Record Collectors Thread

[Blueletter18]

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

Honestly - this is a personal judgment call. If the price feel good, go for it. Research ebay prices as well - they tend to be high, but will give you a good idea of what stuff should cost, on average. Remember that many factors affect price - scratches, gloss, sleeve condition, surface marks, pops, skips, edge-wear, absence of original inserts, etc...



No. ):



For wet cleaning, which I only do when the record is dirty or smudged, I use a brush that looks like Corduroy fabric, sold at most record stores. The solution I use is custom-made at the store I shop at, but there are commercial cleaning solvents out there. I also use a carbon-fiber brush for dry cleaning, before every single play. I also use a carbon-fiber needle brush to clean the stylus before every play.



I've been buying records on eBay since 1999. I've had hundreds of great experiences, where I got exactly what I wanted for the right price. All I can say is buying from eBay requires research. Look at many copies, read the seller notes, get a feel for the grading system ( Mint-, VG+, etc.) and know what they mean.

Be wary of the mob-mentality when it comes to pricing. I see this too often - one person overprices an item, and then all the other sellers overprice it as well. If you wanted a particular record - let's say, Mirage, and all the copies were $35 or higher, move on and cross Mirage off your list for now. Give it 6 months and the prices will change. Some items are worth a lot of course, but most aren't worth the prices being asked.

I often spend weeks looking at what I want before buying it, trying to find the exact copy I want for the best price possible. I'm ok paying more when it's deserved, but the most expensive price doesn't mean it's any better than the cheap ones, which is why you need to be familiar with sellers and grades and be sure to read their descriptions.

Prepare to be disappointed - it happens sometimes.

I wouldn't pay more than $15-25 dollar for a minty copy of BN.

No matter what a record costs, PLAY IT! That $45 dollar copy of Rumours is supposed to sound great, so make sure it does!

Lastly, even sealed records almost never sound good without a proper cleaning first. Older sealed albums are the worst - I've recenly opened a sealed Mirage that I've had for about 10 years and it was a totally filthy record. You may wonder how they get dirty when they are sealed - it's residue from the pressing machines.

How do you recommend cleaning them? I'm looking for a cheap/easy way, because I've got a LOT of records that need cleaning.