Hooked on Vinyl (Again)

[barrysloate]

I have approx. 500 albums, primarily jazz from the 1950's and 60's, and classic rock from the 60's. A great many of them I bought when they came out and I kept them for all these years, so condition is a bit mixed. Have some nice blues albums too.

And I have a really good turntable too, a Technics, so I still play them a few times a week. There is something about holding a record jacket that is special to me.

I don't buy too many albums anymore, but a few months ago I picked up on ebay The Yardbirds "Having a Rave Up." ( I know, you have no idea what that is). Records are great.

[silvor]

In the early 80's, record/music collecting made me put my baseball card collecting aside for 30 years. I had a TON of cool vinyl, but sold it off through the years. Some of that stuff is going for crazy prices now. I sure wish I kept it.

Luckily, my favorite band (Kiss) reissued their catalog on CD and did it properly and wasn't brickwalled. They actually used the LP masters as a reference, so the CD's are really good. So I never got back into vinyl. But, I did buy a new analog Onkyo recently and used my old Klipsch 2.2 speakers. Great combination IMO.

[Tedw9]

Barry, it nice to hear from someone who still has their collection AND still uses them. I wish I had kept mine, but I didn’t.

You’re right, there’s something about holding them. Like a book, it satisfies something within me. I’m not a big fan of ebooks either, I like to turn a page or turn the record over.

I know who the Yardbirds are, can’t say I know much more.


Silvor, I’m a big Kiss fan also. First record I put on when I got a record player was Destroyer. Had to hear Detroit Rock City and the car crash. It sounded even better than I remembered.

My wife dug out her albums which she had purchased at yard sales years back and gave me her Kiss albums. When I pulled out the Love Gun album, it was in great shape and had both the order form and unpunched gun and bang inside. I was geeked! I never find stuff that cool at yard sales.

I’m not surprised Kiss issued another set. There is no lack of choice when it comes to them! But it sounds like they got the master right, which is good to hear. If you’re going to put out rehashes, at least put out the best sound you can.

Nice to hear you’re back in the NY groove.

[Chris-Counts]

I've been all-in on digital music for years, but lately, I've had so many compatibility and reliability issues with my various devices, and I've become so frustrated with iTunes, that considering ditching all my MP3s and turning the clock back about a half century. I was recently admiring the various Crosley turntables, and I'm considering taking the plunge. Since I listen mostly to music from the '60s and '70s, I shouldn't have too much trouble finding the records I like.

[58pinson]

Chris,

I always hesitate to send off advice on an internet forum. That said, all of the Crosley stuff I've seen is rubbish. Depending on what you intend to do you might consider a few possibilities.

If you want to go from a vinyl source to a digital file there are several ok usb turntables out there (Audio Technica I've been told makes a pretty good one) and while Crosley offers these units they are inferior and will make quick work of your vinyl. If you just want a turntable to play vinyl you are going to purchase there are lots of good ones out there, especially with the vinyl resurgence that has taken place over the last decade of so.

I guess the bottom line I'm driving at is that buying the software (vinyl) gets pricey, and it's usually a good idea to buy the best hardware you can afford up front.

Just my 2 cents from the peanut gallery.

[Tedw9]

I agree on getting the best you can afford. I did a lot of research trying to get the most bang for my buck. After a couple of weeks of reading I settled on an Audio Technicia AT-LP60 and I haven’t regretted it.