$3.00 +/- used vinyl

[2-Channel]

Please list any sources you are aware of ... I am building a bookmark folder on my computer. I hope to do some buying damage with two local sources, but I am certainly willing to risk on-line purchases for those titles that are near to impossible to find.

[f1 fan]

Originally Posted by two dot

Matt,

First, let me say... I am far from an expert... Where is Serge anyway ???

But, I do LOVE vinyl, and couple of years ago, finally, reluctantly, purchased a record cleaning machine.

I bought the venerable VPI 16.5.

It has done an incredible job making all of my vinyl sound better... not just my 50 cent bargain bin finds.. but also my fancy, brand new, 180gm pressings.

It's not fun, it's not glamorous, the machine is ugly, loud...

but, I think, if you want to listen to vinyl, on systems like ours, ... IT IS a necessity...

+1...get a rcm like the VPI16.5 and your lps will sound much better. Some almost new including the used 3.00 lps. Like two dot I have the VPI and it's a killer bargain to be had for rcm.




Dave

[thughes]

2-Channel,

Have you also checked out new vinyl sources? Many of the groups you mentioned have remastered albums. Try some online retailers like Elusive Disk, Acoustic Sounds, and Music Direct.

I have also had some very good luck with some finds in the used bins. You will need to do some cleaning.

I just received this cheap little cleaner from Acoustic Sounds today.
Spin-Clean-Record Washer System-Record Cleaning Machine | Acoustic Sounds

It looks a bit dinky, but it also looks like it might work, especially if you are going to clean many albums at a time. The instructions say to use the drying cloth only one time; that is once it is wet and dries, don't reuse it.

I won't have a chance to try it out to this week end when I'll have more time to gather up 40 or 50 lps that might need cleaning.

[2-Channel]

I like the manual aspect of this machine. It looks very promising. It'll be interesting if you can create a cleaning agent, in bulk, to avoid the replacement cost for their new liquid agent.

Thanks for the links!

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by thughes

2-Channel,

Have you also checked out new vinyl sources? Many of the groups you mentioned have remastered albums. Try some online retailers like Elusive Disk, Acoustic Sounds, and Music Direct.

I have also had some very good luck with some finds in the used bins. You will need to do some cleaning.

I just received this cheap little cleaner from Acoustic Sounds today.
Spin-Clean-Record Washer System-Record Cleaning Machine | Acoustic Sounds

It looks a bit dinky, but it also looks like it might work, especially if you are going to clean many albums at a time. The instructions say to use the drying cloth only one time; that is once it is wet and dries, don't reuse it.

I won't have a chance to try it out to this week end when I'll have more time to gather up 40 or 50 lps that might need cleaning.

Do the paper labels at center of LP peel off over time after repeated cleanings given exposure to liquid?

[Tonepub]

You will find a lot of used vinyl at that price range. However, you will not get the awesome pressings for that kind of money. So, depending on how good your system is and how picky you are will determine if this will keep you happy.

Either way, having a good vacuum cleaning system like the 16.5, the nitty gritty or the Clearaudio Simple Matrix and a good enzyme based cleaning (like the Mofi) solution will work wonders with older, dirty records that are heavily fingerprinted, etc. As long as they are not scratched, you will be amazed at how good you can get these records to sound with a little work.

After a good cleaning or two, most of my records are CD quiet.

[AudioNut]

I own a lot of LP's and have settled on the VPI 17F. Not as fancy as the Typhoon but it does have a fan, a motor to rotate the records and does an excellent job. It can make the un-playable playable and make new records sound newer than new!

I had an older version without the fan and the it did overheat on occasion and the vacuum suction motor wasn't nearly as strong as the new one.

Also had a Nitty-Gritty Mini Pro machine which cleaned both sides of the record at the same time, but I like the VPI machine better, even though it only cleans one side at a time. I think the VPI does a better job.

About "buying" used LP's - millions available - always pull the record out of the sleeve and look at it at an angle against the light to to see scratches etc. -

I have found though, that if people know you are a record collector, they will call you and offer to give you their old records rather than take them to Good Will. . . I had two people bring several boxes of records to my house over the holidays - about 400 very clean LP's (some Lawrence Welk and other stuff that I will take to Good Will myself) - but, I have gotten thousands of records "free" from my friends.

Non-audiophile "regular" people are always amazed when they see my racks of records - always ask "do you still play records?" or, "I haven't seen any records in years." or "Do you have one of those record playing things?" and they often say "I have a bunch of old records that you can have if you want them".

I do want them, and will drive miles to get them. I love free records.

[f1 fan]

Julian,

People ask me the same thing about my lp's and cd's. When there's free records I always ask, "where are they and how do I get there")







Dave

[JDCheek]

My future son in law brought over a copy of Billy Joel's "Songs in the Attic" to test my new TT rig. He paid a few dollars at a habitat for humanity restore here in Charlotte. After a thorough cleaning, we played, very loud, from start to finish.

It was great. He knew I enjoyed so much, he left it here as a gift!

[f1 fan]

Originally Posted by JDCheek

My future son in law brought over a copy of Billy Joel's "Songs in the Attic" to test my new TT rig. He paid a few dollars at a habitat for humanity restore here in Charlotte. After a thorough cleaning, we played, very loud, from start to finish.

It was great. He knew I enjoyed so much, he left it here as a gift!

JD....sounds like you had a great day

Dave