[S Clark]

To say that modern vinyl is better than vintage vinyl is bullshit.  Excellent pressings have always been hit and miss, and still are today.  I own several first pressings that are superior to the newer "audiophile" pressings.  And example is Classic Records.  Their pressing of RCA's Pines of Rome is lifeless in comparison to an early 2s copy.
Early copies of many jazz greats are top audiophile quality.   

[timind]

When the dealer set up your turntable did he listen to it? Did he think it sounded ok?

What about the records sounds off to you? One thing for sure, there is nothing wrong with older records.  This is puzzling.

[qdrone]

Don,
MC or MM cartridge?

[/mp]

Without a lengthy discussion of equipment can vinyl fans tell me what they think of the quality of original pop/rock vinyl from the 60-80s?

Made in USA records became thinner & formulated with a higher percentage of recycled vinyl following the '73 oil embargo. Japanese pressings continued to use virgin vinyl & sounded better than US made counterparts when they used the same mix. Sometimes they did; sometimes they didn't. Different mixes makes it pippins & russets comparisons if even if they're less than apples & oranges. My best recollection is of the few duplicate records I bought which allowed direct comparisons the difference in sound quality was less than the difference between regular pressings & MFSL reissues. Caveats re: Law of Small Numbers applies. The distinction is moot when there weren't readily available better vinyl versions of albums recorded post early '70s. 

As always, your millage may vary,
/mp