While shuffling through his newly acquired collection, one record in particular caught his attention. He pulled the old, dusty album from the massive stack on the counter. Remarking how long it had been since he last heard the classic album, he placed it on the turntable with a hint of glee in his eyes. The needle dropped and hell broke loose.
David Bowie’s “Five Years” emerged from the speakers, but what should have been a beautiful aural experience was utterly tarnished. The song battled for breathing room against the horrid hissing of scratched, battered grooves. Moments later, the record skipped three times within a ten second interval, ruining one of the track’s pivotal lines. It was a tragedy.
Of course, it didn’t have to be. Vinyl records, like most ancient relics from days long past, require very specific care in order to be maintained over the years. There’s nothing worse than hearing your favorite song repeatedly skip because of improper care.
Sean Bourne, Manager of Wax n’ Facts record store, has been surrounded by music for decades. He’s been an employee for 36 years and in that time he’s come to know the ins and outs of caring for and selling vinyl records.
“At the very least you’ll need a nice neutral solution. You don’t drown it, you just spray it lightly. We use a 100% cotton cloth. It’s more absorbent,” Bourne said.
Bourne also went on to note that there are record cleaning machines as well but said that these devices can cost up to and over 1,000 dollars.
Vinyl Care Tips:
- Use a non-static cloth to clean the record before each play. Wipe in circles along the record’s grooves to remove dust, static, etc.
- Be sure to keep the turntable’s needle clean as well. Gently rub with a brush away from the arm and with the volume off.
- Don’t touch the grooves with your fingers. Hold the record by the edges and the center sticker only to avoid smudges and scratches.
- The tone-arm should be calibrated to put 1.5 to 1.75 grams of weight onto the record. More weight will wear out the record more quickly.
- Make sure that the turntable is level against the surface it’s resting on so that the needle tracks along the grooves properly.
Before you can actually care for your record collection, however, you’ll need to know where to find your favorite albums. According to a report written by Billboard, vinyl record sales went up 33 percent in the last year alone, accounting for 6.1 million albums sold in 2013 alone. In other words, the physical format is skyrocketing. Vinyl hasn’t been this easy to find in decades.
Bourne said that while he wouldn’t recommend vinyl for everyone, there is certainly a romantic notion to it that many people live by.
“Vinyl is awesome. A good pressing of an old record mastered for vinyl is going to sound better,” Bourne said. “Listening to music on records is… you have to turn it over. It engages you in a certain way that CDs and MP3s don’t.”
Atlanta has plenty of independent record stores to choose from, each with its own unique personality. Perhaps the best known of these stores is Criminal Records, located in Little Five Points, which specializes in new, independent artists. Wax n’ Facts, found just down the street, offers its own unique brand by specializing in used, older recordings. Out of the perimeter in Roswell, Mojo Vinyl sports a variety of old and new, used and sealed.
Before venturing out to your nearest store, however, it’s important to keep price in mind. Massive gulfs exist between new, old, used and unused records. Typically, newer albums from current artists run anywhere from 15-30 dollars, but records from old artists can vary dramatically in price.
The condition of the record itself and the record jacket is a major factor in determining the value of old albums, as is the availability and demand. While a fair number of Led Zeppelin IVs exist, the sheer popularity of the record will command a high price, with new copies running well over the 15-30 dollar mark mentioned previously.
Lastly, it’s critical to remember to keep a strict budget. Bargain hunting through the used bins can be an exciting adventure, but it can be just as costly to your pockets. Those old, dusty two or four dollar records will eventually add up to a staggering sum, so always keep balance in mind. This same principle applies to new records as well, which will deplete bank accounts even more quickly.
Keeping these guidelines and tips in mind, it shouldn’t be difficult to begin collecting records. Vinyl is more than just an ancient relic from the past—it’s a physical format with plenty of life left to live and there are plenty of music lovers willing to take the plunge, both young and old.
“First find what your interest is. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Go to any record store and asks the clerks there. They’ll tell you what their preference is. They’ll tell you what the best record probably is,” Bourne said. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
