Should I start collecting vinyl?

Over the last few years, I've thought on and off about collecting vinyl. But in the last few weeks, I've started to seriously consider it. I am thrilled at the idea of a new way to listen to music. It kind of seems like it would be an adventure. The other day, I found a small collection of records hidden deep in a storage cupboard in our house. So all I need now is a turntable, and maybe some better records than "Simon and Garfunkel" (whatever that is).

Last week I tried to buy a vinyl copy of Gantz Graf from Amazon. It arrived yesterday in a small box, much too small for a 12" EP. The real kick in the balls was, not only was it a CD copy, but it was not even the CD-DVD version with the three music videos!

I also tried to buy the Smojphace EP from Discogs, but alas, I received a message from the seller shortly after, telling me that the item had sold out and should have been removed from the listings.

With these failures, I am starting to have doubts. Should I take this as a sign that vinyl records are not for me? It seems like obtaining them is a lot harder than I first imagined.

Please WATMM, help me decide. Let us build on these pros and cons:

Pros:

A new way of listening to music, which I might prefer to digital

Vinyl records are items of grandeur and fun to collect and own

Cons:

Expensive

Vinyl records are hard to look after properly

Don't do it. Best wishes from a vinyl collector.

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:16 AM, Rhombix said:

and maybe some better records than "Simon and Garfunkel" (whatever that is)

Simon and Garfunkel are amazing! This is one of the best things about vinyl, exploring 'the stacks' at a local shop will introduce to worlds of music to enjoy and expand your horizons. With this format, you will surely discover a ton of old treasures and music you never thought you'd like. I have fun getting new albums in this large format (latest I've bought Tim Hecker's new album) as well as true classics (finding a mint copy of Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' at the local shop for only $5 was one of the happiest finds of this year)

You don't need a crazy setup to get going, I bought a technics turntable on craigslist, then outfitted it with a new needle (Shure m97xe). Combined those were only 100$, and I inherited a nice set of speakers and receiver that my parents hadn't used in years. So far this hobby has been rewarding and exciting for me, I highly recommend it.

As far as my advice, don't seek out all your favorite, rare, and expensive albums from the get go. That is a great way to sink a ton of money into it, and doesn't have the "spontaneous finds" aspect that I love. If you're discriminate but actively looking, the deals and scores will come to you- such as when I found Selected Ambient Works 85-92 at a shop while traveling, or a great deal on Autechre's Peel Sessions II from discogs. Be patient and realize that your collection will expand greatly over your lifetime. Don't be too much in a rush or else you'll end up with too many vinyls to store and move around and deal with. Best of luck!

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:28 AM, Marked x 0ne said:

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:16 AM, Rhombix said:

and maybe some better records than "Simon and Garfunkel" (whatever that is)

As far as my advice, don't seek out all your favorite, rare, and expensive albums from the get go. That is a great way to sink a ton of money into it, and doesn't have the "spontaneous finds" aspect that I love.

Ah. See, the first thing I planned to do was get my favourite Aphex/Ae/BoC releases so I could hear what they sounded like on vinyl (I REALLY want to hear what Autechre - Cichli would sound like).

I don't think I'd feel comfortable buying records without having any idea what they sounded like. The records I found in storage were a nice find, but I didn't have to spend money on them. How would I obtain these "spontaneous finds" in the future? And if I wanted to find new, random music, wouldn't it make more sense to find it online?

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:46 AM, Rhombix said:

Ah. See, the first thing I planned to do was get my favourite Aphex/Ae/BoC releases so I could hear what they sounded like on vinyl (I REALLY want to hear what Autechre - Cichli would sound like)

Aye, understandable and that is the way I started. My previous advice was basically to remember that a record collection is something you can accrue over a lifetime, and it'll cost a lot of money if you go in with a "gotta have it" mentality.

The route I took here is that I bought two Ae records to satisfy that itch (Draft 7.30 and Peel Session II), but now buys are on an "if I find a reasonable/good deal" basis. They're still just records of music you likely already have, so I (just my personal opinion) think its unreasonable to spend a lot of money for a record album.

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:46 AM, Rhombix said:

I don't think I'd feel comfortable buying records without having any idea what they sounded like. The records I found in storage were a nice find, but I didn't have to spend money on them. How would I obtain these "spontaneous finds" in the future? And if I wanted to find new, random music, wouldn't it make more sense to find it online?

My local record shop has a turntable which customers can use to play used or non-sealed vinyls (give them some collateral to get the needle is how it works). So I browse the stacks of jazz or whatever, grab a fat stack, and give them all a listen, and on occasion something will really stand out. For example, last month I found the record 'Vapor Drawings' by Mark Isham, and its pretty awesome http://www.last.fm/music/Mark+Isham/_/Raffles+in+Rio

Other times you'll just find a record you know, such as my finding Miles Davis 'Kind of Blue'. I bought that one as soon as I saw it, in which case the internet was indeed the means of "discovering" that record.

a guy I work with told me he spent £1200 on three LP's and two EP's the other day which were rare soundtracks to 70's Italian giallo films

I paid £1 for Fonze's hits of the 60's just to get the cover

vinyl is only worth as much as what someone to pay for it

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:19 AM, psn said:

Don't do it. Best wishes from a vinyl collector.

Pretty much this.

Pros:

Records are awesome.

You can find really amazing totally obscure stuff for super cheap.

Cool factor. :sup:

Cons:

Can be fairly expensive if you want to get all your favourite rare stuff.

Moving is a massive pain in the ass. I moved to a fourth floor apartment with no elevator and holy shit vinyl is HEAVY AS HELL, lugging 15 cases up four flights of stairs is pretty much one eagle-eating-your-liver short of Prometheus' fate.

IT WILL CONSUME YOUR VERY SOUL

  On 3/16/2011 at 10:53 AM, soundwave said:

a guy I work with told me he spent £1200 on three LP's and two EP's the other day which were rare soundtracks to 70's Italian giallo films

 

I paid £1 for Fonze's hits of the 60's just to get the cover

vinyl is only worth as much as what someone to pay for it

I DID THIS TOO! The one with the triangle thing on the back so you can stand it up? Fucking hell what an awful album. But I do love that one track that's just a generic doo-woppish beat with him saying all his catch phrases "eeeeeyyyyyy sit on it!"

cons: having to get up 3+ times just to listen to one album

annoying crackly noise throughout every piece of music you listen to

pros: bigger artwork

super cool retro hipster feel

If you can get it cheaper do it.

I buy stuff on CD and vinyl. Im not interested in rare shit, just the stuff I want (which sometimes might be rare)

I still want a copy of Bytes on vinyl but it'll cost me around 30 or 40 quid. Then again I just bought Kerrier district 3 for 9 quid.

Just cause you buy stuff on vinyl doesnt mean you have to buy only vinyl from now on.

Thanks for the replies so far. What I'm really interested in is the difference between digital and analogue. I've heard good things about the sound of vinyl. Could someone go into further detail about how it's different?

(in b4 "more crackly")

  On 3/16/2011 at 11:43 AM, Rhombix said:

Thanks for the replies so far. What I'm really interested in is the difference between digital and analogue. I've heard good things about the sound of vinyl. Could someone go into further detail about how it's different?

 

(in b4 "more crackly")

Isn't this something very basic that you should investigate first before even considering a vinyl collection?

  On 3/16/2011 at 10:41 AM, Marked x 0ne said:

For example, last month I found the record 'Vapor Drawings' by Mark Isham, and its pretty awesome http://www.last.fm/music/Mark+Isham/_/Raffles+in+Rio

i picked that up recently too, great album!

Do it ...you won't regret it. just make sure you get a decent mixer/amp and a pair of cheap-but-good studio monitors (if you don't have that already)

The huge album art is so fucking delicious.

  On 3/16/2011 at 11:43 AM, Rhombix said:

Thanks for the replies so far. What I'm really interested in is the difference between digital and analogue. I've heard good things about the sound of vinyl. Could someone go into further detail about how it's different?

 

(in b4 "more crackly")

firstly vinyl has been coming from digital masters for what, at least three decades now, so 99% of the time you won't be getting a pure analogue to vinyl transfer. Lower dynamic range, treble rolls off at a lower frequency than CD and there's some treble spectral smearing/coloring going on that gives vinyl a particular sound.

I remember when I was first getting into records I got mail order only 12" by autechre (in the mail) and I was blown away.. it was as if they were totally writing for the 'sound' of vinyl. It would still sound clear on CD, but would lack the punch.. Same era, tri repetae, incomplete without surface noise.

Oh yea what people say about vinyl being noisy. this can be avoided but it does take a bit of extra time. All my old records that I bought brand new still sound brand new but I usually clean them with a bit of decent liquid and a brush before playing.

Anyway, I personally collect simply because I find it enjoyable.. (larger artwork is nice too). Pitch sliding and changing the rpm is also quite amusing. It's nice to pick up vinyl-only releases (or albums with tracks exclusive to vinyl) as well. Not to mention going through flea markets and finding random off the wall shit is a blast.

thread needs more oscillik

lol

  On 3/16/2011 at 11:57 AM, verticalhold said:

  On 3/16/2011 at 11:43 AM, Rhombix said:

Thanks for the replies so far. What I'm really interested in is the difference between digital and analogue. I've heard good things about the sound of vinyl. Could someone go into further detail about how it's different?

 

(in b4 "more crackly")

 

Isn't this something very basic that you should investigate first before even considering a vinyl collection?

Yeah collect what you enjoy collecting rather than collect just for the sake of collecting ....

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:28 AM, Marked x 0ne said:

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:16 AM, Rhombix said:

and maybe some better records than "Simon and Garfunkel" (whatever that is)

 

Simon and Garfunkel are amazing! This is one of the best things about vinyl, exploring 'the stacks' at a local shop will introduce to worlds of music to enjoy and expand your horizons. With this format, you will surely discover a ton of old treasures and music you never thought you'd like. I have fun getting new albums in this large format (latest I've bought Tim Hecker's new album) as well as true classics (finding a mint copy of Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' at the local shop for only $5 was one of the happiest finds of this year)

A close friend of mine went from complete apathy and occasional disdain for vinyl to an avid collector. The fun of browsing stacks is what keeps him going, even though he is a sucker for new limited releases of his favorite artists.

I think it's your own choice and nothing anybody else will say will effect it. Just ask yourself - do you love vinyl? I do, therfore I buy it.

Do it. Discogs is your friend.

Hi mate.

I converted to vinyl a few years ago, like you I considered it for some time. I am glad I did but I have rules otherwise it can be expensive. I buy vinyl of my numero uno fav artisits/albums, so I am willing to pay a lot for Autechre, Aphex and BoC amoung others but that is all. Also I buy vinyl only releases, for example the new Burial/fourtet/Thom Yorke. It's easy to get swept away with buying masses of vinyl but I am strict with myself.

Some people get annoyed at the fact they have to keep switching the sides on vinyl, like switching tv channels without a remote control. But I find that I listen more intently to vinyl than cd/digital because of this. Strange but true.

After an initial, expensive burst of spending I now proberbly average 3 vinyls every month. I'd proberbly buy more but I am saving my spondoolies at the moment.

Getting into vinyl will definately change your attitude/perspective on music. It invigorated mine that's for sure.

I collect vinyls of music that is essential to me. Only 10/10 stuff. The artworks, the sound. There is a special moment, like a ritual, when noticing a moment and taking the time to listen to the music piece without distractions. A vinyl is also a long-lasting medium that will survive generations without any risk. I want my music to be timeless and maybe one day I can play it to my children. So... long live the vinyl.

The plural of vinyl is vinyl. You may prefer to use 'records' when referring to the plural. Saying or writing 'vinyls' makes you sound like a lisping simpleton.