[Airborn]

A shop selling NEW and used vinyl LP's (as well as CDs and DVDs) just opened it's second store in the last few months in my city, Las Vegas.  The new LP selection is quite good, although the used selection is smaller than some of the other shops in town that specialize in used LPs. I am just happy to see any place selling NEW vinyl open up, as I remember the dark ages (late 1980's thru 90's) when there was NO new music coming out on vinyl and without the internet being as developed as it is today, it was virtually impossible to find good quality LP's.  You had to rely on garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, goodwill stores, etc. to even find vinyl.  Now it seems most new music worth listening to is issued on vinyl as well as CD and there are more and more places where you can get records again.  My how times are changing....

http://www.ziarecords.com/Home

[giantsteps]

  AMEN!


  Frank

[TheChairGuy]

A shop selling NEW and used vinyl LP's (as well as CDs and DVDs) just opened it's second store in the last few months in my city, Las Vegas.  The new LP selection is quite good, although the used selection is smaller than some of the other shops in town that specialize in used LPs. I am just happy to see any place selling NEW vinyl open up, as I remember the dark ages (late 1980's thru 90's) when there was NO new music coming out on vinyl and without the internet being as developed as it is today, it was virtually impossible to find good quality LP's.  You had to rely on garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, goodwill stores, etc. to even find vinyl.  Now it seems most new music worth listening to is issued on vinyl as well as CD and there are more and more places where you can get records again.  My how times are changing....

http://www.ziarecords.com/Home

Yeah, I got something to do in my 2x yearly trade show visits to Las Vegas (other than visiting my brother, who lives there)....I'm not a gambler or a drinker....so I'll probably visit this shop next time around.

How far is this from the strip (usually stay at LV Hilton, Venetian or Mandalay Bay) is it Airborn?

Thanks, John

[jmpiwonka]

yes, this is great.
i just opened a package from amazon.co.uk...they were the only place i could find this album and it's still sealed.
everyone else sold out.
tom waits-mule variations. on the back it says "this album recorded, mixed, and mastered in Analog."  aa

[Lyndon]

And if you are ever in Salt Lake City...

Randy's Records is still going strong.  All his contemporaries, privately run stores, are gone from the 70's: Cosmic Aeroplane, Smokey's, and Discriminator.
But Randy keeps on going, though I don't think he advertises in Goldmine or anything.

I was the manager for two years probably 20 years ago, and am amazed that he has kept it running, with all of his kids helping out.  He has so many records stacked in the back, he really should open an ebay type store.

[Airborn]

Yeah, I got something to do in my 2x yearly trade show visits to Las Vegas (other than visiting my brother, who lives there)....I'm not a gambler or a drinker....so I'll probably visit this shop next time around.

How far is this from the strip (usually stay at LV Hilton, Venetian or Mandalay Bay) is it Airborn?

Thanks, John

John,
It's not too far from the Strip, maybe about 4-5 miles at most going West on Sahara Avenue.  The address is 4503 West Sahara.  Assuming you have a car, its a short trip from any of those mega-casinos.  If you're at the LV Hilton, Sahara is the first major east/west cross street as you head north from the LV Hilton on Paradise Road.  Just go West on Sahara for 4-5 miles and its on the left just past Valley View and before Decatur Blvd.  From Venetian or Mandalay Bay, it more of hike, but still not too far for good vinyl.   Your best bet would be to get on I-15 heading North, get off on the Sahara West exit and continue west for 3-4 miles. Btw, there are some other good used vinyl shops even closer to the LV Hilton heading east on Sahara.  I'd be happy to give you those names and locations, if you want to check them out when your in LV.  If your interested, just send me a PM.
Steve

[TheChairGuy]

Steve/Airborn,

I'd likely lose any names you give me now...my next gig in town is April 2009.  I can look them up with a search on the 'net or perusal in the yellow pages.  Armed with my TomTom GPS, and or my brother in tow (or maybe even my company accountant - who now lives there - she can swat my wrist if I pick up any pricey Japanese imports  )....I'll find 'em when I'm there.

Thanks very much for the offer & directions, tho.

John

(btw, I have the DUAL 701 now w/ADC TRX-1 cartridge...it plays nice those old DUAL's  )

[Airborn]

(btw, I have the DUAL 701 now w/ADC TRX-1 cartridge...it plays nice those old DUAL's  )

Yeah, that's a nice Dual, probably the best DD they made, I've heard.  I have the 601, which is said to be among the best belt drive Duals available.  The best part of my purchase was the Shure V15 Type III cart in excellent condition that came with the table.   I don't think the seller had any idea about the cart and after the addition of an LP Gear replacement stylus, the cart sounds wonderful on the 601.  The 601's were also notorious for motor problems, but mine has the replacement motor, which mostly avoids that issue.  However, I still hear a little speed fluctuation or "drag" every now and then, which is why I am saving up to get a KAB Technics sl-1200 of some type.  I just got word of a great price on an SL-1210 M5G, so I'll have to see if that lead pans out.  That will be my 3rd turntable, but who's counting.

[TheChairGuy]

Steve/aAirborn,

I have 4 TT's now... .and if I can squeeze another in, I would doubt I'd buy a 5th before I sell one of the 4 I have 

I have relatively pricey spread of VPI HW-19 Mk. III with a DIY SAMA (and either a VTAF'ed PT-6 tonearm or an Origin Live Illustrious Mk. III tonearm)...belt drive deck.  Currently, without outboard speed control...another $700-$1000....I'd take my 3 lowlier DD decks (one of them a SL-1200 MK. II) over it right now I'm pretty sure.

I think CD has brought a different level of expectation to most of us regarding speed control and drift over the past 25 years.

Yeah, the Shure V15 Mk. III is the one that Bill Neumann of FixMyDUAL recommends for the DUAL's of that vintage...he says it's a perfect sonic fit for them - nice find 

John

[AliG]

I do hope that the vinyl resurgence continues.. we do need more pressing factory to compete with RTI. The quality of new pressing from RTI is so freaking inconsistent!

[mcrespo71]

Steve/aAirborn,

I have 4 TT's now... .and if I can squeeze another in, I would doubt I'd buy a 5th before I sell one of the 4 I have 

I have relatively pricey spread of VPI HW-19 Mk. III with a DIY SAMA (and either a VTAF'ed PT-6 tonearm or an Origin Live Illustrious Mk. III tonearm)...belt drive deck.  Currently, without outboard speed control...another $700-$1000....I'd take my 3 lowlier DD decks (one of them a SL-1200 MK. II) over it right now I'm pretty sure.

I think CD has brought a different level of expectation to most of us regarding speed control and drift over the past 25 years.

Yeah, the Shure V15 Mk. III is the one that Bill Neumann of FixMyDUAL recommends for the DUAL's of that vintage...he says it's a perfect sonic fit for them - nice find 

John

John,

Have you fixed the problems with the SL-1200 that you were having?

Michael

[TheChairGuy]

No I've not, Michael...I'm pretty sure my issues we're due to the innate condition of my particular SL-1200 (beat to hell in a former life).

I'm pretty sure, much as Kevin Barrett describes on his website....older SL-1200's have a tendency to come loose in the holddowns over time...thus the motor vibrations are worse.  I keep thinking I'm destined for a $300 outboard motor and strobe disabler from KAB one day soon to fix it 

John

[Wayner]

I do hope that the vinyl resurgence continues.. we do need more pressing factory to compete with RTI. The quality of new pressing from RTI is so freaking inconsistent!

Pressing vinyl is more of an art than a science. You could have a brand new state of the art facility and with no experienced press operators you might as well make wood chips. When you look a stupid LP, it doesn't seem like much, but a lot of skill and know-how went into making a good pressing.

Wayner 

[Airborn]

I do hope that the vinyl resurgence continues.. we do need more pressing factory to compete with RTI. The quality of new pressing from RTI is so freaking inconsistent!

Pressing vinyl is more of an art than a science. You could have a brand new state of the art facility and with no experienced press operators you might as well make wood chips. When you look a stupid LP, it doesn't seem like much, but a lot of skill and know-how went into making a good pressing.

Wayner 

I just bought 2 new LPs from the new record shop here in town, Zia Records.  They were Ginderman by Ginderman (inspired by ecramer ) and Evil Urges by My Morning Jacket.  Now, I like the musical content just fine on both albums, but I was a bit surprised by the quality of the vinyl pressings; neither seems to stack up to the quality of older vinyl, especially from the 1950's and 60's.   This is strange, since you would think that modern production methods, advances in technology, etc. would lead to IMPROVEMENTS in an old technology like pressing vinyl.  But I haven't bought many new LPs since getting back into vinyl, mostly only used stuff from the $1 dollar bin.   I sure hope all new vinyl isn't made this way, or I might have to stick with used oldies. Btw, I did hear the 45 RPM MFSL reissues of Metallica's Ride the Lightning and Kill 'Em All and they sounded incredible, so I know good pressings can be done.  I just didn't want to spring for $35 per album for music I already have on CD.  Oh well, no free lunch for audiophools I suppose....

[mpm32]

Also you have to look for the original source and how it was mastered.  If it was recorded digitally and mastered digitally (likely) then you will have a digital recording pressed onto your LP.  To compare the same to older recordings, the new ones would have to start out as analogue, then mastered to analogue.

One newer artist that I can think of that still does this today is The White Stripes.  They record on vintage analogue gear.

I think that if the record companies want to have a vinyl resurgence they will need to take this into consideration instead of putting out digital recording in an analogue format.

Otherwise people will be disappointed like you were with your new albums.

[woodsyi]

I have The White Stripes' Icky Thump on vinyl.  I like it.