What's your used-vinyl-buying checklist?

Posted by: Gautam Raja on 08 August 2006

I've been buying second-hand records for the last month or so, to build up a collection of LPs. I've been reading here about different pressings, early serial numbers and so on - and am a bit overwhelmed.

It'll be great if you can share your "used checklists" that you run through when you examine old vinyl. What should I look for apart from obvious things like torn sleeves and scratches?

And what do the scratched numbers on the inner part of records signify? Is there a handy list of labels that usually sound better than others or does that vary far too much over the years and over various albums?

Look forward to it...

Posted on: 08 August 2006 by Alan Paterson

If it isn't scratched,you know you like it or think you will and you think it is not expensive buy it.

Posted on: 09 August 2006 by Mabelode, King of Swords

I don't think the appearance of the record tells you much. Sometimes clean, unscratched records turn out to be very noisy and crackly even after a wet cleaning - not sure why but maybe the grooves are damaged, which is something you can't discern by sight alone.

I usually buy five or six used LPs at a time, and because they were cheap, I don't get stressed if half of them turn out to be duds. It's pot luck, no need to be too scientific about it.

Posted on: 10 August 2006 by BigH47

quote:
And what do the scratched numbers on the inner part of records signify?

These are MAtrix numbers. They indicate the generation of the pressing die,similar to an issue number of a book ie lower the better.