The Art of Collecting Vinyl

By Luke Sonderman

Why Vinyl Records Are Still Relevant

Vinyl records were released to consumers almost 90 years ago, giving everyday people the ability to listen to the exact music they want without having to turn on a radio (thevinylrevivers.com). This revolutionary invention changed the way people could enjoy music forever! 

To this day, vinyl records have been one of the most prominent ways to listen to music amongst the pickiest listeners. Now, you may think that vinyl is dead because of streaming and downloading music, but YOU ARE MOST UTTERLY WRONG! Mark Michalek of Fluance, a home theater company, said, “[A] proper vinyl pressing will reproduce an uncompressed signal with no additional artificial sound processing such as dynamic compression resulting in a greater effective dynamic range for a more life-like sound” (techradar.com). Through the uncompressed vinyl sound we can allow our ears to hear all of the frequencies of the music as if it was being performed in front of us. With streaming and downloading, we do not get the same live effect. 

Collecting Vinyl

Listening to the sound on vinyl records isn’t the only part of the massive appeal. Vinyl records have become collectables, and some even sell upwards of two million dollars! (hmv.com) Many vinyl stores sell their records pre-owned which creates a large vinyl scavenging frenzy. When a collector walks into a vinyl store, they have no idea what treasure they may walk out with. You may buy a first edition Led Zeppelin print worth thousands, or you may find an old worthless Zappa album that isn’t worth skat. 

Personally, I don’t search for valuable gems. I just look for pre-owned cheap records from groups I like because the new prints are wicked expensive.

What To Look For When Buying Pre-Owned Vinyl

1. Inspect the vinyl record’s cover. If the cover is in good condition, it is a good sign that the record will also probably be in good condition. If the cover is in bad condition, the record will most definitely be in bad condition. When you find a record in perfect condition with a very beat-up cover, there is a large chance that the cover is not original to the record and the same can be said vice versa. 
2. Check if the record has a sleeve inside the cover. Never buy a record without a sleeve. The vinyl cover will scratch the record if there is no sleeve protecting it. Of course, if a sleeve is very torn and worn, the record was probably taken in and out of the cover many times. Usually, record stores will replace the sleeve if it is torn, which is good because when you buy a record you want to be able to maintain its condition. 
3. Of course, you need to check the condition of the record itself. Often, used records in record stores have accumulated lots of dust and grime which you will want to brush off before purchasing the record. After dusting off the record, look for any scratches on the record. As a general rule of thumb, if you can feel a scratch with your finger, then the stylus (needle) will be able to feel it too. Also check to make sure that the record isn’t warped and is completely flat. 

If all of that checks out,  then you should be good to buy the record. When spending large amounts of money on vintage records, I would recommend you ask the store owner if you can play the record before purchasing it, but I buy my records for less than 10 dollars, so it’s not a big deal to me. 

Here is a list of recommendations for used vinyl albums you should buy:

• Houses of the Holy – Led Zeppelin
• Appetite for Destruction – Guns and Roses
• Wasting Light – Foo Fighters
• Shout At The Devil – Motley Crue
• Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin
• 2112 – Rush
• Too Fast For Love – Motley Crue