The Official Record Collectors Thread

**Schlomey** · 12-02-2009, 08:26 AM

I have been pushing this idea around here a bit lately with not much enthusiasm. However, I'm bound and determined to find a core group of posters who can keep this thread alive.

Quote:

This thread is for posting your:

Record Collections
Questions about Concerns About Cleaning Your Vinyl Albums
Questions Regarding Quality
Your Brand Of Record Players
Requests For A Specific Record
Bragging About Your Latest Finds

If you enjoy vinyl hunting & listening to records, then post here.

**Schlomey** · 12-02-2009, 08:40 AM

SCHLOMEY'S RECORD COLLECTION (updated constantly):

The Beatles - Meet The Beatles (first album) - Record-VG Cover -N/A
The Beatles - Rubber Soul - Record-VG+ Cover-N/A
Elton John - Madman Across The Water - Record-VG Cover - VG
Elton John - Self Titled (second album) - Record -VG Cover - VG+
Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes - Record -G - Cover - G
Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True (first album) - Record - VG+ Cover - VG
John Mellencamp - Uh Huh - Record-VG++ Cover-VG+

More to be added later......

My record player was purchased from a junk store for $30 about a decade ago. Sadly it finally shit itself last week. I am currently deciding whether to fix it or just buy one of those new Crombey combo players for radio/record/cd/tape. Thoughts on those systems? I want to keep the sound and am afraid to use a modern record player.

**Schlomey** · 12-02-2009, 08:41 AM

VINYL RECORD RATING SYSTEM
For anyone interested in how to rate their records, here is a guide.

MINT (M): Perfect! This record looks like it has just left the manufacturer, with NO flaws what so ever. It looks as though it had never been handled. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains. No stickers address labels, writing on the covers or labels. No tears or seam splits. No wear to the cover or record period! Age of the record has nothing to do with it.

NEAR MINT or NM, M- : this record appears virtually flawless A very minor scuff and very little else can appear on the vinyl. It should play without any noise over the flaw. The flaw is very hard to see. The cover looks as close to perfect with only minor signs of wear and or age. Minor impressions to the cover (due to the outer edge of the vinyl resting inside) may be acceptable, however the artwork is be as close to perfect as can be.

EXCELLENT or EX or VG++ : minor scuffs which are only slightly visible. There may be more than a few scuffs and NO Scratches COVER: Artwork is still as close to perfect as can be. Some impression to the cover (minor outer ring wear) but no ink wear! Some slight creases to the corners, but not wrinkled and obtrusive to the eye. The corners can show white (where the artwork pasted slick was) meaning, slight wear. No seam splits or writing on the cover or taped repairs can make this grade.

VERY GOOD PLUS or VG+ record shows wear, surface scuffs. The vinyl still has a great luster, but the flaws will be noticeable to the naked eye. If the flaws don't cause any surface noise, the vinyl can still make the VG+ grade. COVERS: A virtually clean cover, but may have small writing on it.The artwork looks clean with slightly more aging. The back of the cover usually gives away the age of the cover. Flat white paper will be somewhat yellow yet no stains or mildew from water damage. Some minor wear to the seams or spine, but no tears or holes popping through. The corners will be slightly dog eared yet no crackly bends, defacing the artwork. In essence, a VG+ cover should have no more than 3 flaws mentioned.

VERY GOOD or VG: this record is a record that is good enough. They are not really going to look very good, but it will STILL play very good. there will almost always be some surface noise when they are played. The Dynamics should still be excellent, overpowering the surface noise. A VG record will appear well have been played but still have some luster. VG covers will look worn, used. There may be some seam splitting . There will be some ring wear, where the ink has begun to wear off. Giving the cover a look of snow falling. If the artwork looks snowy all over, it is less than VG condition. There may be some writing on the cover (still, no Large letters in magic marker). It will look aged and more yellowish due to contamination's in the air (sometimes looking like cigarette smoke). Still it should be decent.

GOOD or G A good record will look very well played, dull, grayish and possibly abused. However a Good record should still play. It will have distracting surface noise. Such as crackle that is continuous or some hiss. Will also have some loss of dynamics caused from grooves being worn. It should play without any skips or any obtrusively loud pops or repeated clicks, caused by deep scratches. Good means that it will play with some form of decency, so one can still enjoy the music even though you can still hear noise caused from the wear. A Good cover will have just about everything wrong with it. It will have seam splits (possibly taped repaired, but only with scotch tape. No duct tape or masking tape repairs. These are big turn offs. May have magic marker writing on the cover but still if they are in huge letters, it is a big turn off.In essence, the cover will looked virtually trashed, but some artwork will still be noticed. If the artwork is worn, it is POOR and the cover is worthless.

On a scale from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Perfect) the above gradings are equivalent to:
MINT - 10, Near Mint - 8, Excellent - 7, Very Good Plus - 6 , Very Good - 5 , Good - 2

**Loose Cannon** · 12-02-2009, 09:43 AM

my dad has a ton in his garage. Pretty much all in Very Good condition.

**Schlomey** · 12-02-2009, 10:09 AM

JOIN THE RECORD COLLECTORS SOCIAL GROUP HERE:

http://www.tpww.net/forums/group.php?groupid=148

RP · 12-02-2009, 10:56 AM

I've talked about doing this. I need a nice shelf though.

**D Mac** · 12-02-2009, 03:35 PM

How about 8-tracks?

**Seth82** · 12-02-2009, 04:25 PM

joined the social group and will eventually get around to listing my collection

**Schlomey** · 12-02-2009, 06:35 PM

Thanks Seth.

**OssMan** · 12-02-2009, 06:36 PM

Used to "work" at a record store. Got a lot of free music but CDs mostly. I think the records I have are

Devo - Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!
Michael Jackson - Thriller
The Unforgettable Nat King Cole
Prince - 1999

Dunno have like 10 I think.

**D Mac** · 12-05-2009, 08:11 PM

I also have Betamax video tapes.

**FakeLaser** · 12-06-2009, 05:50 PM

I have about 800 records

**Dragon** · 12-06-2009, 06:07 PM

I actually have a bunch of records that were given to me. I've been meaning to actually buy a record player for the longest time now. All I've seen is those combo ones with the CD/tape/record in it. I know it was asked earlier, but does anyone have one of those? How are they?

**Schlomey** · 12-06-2009, 09:58 PM

Yeah not much by way of thoughtful responses. I'm not sure if it is because nobody in this certain group knows or if it's a lack of interest.

I went to a lady friends house & played with one of those combo players for the first time. It was the standard radio/record/cd combo player. Crumbley or someshit. Anyways. It plays fine and has a nice look....But for me the sound was too crisp. I prefer the smell and the sounds of the old speakers when listening to my vinyl. However, I do belive I will venture and get one as my "every day use" record player and slowly rebuild and fix my vintage one. It worked well enough to make me want one but honestly they take away some of the fun.

12-02-2009, 08:40 AM	#2
Schlomey Black Sheep Jew Posts: 8,859	SCHLOMEY'S RECORD COLLECTION (updated constantly): The Beatles - Meet The Beatles (first album) - Record-VG Cover -N/A The Beatles - Rubber Soul - Record-VG+ Cover-N/A Elton John - Madman Across The Water - Record-VG Cover - VG Elton John - Self Titled (second album) - Record -VG Cover - VG+ Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes - Record -G - Cover - G Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True (first album) - Record - VG+ Cover - VG John Mellencamp - Uh Huh - Record-VG++ Cover-VG+ More to be added later...... My record player was purchased from a junk store for $30 about a decade ago. Sadly it finally shit itself last week. I am currently deciding whether to fix it or just buy one of those new Crombey combo players for radio/record/cd/tape. Thoughts on those systems? I want to keep the sound and am afraid to use a modern record player.

12-02-2009, 08:41 AM	#3
Schlomey Black Sheep Jew Posts: 8,859	VINYL RECORD RATING SYSTEM For anyone interested in how to rate their records, here is a guide. MINT (M): Perfect! This record looks like it has just left the manufacturer, with NO flaws what so ever. It looks as though it had never been handled. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains. No stickers address labels, writing on the covers or labels. No tears or seam splits. No wear to the cover or record period! Age of the record has nothing to do with it. NEAR MINT or NM, M- : this record appears virtually flawless A very minor scuff and very little else can appear on the vinyl. It should play without any noise over the flaw. The flaw is very hard to see. The cover looks as close to perfect with only minor signs of wear and or age. Minor impressions to the cover (due to the outer edge of the vinyl resting inside) may be acceptable, however the artwork is be as close to perfect as can be. EXCELLENT or EX or VG++ : minor scuffs which are only slightly visible. There may be more than a few scuffs and NO Scratches COVER: Artwork is still as close to perfect as can be. Some impression to the cover (minor outer ring wear) but no ink wear! Some slight creases to the corners, but not wrinkled and obtrusive to the eye. The corners can show white (where the artwork pasted slick was) meaning, slight wear. No seam splits or writing on the cover or taped repairs can make this grade. VERY GOOD PLUS or VG+ record shows wear, surface scuffs. The vinyl still has a great luster, but the flaws will be noticeable to the naked eye. If the flaws don't cause any surface noise, the vinyl can still make the VG+ grade. COVERS: A virtually clean cover, but may have small writing on it.The artwork looks clean with slightly more aging. The back of the cover usually gives away the age of the cover. Flat white paper will be somewhat yellow yet no stains or mildew from water damage. Some minor wear to the seams or spine, but no tears or holes popping through. The corners will be slightly dog eared yet no crackly bends, defacing the artwork. In essence, a VG+ cover should have no more than 3 flaws mentioned. VERY GOOD or VG: this record is a record that is good enough. They are not really going to look very good, but it will STILL play very good. there will almost always be some surface noise when they are played. The Dynamics should still be excellent, overpowering the surface noise. A VG record will appear well have been played but still have some luster. VG covers will look worn, used. There may be some seam splitting . There will be some ring wear, where the ink has begun to wear off. Giving the cover a look of snow falling. If the artwork looks snowy all over, it is less than VG condition. There may be some writing on the cover (still, no Large letters in magic marker). It will look aged and more yellowish due to contamination's in the air (sometimes looking like cigarette smoke). Still it should be decent. GOOD or G A good record will look very well played, dull, grayish and possibly abused. However a Good record should still play. It will have distracting surface noise. Such as crackle that is continuous or some hiss. Will also have some loss of dynamics caused from grooves being worn. It should play without any skips or any obtrusively loud pops or repeated clicks, caused by deep scratches. Good means that it will play with some form of decency, so one can still enjoy the music even though you can still hear noise caused from the wear. A Good cover will have just about everything wrong with it. It will have seam splits (possibly taped repaired, but only with scotch tape. No duct tape or masking tape repairs. These are big turn offs. May have magic marker writing on the cover but still if they are in huge letters, it is a big turn off.In essence, the cover will looked virtually trashed, but some artwork will still be noticed. If the artwork is worn, it is POOR and the cover is worthless. On a scale from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Perfect) the above gradings are equivalent to: MINT - 10, Near Mint - 8, Excellent - 7, Very Good Plus - 6 , Very Good - 5 , Good - 2

12-02-2009, 09:43 AM	#4
Loose Cannon I'm all there is Posts: 31,811	my dad has a ton in his garage. Pretty much all in Very Good condition.

12-02-2009, 10:09 AM	#5
Schlomey Black Sheep Jew Posts: 8,859	JOIN THE RECORD COLLECTORS SOCIAL GROUP HERE: http://www.tpww.net/forums/group.php?groupid=148

12-02-2009, 10:56 AM	#6
RP King of Love and Piss Posts: 62,991	I've talked about doing this. I need a nice shelf though.

12-02-2009, 03:35 PM	#7
D Mac Posts: 21,603	How about 8-tracks?

12-02-2009, 04:25 PM	#8
Seth82 OLD SCHOOL FAN Posts: 13,946	joined the social group and will eventually get around to listing my collection

12-02-2009, 06:35 PM	#9
Schlomey Black Sheep Jew Posts: 8,859	Thanks Seth.

12-02-2009, 06:36 PM	#10
OssMan The Classic Dylan Staples Posts: 51,462	Used to "work" at a record store. Got a lot of free music but CDs mostly. I think the records I have are Devo - Are We Not Men? We Are Devo! Michael Jackson - Thriller The Unforgettable Nat King Cole Prince - 1999 Dunno have like 10 I think.

12-05-2009, 08:11 PM	#11
D Mac Posts: 21,603	I also have Betamax video tapes.

12-06-2009, 05:50 PM	#12
FakeLaser continental drift Posts: 46,731	I have about 800 records

12-06-2009, 06:07 PM	#13
Dragon REALMENTE Posts: 11,271	I actually have a bunch of records that were given to me. I've been meaning to actually buy a record player for the longest time now. All I've seen is those combo ones with the CD/tape/record in it. I know it was asked earlier, but does anyone have one of those? How are they?

12-06-2009, 09:58 PM	#14
Schlomey Black Sheep Jew Posts: 8,859	Yeah not much by way of thoughtful responses. I'm not sure if it is because nobody in this certain group knows or if it's a lack of interest. I went to a lady friends house & played with one of those combo players for the first time. It was the standard radio/record/cd combo player. Crumbley or someshit. Anyways. It plays fine and has a nice look....But for me the sound was too crisp. I prefer the smell and the sounds of the old speakers when listening to my vinyl. However, I do belive I will venture and get one as my "every day use" record player and slowly rebuild and fix my vintage one. It worked well enough to make me want one but honestly they take away some of the fun.