OPL CD crawl on hold while I do the OPL LP crawl

[atomicAdam]

Instead of staying home and being grumpy about having a mild flu I decided out and spread my germs to the population. I went to the flea market and picked up about 9 new LPs. After that I went to the Oakland Public Library to pick up a new batch of random Jazz and blues CDs to listen to.

On my way past the ref desk something friend said popped into my head. "when I was in Florida I used to go the to University Library and check out vinyl all the time". So I thought, what they heck, maybe the OPL has some.

I asked, and sure enough they have. I think the lady I asked thought it was awesome. She said she has a large classical vinyl selection at home and she was willing to take me down into the lower floors of the library, the 'staff only section', it was very Ghostbusters like, and led to what is left of the OPL collection.

It is still a lot. At least in my opinion. And I snagged 8 LPs at random and checked them out. Unfortunately the ref desk lady, her name is Jean, said I'm not really allowed down there so I have to use the computers to make a list which an aide will go get. I have a feeling that won't last long. I'm going to try to get an ok special access somehow. I want to listen to everything they have on vinyl.

Anyways, that totally made my day. Getting some special treatment at the library just asking about vinyl! I feel like I discovered a secret.

[poppachubby]

[QUOTE=atomicAdam
I asked, and sure enough they have. I think the lady I asked thought it was awesome. She said she has a large classical vinyl selection at home and she was willing to take me down into the lower floors of the library, the 'staff only section', it was very Ghostbusters like, and led to what is left of the OPL collection.

It is still a lot. At least in my opinion. And I snagged 8 LPs at random and checked them out. Unfortunately the ref desk lady, her name is Jean, said I'm not really allowed down there so I have to use the computers to make a list which an aide will go get. I have a feeling that won't last long. I'm going to try to get an ok special access somehow. I want to listen to everything they have on vinyl.

Anyways, that totally made my day. Getting some special treatment at the library just asking about vinyl! I feel like I discovered a secret.[/QUOTE]

Your story was going in the same direction as this porn I once watched. But then you took a bunch of vinyl, which is where the similarities stopped. Do you have a local shop for new or used vinyl Adam? You live in Oakland, so there must be...

[atomicAdam]

Boy if that was going to be a porn....yeah it would be awesome, no it would have been horrible. Not into grandmas. Gross....

But more to the point. Yes I live in oakland and there are a lot of places for me to get vinyl from. Four to five major record stores in Berkeley, SF or San Lorenzo. Not to mention the smaller record shops that are more style specific. But for those u need $$. I'm poor. So the free to $1-$2 LPs r what I'm going for for at least another year.

[poppachubby]

Boy if that was going to be a porn....yeah it would be awesome, no it would have been horrible. Not into grandmas. Gross....

But more to the point. Yes I live in oakland and there are a lot of places for me to get vinyl from. Four to five major record stores in Berkeley, SF or San Lorenzo. Not to mention the smaller record shops that are more style specific. But for those u need $$. I'm poor. So the free to $1-$2 LPs r what I'm going for for at least another year.

Hey man I hear ya...I have a young family. I would suggest your local Craigslist or whatever similar type of E-network you use. People will post big lots of vinyl for sale, of which they will usually be willing to sell by the armful.
Yard sales and thrift stores are great too. My advice with a thrift store is to watch 1-3 that get vinyl regularily. Go into those same 3 on their stocking days, and just stick with those same stores. It's too difficult to check out lots of thrift stores, there are just too many guys like you out there, doing the same thing. You'll never find anything that way.

Check your local newspaper for upcoming estate sales or public auctions. I LOVE estate sales, great way to get gear too. Toronto has an awesome annual police auction, I never miss it and usually come out with some piece of gear.

There's alot of sneaky ways to get cheap vinyl, but you have to dedicate a certain amount of time to it, thus making it a fully fledged hobby. The odds that some great and cheap vinyl will fall into your lap without any work, are extremely low.

I don't buy anything that isn't,at thevery least, in very good condition. When I say very good, I'm talking from a grading perspective and not as a term of opinion. I used to simply buy whatever I ran into. This is fine, but as you listen to vinyl more and more, you will start to understand the value of things like the type of pressing, weight of the record and whether its an original or a re-issue. Also, all those tiny marks and scratches will add up to a reduced listening experience.

When my collection got to about 200, I started to realize that alot of it was nothing to be proud of. So I took better care in my purchases and now my collection is something of value. I hope to leave it for my kids, once they've stressed me to death.

Anyhow Adam, I am just blabbing away. What was this thread about? Oh ya, vinyl.

[atomicAdam]

Well speak to these 'value' properties in more specific terms. Lay down some knowledge if you care to.

Pressing quality?
Weight of the record? Heavier better?
OG or re-issue? Does it matter?

There are thrift shops around the bay area a plenty, but I would bet the likelihood of them receiving regular amounts of vinyl is slim to none at this point. Though, it is worth checking out.

At a couple of the flea markets I've been going to for years I've come to notice a few vinyl sellers there regularly. Though never had a reason to stop before.

Estate sales sound like a good thing to keep and eye on, and craigslist. Thanks for the hint.

So far I'm just having a blast picking through the San Lorenzo Rasputin's Record and the Laney Flea Market. I'm sure as time goes I'll start to expand my horizons and expectations. I do have a rather burdening load of hobbies to deal with. Biking, Climbing, Running, Bonsai, and now Audio Equipment and Vinyl. Where is the time?

[02audionoob]

Nice advice, Chubbs. And some further hopefully-helpful notes to Adam...

I try to look past the grime on used records and concentrate on physical damage. I bought an old mono record today that looked like it had been left out on the lawn. After a vigorous cleaning, I'm very happy with it.

I am more attracted to the heavier records, but I'm not sure I'm accustomed to the sound of them, yet. I wonder sometimes if I'm conditioned to the thinner records. I used to avoid the mono records...even to the point of favoring re-issues...but I've had very good luck with mono on recent purchases and my phono preamp has a mono switch.

I too concentrate on just a select few places to shop for records. Here in Dallas, the place to be is Half-Price Books. I've almost narrowed it down to just that...in their multiple locations. I tire quickly of the craiglist ads, considering how often they think their Michael Jackson, Beatles and Elvis records are worth big money and I just can't get to the estate sales fast enough to beat the professionals.

And maybe I'm just blabbing, too...

[poppachubby]

oh noobster...so true, estate sales can be very tough and almost "turf" oriented.

Well Adam, I am not a pro vinyl collector. I will explain a few basic things but if you really want to learn go to a really good, all vinyl shop. If the owner isn't a pompous dick, which many are, ask him what qualities a good record has. 98% chance no one wants to hear him go off about records, so he'll tell you everything he knows with great zeal.

The weight and type of pressing go hand in hand. Often you'll hear audiophiles or vinyl heads talk about 180/200 grams. Of course this is the weight of the record itself, which lends to the physical properties. The heavier and thicker the vinyl, the deeper and sometimes wider the groove. Your stylus will thank you for this by giving you better tracking and better reproduction. Once you've handled enough records, you will know it by whether they flop like paper or are solid like wood. Obviously, the best quality lies in the highest weight.

Original or re-issue doesn't matter in terms of listening but rather value. I have a mint original Parliament Funadelic collection. Most of it has been re-issued at one time or another. Most albums have lot numbers on them which dealers will use to check when the pressing was done and if it was an original batch or not. When vinyl started its popular descent, majors stopped their vinyl production almost entirely. Smaller companies then picked up from here with re-issues. So you see, an original is obviously the more valuable choice. HOWEVER, I have had several original albums with thin, crappy pressings and seen an audiophile re-issue. It just depends. When vinyl was it its peak, companies pumped out thin, crappy copies. Quite specifically, I have an original Prince, Purple Rain (ya so? whats your problem with Prince?!?) but the re-issue was a beautiful 180 gram reproduction that sounded 100 times better.

The noob-inator made a good point too. Surface crapola can be washed away so look for knicks and scratches. NEVER buy an album without pulling out the vinyl and inspecting it. Whether its a dollar or 100 dollars, make it a habit. Shine the light off of it at a 45 degree angle and fully inspect it for problems. Also, look closely at the grooves, they should look like perfect circles, if there is any deviation from that, chances are someones kid bumped the TT while it was playing. Buy yourself some extra dust sleeves, they are available for cheap at most stores since alot of used will be missing them. Never hurts to buy some plastic slips for the cover either. Theres a great thread for record care on here with homebrew (cheap) cleaning solution. Lets keep em clean ok Adam?

My fingers hurt...I found this link, a good start...

http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip...s.html#special

[atomicAdam]

http://opllp.tumblr.com/

started to listen, post a sample, and review a bit

[poppachubby]

http://opllp.tumblr.com/

started to listen, post a sample, and review a bit

...cool. Very unique, wish my library had anything even close to this. Not even a Mini-Pops LP...

[atomicAdam]

...cool. Very unique, wish my library had anything even close to this. Not even a Mini-Pops LP...

i hope when i run out a oakland public library there is another....

but my plan, basically photo and 1 min sample of sound. maybe other lp related stuff i find along with photos of OPL and my TT as it changes.

you know, just something to do.

[poppachubby]

BTW Adam, hows that Shure cart sounding these days? Thinking about something for my Pioneer...

[atomicAdam]

BTW Adam, hows that Shure cart sounding these days? Thinking about something for my Pioneer...

I don't think it is fair for me to comment on the cartridge at this time. i mean, it is a hell of an improvement over the old one that was on there before.

when i get a better tt and phono amp, maybe one with a cartridge on it already so I have something to compare to, than i'll be able to have an opinion.

also i just smeared caulk all over the inside and am letting it dry. i'll see if it makes a sonic difference.

[atomicAdam]

also i just smeared caulk all over the inside and am letting it dry. i'll see if it makes a sonic difference.

well that was a messy waste of $3. didn't fully think about what i was doing......

and no - no photos - too embarrassing - but i think the tt can be saved with some cleaning.

[atomicAdam]

well that was a messy waste of $3. didn't fully think about what i was doing......

and no - no photos - too embarrassing - but i think the tt can be saved with some cleaning.

well - scratch that. some speed censor now have caulk all up in it and now the platter just spins and spins faster, and spins faster and faster. so... oh well.... $20 tt bye bye

[poppachubby]

well - scratch that. some speed censor now have caulk all up in it and now the platter just spins and spins faster, and spins faster and faster. so... oh well.... $20 tt bye bye

caulking?!? where did you get that idea?? Man Adam, you are a boss man on Audio review, you have access to some of the best audio minds. Not speaking of myself of course but next time, ask a friend. Please post a pic man, let's at least get a good laugh out of this....