Vinyl records are back. Those oversized spinny discs piled high in your grandmother’s attic are stacked on shelves and in the bedrooms of young audiophiles. Old albums are being remastered and rereleased on vinyl, an even famous artists like Tyler, The Creator and Kanye West have released their work on vinyl. How to start collecting?
1. Purchase a suitable turntable.
Record players come in many different variations, so it’s crucial to pick the one that best fits your taste. Some require an external stereo system or speaker setup, whiles others come with built-in speakers. If you are always on the move and want to take your collection with you to listen abroad, there are smaller, more compact models that might fit your lifestyle. If you purchase a model requiring extra setup, be sure you have all the proper wires and accessories. Prices can be varied depending on the make and model. Amazon has plenty of affordable players.
2. Find a store/seller.
Before the times of streaming services and smartphones, allowing all music to be available in the palm of one’s hand, there were stores where people would inspect the shelves for vinyl records and, later, cassette tapes and compact disks. Some of these stores are gone now, but some remain, and even new ones have opened their doors. Weekends are a great time to take a trip to a store. Before you venture out, ask your family members and see if they have any old records they’d allow you to have. There might be a few gems right under your nose. Popular retail companies like Walmart and Target also stock records on their shelves. Another option is online vendors. There are plenty of websites selling records.
3. Keep a wishlist and track of your collection.
This is a new and exciting part of the experience. Make a list of your top ten favorite albums; no matter what time in history the musician or band lived in, just write down the music that speaks to your heart and soul. Then, try and find those records! If it’s modern, you will most likely be able to find it online or in a store. If it’s more old school, you might be able to find it online, but you might have to hunt for it at your local record store. It’s also important to keep track of your collection. This way, you can know all of the records you have and their value if you ever need to sell them. Websites like https://www.discogs.com/ are great for keeping tabs on your documents and their value.
4. Store and clean properly.
This is something that separates the novices from the pros. Properly storing and cleaning one’s records is a simple task that makes the difference. Dirt and dust can collect in the record’s grooves and affect how it plays. If a record is used, it’s best to clean the tracks before playing it. This way, you avoid the likelihood of scratches or breaks. Cheap microfiber cloths and vinyl cleaners are available for purchase. Spray the cleaner and lightly run the fabric along the grooves. How you store your collection is all up to you. Staging your collection is an exciting element of collecting. There are unique wall decoration shelves available for purchase so you can decorate your room or space with records. One crucial aspect is not to stack your records. Weight can misalign the discs, which also affects the way it plays. It’s best to find instead set them upright on a bookshelf or in a crate.
5. Connect with other collectors
As the saying goes, the more, the merrier. Try and find someone with a vinyl collection before you start your own. That way, you can have someone to talk to and relate to about collecting. They’ll also probably know the right places to go and who has the best deals. Getting your friends involved would also be beneficial. This way, you can have a partner in crime regarding collecting. Record store owners and workers are usually amiable and helpful. They are passionate about their work and want nothing more than to help a fellow enthusiast.
