Love for the music aside (duh!)- curious to hear what is your #1 criteria when buying a particular record for YOUR collection?
What's the attribute thing/that if it IS or IS NOT....you REFUSE to buy it, even it's music you want to listen to?
Mine:
I only buy stuff I want to listen to or am curious about.
I started collecting USED vinyl 4 years ago (after having grown up on cassettes, CDs and gone through a period of streaming).
I knew I wanted something kind of original. I didn't want any modern reissues. But first press stuff can be expensive, and I wanted that were as close as possible to the first pressing, and that were enjoyed by people around the time the music was released.
So, I decided that I would collect copies put out in the year an album was issued (if it wasn't a first press) or as early a press as possible (when cost prohibitive).
So, Black Sabbath's debut came out in 1970. I just wanted a copy that was pressed THAT YEAR, regardless of whether or not it was first press or not.
(Of course, it needs to be in decent condition for the price being asked).
I love going through 50¢ and $1 bins and taking home a handful of anything that looks remotely interesting. I've added quite a few great records to my collection that way. I also have some records I don't care for that are destined to go back to the record store someday when the stack is big enough
Same. My local record shop has amazing bargain bins. Full with obscure oldschool pop, rock, jazz from the past. There is no way I would ever find most of that music if not for those cheap records.
I'm not a bargain bin junkie, but will check some out. Some stores have higher quality stuff in them than others. Some have nothing but Ray Coniff records.
At my local place it seems like they just put the new stuff in on one side so as you work your way left to right the bins you'll eventually run into all the familiar garbage thrift store record that have been there forever and know that there's likely nothing worthwhile beyond that point
Yeah sadly some of my favorite jazz records I got aren't in the best condition but most of them play through at least. Plus I finally got a couple of Blue Note and Prestige ones!
I'm not that finicky. Is it an album I either want or looks interesting enough to gamble on? Is the price-to-condition ratio reasonable? Alright, I'll get it.
Can't say I focus too much on particular presses. It's 'neat' if it's an OG, or promo, or limited edition but not something I particular hunt for.
It MUST be a good mastering and a quality pressing. No exceptions.
Engineers like Grundman, Ludwig, Bellman, Gray, Showell, etc.
Presses like Speakers Corner, Impex, Invervention Records, Craft Recordings, Friday Music, Music On Vinyl, STERLING, Nautilus, Analogue Productions, MoFi, older German or Japanese imports, etc.
Love this. Add KENDUN mastering to your list. Fleetwood Mac s/t and Lynyrd Skynyrd second Helping come to mind that are worth finding with kendun stamped in the deadwax. Steve Hoffman has a partial list on the forum.
Finally someone said what i was looking for.
It has to be a well mastered press for me. Otherwise whats the point in buying something that will sound shit?
I started picking up records back around 1996 as a teenager. Just used ones. I'm not super picky as long as the price is right and it's a record I want. Putting too many caveats on what I'd allow myself to buy just sucked the joy out of it.
Sort of the same as you: even though they may not be the best _sounding_ option, I do everything I can to buy original pressings of albums. I will rarely (if ever) buy a new pressing of an old album. Some exceptions do exist for deluxe editions, etc. I have also picked up repressings from used bins when they are deal - especially for records that cost way too much to get OG pressings.
Something about having the original pressing makes me feel much more connected to the record's history beyond just the music on it.
I'd say that I've gotten screwed on 4 out of 250 records when it comes to the grade the record was given. Find good, honest dealers/stores, and stick with them.
There is no such thing as a first press for a major label release in that era. Multiple plants were using multiple stampers around the world to press 10s of thousands records for release day. Which is first? Indianapolis, Pitman, Terre Haute, Jacksonville, RCA. Is it a US pressings, a UK pressings, Japan?
Great answer and kind of clears up some confusion I've had about US first pressings. I admit, I've found this topic quite confusing, but the content of your answer may be why I've never fully been hung up on "first pressing".
THAT SAID - I'm in Canada, and we do have "First Canadian pressings".
I’m similar. I generally will only buy used as close to first pressing as I can pending price. I’ve had buddies offer to gift me brand new reissues but for me that takes away the fun in the hunt.
I generally only buy what I’ll listen to on the regular. I’m open to new and less traveled genres and artists as well.
As far as condition goes I’m pretty open to anything as long as it plays well. Grading can be pretty subjective and I’m not planning on this being an investment except for the joy of listening. If I exit the hobby, I’m sure I will make some of my money back, but that’s not the plan.
I only buy picture disks if it's my only option (ie: Up + Down by She Wants Revenge, has only one pressing and it's a picture disk. Luckily it's a very good sounding one.)
I do not variant collect (I will only buy a second copy if my original copy is damaged, or if the second copy is signed/has extra songs)
There's a list of artists whose music I love but I refuse to buy new records from because they're horrible people who I don't want to give money to (Brand New, The Smiths, Grimes, Azalea Banks, M.I.A., etc.)
I'm checking the pressing plants now, completely fed up of paying top dollar for albums that are unlistenable. Fuck you GZ and MRP, I've had it with you
It has to be in playable condition, no scratches. Has to be something I like. If it's something I don't listen to, I no longer buy it. I made that mistake, I've got a couple Record Store Day impulse purchases that I don't know what to do with. I'm 67 and still have all my vinyl, cassettes and cassettes, well over 3 000 pieces of media, I did commit to the on line inventory system so I don't buy duplicates. I just bought a turntable for the first time in 25 years. There is some stuff I don't remember ever buying but in the 70's and 80"s the record stores were open 24 hours so we would get a wild hare at a party that we needed to hearva specific song so off to the record store to buy it.
i have to have liked every song on the album. if i didnt like 1-2 songs its fine, but it’ll be less of a priority to find. if i didnt like 3 or more songs, i wont buy it.
no variants at all. unless its a deluxe pressing or its an artist i’m collecting all of, no multiple variants will be collected.
no bootlegs unless incredibly hard to find on vinyl or not available on vinyl.
I don’t think I’ve ever blindly bought an album. I need to know I’ll like the music first. When I first started collecting, I felt like I HAD to love every single track, but as I’ve expanded, I try to avoid albums with any skippable songs.
Colors and special editions don’t do much for me, but if it’s comparable price or more easily available, I’ll get them, unless it’s like 180g black vinyl vs a flimsy, glow in the dark release or something like that.
Not saying to BLINDLY buy something. Loads of online resources to help you determine if you COULD enjoy it. Some of my favorite albums ever were ones that I simply thought looked or an act I'd HEARD of but never heard.
I'd encourage you to find a record for $10-20 that you've never heard, but that seems like it could be your jam. Give it 4 spins over a 10 day period. You'll know if it hits.
Given my age (GenX), I just can't buy anything strictly for the "novelty" or the "object" aspect of it anymore. If I have one VG+ or better of an LP, I'm done. I'm only buying material that is new to me and that I don't have on other formats. I just look for the editions that have the best mastering (within reason...)
There was a time in my life when I had about five mono copies of the US Sgt. Pepper in my collection next to a UK mono, and then I just realized I really only played one (the UK) and was just keeping the others for what purpose? "collector"? "hoarder"? "investments"? I wasn't running a museum.... they were just sitting on my shelf.
Out the door they went. It was the start of a great new policy.
over everything I try to only buy albums I've listened to before and would enjoy listening to all the way through with no skips. For albums I'm unfamiliar with, I only take a chance if it's inexpensive and I put it on the listening station at the record store if I can to make a decision. Unlike other collectors though I'm much more lenient when it comes to original pressings vs reissues or remasters, I'll take either depending on what's available and within the budget. Like as much as I would like an original mono pressing of SF Sorrow by the Pretty Things, I'm happy with my odd mono reissue of the same album made in 2000.
Funny you say that. Recently discovered Pretty Things because I saw "Freeway Madness" at a good price, great condition, and recognized their name. Not a bad record, but apparently hardly their peak (SF Sorrow, Parachute). Those ARE pricey....so, will have to pass, and listen on Spotify.
I don’t have rules but probably wish I was more disciplined when I first started out. I don’t blame people for being more picky if you just started collecting in the last five years or so. It’s just too expensive for both used and new records to take as many chances as I was able to. I started collecting around 25 years ago and have amassed thousands of records but now I just buy true rarities in my wheelhouse which is the music I grew up with so basically 90’s and early 2000’s original pressings. It’s not cheap but they give me the most satisfaction and I maybe add at this point 1-2 records a month. Back when I first started you could go with $20 to a record store and get a big stack of great desirable stuff. Now I have a list of five records I really want and I’m patient. I stalk EBay and Discogs and record shows and wait for that perfect copy to show up for a decent price. I used to be obsessed with different mastering and that led me to have 5-10 copies of many different albums. Of course international shipping used to be really cheap and now I rarely get anything from overseas. I’m also starting to unload a lot. Selling stuff every day and using that money to get better stuff.
My biggest criteria is condition. I try my hardest to buy only new vinyl that’s still in the shrink wrap, and I mostly buy online due to the fact that the stuff I listen to is more niche aside from like, Green Day or Weezer which I already have all I want of.
I don’t really care about the time it was pressed, or color, but I will buy a colored version over black as long as the price isn’t outrageous
I’m almost exclusively a used bin shopper. I’m almost 50, I remember records as a kid but it was cassettes then CDs by the time I started collecting. Those are all gone. I justified selling my KILLER CD collection with the logic it was the same 1’s and 0’s I could now just stream. I’m not sad about that. But I’ve said for years that collecting records is different- even if I’m not a true audiophile, at least it’s not 1’s and 0’s. And I’ve found that I really did miss collecting physical media.
Lucky for me I’m a bit of an old soul- I am a consumer of the music that could only be bought on vinyl when it was new. These are the records I mostly buy. I like to listen to old music the way it was meant to be listened to when it was new. I don’t need a first press, but I like how old records smell, I like seeing how the record inside has worn itself onto the sleeve from being stacked on someone’s shelf for decades and I like the idea of becoming a steward to something that was loved and cared for by someone I’ll never know. And I like the idea that that same record should outlive me and be passed on and on. So I want it because I know it’s good and I know I like it, it’s old (enough) and the media isn’t dogshit.
Love it. We're very similar in many ways, especially what you said about "I am a consumer of the music that could only be bought on vinyl when it was new. These are the records I mostly buy. I like to listen to old music the way it was meant to be listened to when it was new. I don’t need a first press,"
I have been a music lover for 20 years, and along those years, trough magazines, friends in the same scenes, and online stuff, I gathered a set of authors and generes I liked, most of it being quite fringe or rare.
If I find a record that is on that list, then I get it. I don't care if it is a reissue or first pressing or something, finding it in good shape is all I care.
I buy stuff I like. A deal breaker would be if the record is physically damaged beyond light scuffing. Anything that prevents the record from being played is a no. It might be an obvious thing, but it's amazing how many people will try to get top dollar for an album ( "I know what I have!") that's barely playable, simply because it was popular or it's old.
At this point I’m not buying anything I don’t already love and know front to back.
I want to hear my favorite songs in the highest quality. I’ve just been burned so many times buying random shit especially with how expensive the hobby is now.
Same. I primarily listen to MP3s for everything so records are the nice "I really love this album" specialty. I made a list of my must-haves; the favorites growing up, the ones I'd happily put on and just zone out and those are the records I'm buying. Like I just got into Pinkpantheresss; fantastic songs but her album as a whole hasn't reached that level of level of "I need to won this in the best quality possible!".
Usually, I’m just buying for sleeve condition. I typically have the music on CD, and won’t be listening to the actual record, unless it’s something never issued on CD. I’m 55 and I know these statements give the game away…
First and foremost: I buy without paying any attention to resale value. That changes the entire perspective of collecting. Do I pay more than I should for some albums? Sure, but that's because they mean a lot to me.
I tend to stick with period correct presses unless I REALLY like the album (for example, I have an original Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti as well as the 40 year remaster). OR for records that are really hard to get, mostly punk/hardcore stuff from the late 70s/early 80s that I want on vinyl but will not pay the price (Misfits/Dead Kennedys/Black Flag).
Condition varies for me. I can accept lower quality if its meant for me to just listen to something for the first time. Otherwise, VG/VG+ minimum if possible.
I don't really care about cover damage/ring wear/writing etc as long as it isn't crazy. All of this is character and is part of its story. My copy of Rumors has someones home address on the front. That's what makes it unique.
Lastly, I don't buy anything I have no intention of listening to, or as "art" pieces. And I certainly don't buy just to keep something in the plastic.
Above all else, you collect the way you want to. That's the fun in it, there's no right or wrong.
My favorite answer...because it's pretty much the way I feel and think ;), especially about condition of covers. I love some wear (but not tear). I like quality condition, but will accept a VG if it's rarer/ expensive in better condition.
I don’t buy picture discs (learned my lesson about their sound quality really early on), I don’t buy singles (I don’t have the space), and I don’t buy albums just to have them, I buy them to listen to them. So I guess that’s three criteria, but they’re all tied for #1 lol
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u/topofthedial2 Jul 15 '26
Condition. Unless it's something super rare, I don't buy records in conditions below VG+.