[kenscott30]

I am not sure if this post belongs here or in the Vinyl circle....But here it goes.  Well thanks to some metaling and helpful posters I decided to buy my first record player, damn, build a phono preamp and get some records....  if I get sick of looking at my used records stores where should I go to get records?  I know that 180 or 200 gram are better???  I found this place, http://store.acousticsounds.com/  They seem like they have nice stuff.  My question is is it worth it for me to get a few Led Zep albums, at like $30.00 each?  Are they great recording quality?  What about Sarah McLachlan?  I like her but I am not sure that I want to get 4 albums at 40.00 each.  Are that they that much better or is it a gimmick?  Also where do I find new bands on vinyl?

Thanks a lot!

Ken

[mcrespo71]

The Classic Records vinyl reissues of Led Zeppelin that cost $30 are definitely better than the old Zep pressings I used to have.  I did not have original UK pressings or anything like that, but those are more expensive than $30 anyway if you find them mint.  I'd say they are worth it.  Classic Records does a fine job on their LP reissues, as does MFSL.  Stay away from Simply Vinyl, Get Back, or EarMark reissues.

Michael

BTW, what table did you buy?

[Gordy]

Michael,

I've always heard that Sundazed is a good re-issue label, have any experience with them?

Thanks...
Gordy

[mcrespo71]

Michael,

I've always heard that Sundazed is a good re-issue label, have any experience with them?

Thanks...
Gordy

Yeah, Sundazed is excellent.  I forgot to include them, but they are great and very fairly priced.  All of the Bob Dylan reissues on Sundazed are fabulous, as are the Byrds, Love, Butterfield Blues, Wilco, and Otis Redding reissues I tried through them.  DCC was my absolute favorite, which had Steve Hoffman remastering for them.  He has done some recent work remastering the CCR catalog for Acoustic Sounds (I think)- these are fabulous- about $25 each, but worth it.  Another very good reissue company on LP is Speakers Corner- they do more classical and jazz, but the copies are pristine and remastering excellent.  Steve Hoffman remastered the Red Hot Chili Peppers new album for vinyl, which actually uses the master tape and he mastered it through tube equipment to 45RPM per side.  The CD apparently didn't even use the masters????!!!!?  I'm looking forward to that one.

I mean, think about it- you want to buy the best copies of Zeppelin or CCR or some stupid audiophile sampler with Diana Krall on it?  I support the reissue companies that put out GOOD music.

Michael

[mcrespo71]

I am not sure if this post belongs here or in the Vinyl circle....But here it goes.  Well thanks to some metaling and helpful posters I decided to buy my first record player, damn, build a phono preamp and get some records....  if I get sick of looking at my used records stores where should I go to get records?  I know that 180 or 200 gram are better???  I found this place, http://store.acousticsounds.com/  They seem like they have nice stuff.  My question is is it worth it for me to get a few Led Zep album ...

New bands on vinyl.........

www.amusicdirect.com

or Acoustic Sounds, which you have already found.


I will once again PIMP the ARCTIC MONKEYS because they RULE!!!!!  Get that album if you like the Who!

[woodsyi]

I am not sure if this post belongs here or in the Vinyl circle....But here it goes.  Well thanks to some metaling and helpful posters I decided to buy my first record player, damn, build a phono preamp and get some records....  if I get sick of looking at my used records stores where should I go to get records?  I know that 180 or 200 gram are better???  I found this place, http://store.acousticsounds.com/  They seem like they have nice stuff.  My question is is it worth it for me to get a few Led Zep album ...

Your best source is your older friends and relatives.  I just came back from a family wedding where my daugher was the flower girl.  While I was out there up in Sierra Nevada, I met some more of my wife's extended family.  I just did some networking and arranged to pick up over 2000 LPs from hippie aunts and uncles who stashed their LPs in storage years ago.  I have to figure out a way to get them since they are in San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Diego.  I am excited about one particular collection from my wife's aunt's husband's brother who is a retired professor from Cal.  I think there will be some really good early Jazz LPs.    

[meilankev]

Ken,

Keep looking.  With enough dedication, you can find high-quality, sealed vinyl on the internet.  I found a great site that specializes in new, young bands.  They have hundreds of up-and-coming bands for very inexpensive prices (usually about $5.00 - $6.00).

And for older releases, the place I use is less than half the price of sites like Acoustic Sounds, amusicdirect, and Elusive Disc.  For example, I just replaced all my old Beatles albums (most for ~$14.00 each, and 2 or 3 of them for only $11.75).  They offer most of the same titles, just half the price.

I'm sure there's others.

Kevin

[ohenry]

Sometimes you can check Gemm.com and find some reasonable deals on mostly used vinyl if you have a specific artist of title in mind.  Being a global music clearinghouse, there are opportunities to find some interesting imports and rare items.  If nothing else, searching on an artist will reveal a comprehensive look at their catalogue and can be educational.  I've had mostly good expreiences when buying vinyl from the record stores affiliated with Gemm, but condition of a few purchases weren't quite as advertised.  I suppose that's typical of the used record business.

For instance, a search of Gemm for Led Zeppelin revealed ~600 LP items priced from a few dollars to >$700 (box set).  How will you ever know if the rare Russian or Korean pressing is the shit unless you buy them?

[fitzrik]

There's a few more normal shops too which are quite good.

Have a look at my links on http://vinylfanatics.com

Diversevinyl, sisterray in the UK
cybercd in Germany
themusic.com are associated with classic records

I like the Classic reissues. Some thnk they're too bright.

Richard

[Scott F.]

Your best source is your older friends and relatives.

I couldn't agree more. I get loads of albums this way. All of my relatives know I collect vinyl (somewhere between 2-3k and still counting). I take all of it they bring. I sift through the ablums and weed out the ones that are shot. The rest I either clean and keep or put in a pile and give them to the other local guys or I save them and trade them in at my local used records shop.

Euclid Records is a great place to pick up good, clean, reasonably priced vinyl. Their ratings are spot on with Goldmine. Heres their link;
www.euclidrecords.com

As a side note, the last pile of records my brother in law brought over it had an absolutely mint copy of Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced - MONO. As I flipped threw them when I finally realized that this was the MONO version I gasped out loud. My wife immediately asked me "What's wrong?" thinking I injured myself. I proceeded to tell ther that the MONO version next to the Beatles 'butcher' cover, is probably the second most collectable piece of vinyl on the market. I've seen it sell routinely for $1200 to $1600 on eBay. Best part, this one was still in its original shrink sleeve, zero ring wear on either side, very nice centering of the covers, one very slight corner ding and not a spec of dust on either side of the vinyl. Needless to say, this is going on eBay this fall and I plan on splitting the proceeds with my B in Law.

One thing I can say with certainty, when it comes to reissues Stan Ricker does the best job of re-mastering. His new modified cutter head is light years better than anything else being used by the other guys out there including Steve Hoffman's tube buffered cutting head.

[Brad]

I agree with Scott F - Euclid records is very good.
I have also bought some nice vinyl from a couple of guys on Audiogon:  RecordRon and Case04

All of them rate conservatively, ship quickly, and pack well.....