do they are in poor condition and still are at least $100 usually almost $200 or more. Excellent condition copies are hardly ever less than $200. Over the years I have bought back some of the other vinyl OMRs I had originally in the late '80s and have paid more than I would like to but still try to keep it under $50. Most of the OMRs I had bought in the mid to late '80s I got for between $20-$40.
now is a great time to pick up grails at local shops - I got a few yesterday, a lot of shops put them on the wall and price them and they're up there for several years because customers think they'll be overpriced when in fact it's the opposite - they haven't increased the price on them since the vinyl resurgence and inflation - I picked up a copy of Alice In Chains Tripod for $99 yesterday which goes for 3 times that on discogs
Thanks for the tip. Happy spinning
Mistaking buying another copy of a record that I already have a good copy of.
Improper storage - you did not say don't stack your records ceiling high. Myself I built my own 8 feet long room dividers (3 each). All my 3,500 vinyls are close to the floor. I use 3 each milk cartons each underneath each divider. 12 inches high and believe me they hold great (from 976-CREOLEMAN).
I have subscribed 👍
Thanks! And welcome!
I think there’s too many hoarders out there, so thanks for rule #7
Don't allow your vinyl records to be exposed to the sunlight while on display. This will also warp the records
On a few of my record covers you can see the imprint of the record inside. How can I stop this?
Ring wear? Good quality outer sleeves and allowing the records space when stored will prevent this
The reality is the vast majority of records have no value. Only a tiny fraction have real collectors value.
Hi. You should clean records bbefore you put it on turntable.
Biggest mistake I've discovered is don't buy pre owned records especially first pressings from records stores if they haven't been graded for sound. I recently spent £50 for Joni Mitchell Clouds and it's unlistenable. I've tried cleaning it and it's not made a difference. I should have bought a brand new pressing.
No1. without a doubt using a crappy cartridge on a poor quality turntable
I don't consider myself a record "collector". I buy albums I know I'm going to enjoy listening to. Chances are that after the initial year or two they'll be played pretty infrequently. I've never had a problem using the paper sleeves that the records come in. If there is a scuff mark it isn't noticeable during playback as the sound is in the groove, not on top of it, which is why I also have no problem with using my vintage record changer. Older records were thicker at the outside edge and at the inner label area to make it even less likely they'd slide against each other during a change, with 45's being thicker in the center for the same reason. I do store my vinyl albums upright, but I stack my 45's as it's simply more convenient. I also store my shellac records stacked as that's the way they go into the built-in cabinet under the phonograph player. I don't bother with outer sleeves at all as they're a nuisance and just another impediment to actually getting the album out to play it or to read the info inside a double or triple album gatefold cover. I have albums I got in the 70's that still play perfectly fine and that's from before one would even see plastic sleeves for sale. Sure the covers may be a bit worn on the outside, but that's just the nature of having albums for as many years as I have. I don't buy "used" records as I've been burned a few times by records that skipped and looked like they'd been used as frisbees. I don't intend on selling my records so I see no point in the "value of the artwork" as you put it because I know what it looked like when I bought it new and as long as I can still read the track listings that's fine.
If you can't afford a cup of coffee you've got bigger problems than record collecting.
Hello
Another mistake is when you come home with a record you already have
due to another cover than you have home, this happen when you are aging, I promise.... No music no life
Opps! Backup copy? 👍
Buckingham-Nicks is more common on the West coast so it might pay to have a friend out in California.
Yea, it's not so common here. Might pay to have one shipped, but will also check in on Discogs for one that's potentially more local
Do you collect for the sake of collecting or is it for the enjoyment of the music…
If you are collecting oldies, you need to become a detective at finding the original artist and song you know. Many, Many artists re-recorded countless hits which are mostly inferior. Learn the history of labels, find out what happened to the masters for that label that carried the original hit. Lastly, stay away from “budget” lines . It might be cheaper, but once it hits your turntable, you’ll be swearing up a storm.
Worst record collecting mistakes...
The main one i would add is not buying them on CD instead!! 😆👎
Rusty Warren records are the dirtiest.
One of the most important mistakes is to not thoroughly clean and vacuum new records before playing them. If this is not done, there will be irreversible damage to the record groove on the very first play. You need a Power Cleaner. Record Cleaning Fluid, Record Preservative, and a vacuum cleaning machine.
The resurgence of vinyl is all about making money
I really disagree with 3. There's zero point in buying a record based on its future value, when you even said youself youll have it "the rest of your life"
I agree with poly inner sleeves, but not outer. Let them breathe !!!
I collect Taylor Swift vinyl and i dont play them. I use my spotify and bluetooth speakers.
Yeah. Don't eat. Just buy more records. You don't need anything else.
Don`t lend records.
"Cut back on grocery spending to afford rare records." Jesus. Listen to yourself.
😁 - happy Friday. Hope it’s a good one for you
Records and small children are not a good combination.
Haha! Yep!
Just don't collect anything by Coldplay
🤣
READ THE JACKET, try to avoid record club records, usually on the back you will find, for example, " Manufactured by Columbia House Under License ", always a bummer when I over look that disclaimer, and I have a few.
BE VERY SELECTIVE WHEN CULLING THE LIBRARY, still kicking myself thirty years later...none of your business, don't want to talk about it.
As for OVER PAYING, any object is as much as you are willing to pay, it is your money and records Are only PLASTIC.
Plastic is NOT an investment outside of the stock market.
Records are durable yet fragile handle with caution
Buy what you like , to hell with nay sayers.
Funny, I have some record club pressings that sound great. They were in collections that I purchased. Maybe because they were well cared for, but they don't stick out like horrible pressings. I don't worry about the affect on value. Why do you dislike them?
I agree with the final statement "BUY WHAT YOU LIKE" Don't buy it because it might be valuable in 20 years. Dollar Values "worth" fluctuate all the time.
I never had any problems with record club copies.
I am a bit picky about later regular pressings of records that have been around for many years. I'm not talking remastered or remixed just your plain Jane newer pressings. There is something offsetting of having a classic rock album from the 1960s with a UPC barcode (and now with a website/twitter address). I also try to avoid change in cover artwork.
Record club companies use the same pressing plants as manufacturers of store-bought records. The more important consideration is looking at the dead wax pressing plant codes and learning which pressing plants to prefer. Even that is not a guarantee, but do not avoid just because they are a club record.
Good vid....but stop waving your hands about
Thank you for watching 🎶
@@soundmatters maybe he's Italian.
yall preety sensetive about the whole vinyl topic tho, clean them with ur brush don't lay em flat and avoid PVC sleeves thats it!
I got the feelin that alot of people are preety mutch sissys when it comes to vinyl!
I collect records to like 25+ years so what, I use 2 shure m44-7 on my 1200 I never got problems with my records tho
so wtf yall talkin about
Very rarely do I buy from used shops. Cheaper to buy new since so many are back in new pressings. Biggest mistake I have every done is gone to a vinyl shows. Waaaaaaay over priced. Shame on you who think their records are worth an arm and a leg. I consider my my records a library not a collection. I play my records not display.
all the recorder shop will close
HUH?