So true. Keep this in mind when you have a few years into the hobby. RU-vid is an amazing resource for learning anything. However, the lists and top record video kill me. 😂. Also, not everyone will find grails at a thrift store or in someone’s basement. So be safe and use your common sense.
Man, this is the most "make sense" video about collecting records that I've seen, and I've seen a lot. Love your take on what the most important thing about collecting them is: "Just enjoy." Thanks for sharing all the tips, I'm sure a lot of guys out there are gonna appreciate you talking about "quality" instead of "quantity". I started collecting records almost by chance, because I was trying to find the ones I had on my teenage years back in high school and ended up finding stuff that I always wanted to have but never did back then. Almost without realizing it my record collection grew and my sound gear improved. I totally agree with you on everything you talked about, but most of all, I agree on the most important part of collecting records... you gotta love it to fully enjoy the experience. Cheers, man!
Some of my fondest memories of childhood is going to garage sales every saturday with my old man. I'd buy any records that people had! Got some neat stuff! Great advice my dude!
Great advice for beginners and veterans alike in this video, Dillon! Some collectors lose sight of why they started collecting records in the first place and it starts to ruin the experience for them. Discovering new music, sharing information with the community, and enjoying your favorite records with friends is what it's all about. Nice score on the My Solid Ground, by the way. That's a BANGER!
I'm not American and I'm not very fluent with the language, that's why I don't talk at all on my channel. But I have done many presentations of remarkable records - with sound - of all kinds of music, except classical. I've been collecting records since 1972 and really, like you said in the video, I love sharing what I love most in life.
Just picked up my first turntable three days ago and I'm already up to 15 albums with more on the way. Based on your videos, I just signed up on Discogs this morning. You were among the first RU-vidrs I found while researching turntables and vinyl, and your videos have been super helpful. Also, your saying "Welcome to the club" in today's video meant a lot to me. Thanks
I've been collecting since the early boom of records in 2009. I don't have so many records, maybe a few 100. But the nice thing about the hobby is you can hop in and out of it. I find vinyl keeps better than CDs. And works great for passing down your legacy to your children as well.
Great tips there. I love the advice, buy what you like. There should be no snobbery, shame or embarrassment about what you like. Play it, feel it and enjoy it.
I've been collecting for years now. I think it's the best time to be into records. There are now so many different ways to find specific recordings. I love Hendrix, Sabbath, Led Zep and i am blown away with the amount of killer prog/hard rock etc from say 68 through to 73. This for me is the golden period and it's ALL to be found and enjoyed. I love your channel. Thankyou for telling me about so much killer stuff i had never even heard of...so much from that golden period. Thank you Dillon...you are a God in the vinyl community.
I just found three records at a roadside clean up here in Oz, ZZTops first album, Salt n Pepper and a Kiss Hot In The Shade, all original minimal to no plate at all. I’ve collected for years but there’s something very special about a roadside find, especially as being a blues man I wouldn’t normally list to salt n pepper or kiss but they sound Grrrreat!!!!🙌🎶
Hi Dillion, been following your channel for a while and really have to say - eventhough I‘ve been collecting vinyl for years now your advice of ”giving a sh** for what others say or think“ is always good to here again! I really appreaciate your attitude 🙏🏼 Best regards from Germany Markus ✌🏼
Audio technica120 are not cheap turntables. People act like they’re generic but they’re awesome & well made TT’s. They make other lower end turntables but the 120 isn’t one of them
I’ve got that James Taylor album, he had quite a life, may have been a bit softer music, but he went through the mill. I still get sidetracked by a lot of jazz records which are heavily promoted in the VC, and I’m just not a jazz person. 90% of the records I buy are new music releases, I love discovering new stuff, mainly dance, and often in the VC that’s looked down on, but in 50 years, a lot of these will be like the Beatles are to our generation. I am into classic rock and have picked up some early German copies of pink Floyd and Stones Mono box which I love. Really want some great copies of zep, but they’re pricey! Love your videos man, you’re so inclusive, and always got a lot of spirit. For books, there’s a really cool one I just picked up called Art Record Covers which goes through all big artists who’ve done covers, highlighted quite a few like you say where you have to have it just for the cover.
This is such a great perspective on this subject. “Don’t listen to the haters” is huge. Keeping collecting and listening alive is important and we aren’t going to do that by being jerks to people just getting in to it.
OMG.. I love to pick up records that have cool art work. That’s how I ended up with Barbed Wire Sandwich, and Grief - Torso. Both first pressings. 😀 That being said I still don’t have a first press of LED Zeppelin II
And just out of curiosity to the vinyl peeps out there; why is it that everyone had a record 50 years ago, you see them at thrift stores and grandparents attics. Did vinyl used to be easier to make? There are just so many 1000s of records pressed that no one wants collecting dust. I mean can we start recycling or something?
Technics SL-1500c is a great entry option. Its comes with an above average built-in phono and an average cartridge but these can be upgraded down the line. 1500c is a great base to customize down the line.
i think what you said about james taylor also fits to taylor swift these days. she getting so much hate she doesnt deserve. even if you dont like her she is a great songwriter and there is a reason people are famous...
I like to only buy what I’ll listen too and I’m familiar with but you’ve made some suggestions that I’ve followed and have no regrets. Big Star is one of those, so so good.
any speaker recs to go with the audio technica turntable? could you give me a list of all the accessories/stuff i would need to buy to have a good complete set up? ty
"Quality over quantity" is honestly such a good tip. When I began, I always had the mentality that I should buy as much as I can from a certain store to "save on shipping" or "not miss out". Realized that it was a huge mistake after a while, since not only do those records take up more space than you imagine - they also pretty much never get played. It's not that the records are bad, it's just that I have even better stuff I'd rather play. So yeah, buying records that you truly want is so much more worth it in the end rather than buying plenty of 'okay' stuff. Takes up less space, doesn't obliterate the bank, just better lol!
I have an original copy of "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers ~ The Guide to American Garage, Psychedelic and Hippie-Rock (1964 - 1975)". It's a must have if you're into that thing. Some of the rarest of the rarest is listed.
Todd Rundgren is made of music. As for collecting there have been years go by that i didn't even care to look at a record. But then there's been years go by that records were all I looked for
My biggest tip is don’t buy anything you’re not going to take out of the shrink wrap! Much as I love vinyl I mostly listen in the car or when I do a radio show & everything’s on cd or mp3 and as so many records don’t give you either a download or CD they invariably wouldn’t get listened to. I do collect for some artists but that list is getting shorter! 😊
I think there are two types of vinyl collectors: 1. Those who collect for the value of the record hoping it will become worth more as time goes by and they can eventually sell it. 2. Those who buy records so they can enjoy the music regularly. Therefore, they don't buy anything they know will just sit on a shelf.
The Monophonics are as far as I go into psyc music lol. But they are a great psyc soul band, my favorite band to be honest. Kelly Finnigan is just all around the best
Awesome video! I have a pretty decent but small collection at the moment , a lot of 70s , 80s and 90s. I’m rlly looking for “Recovering the Satellites” by Counting Crows rn , that’s a great 90s record. The hunt for any record is exciting!
I bought a copy of skinny puppy last rights for like 50 bucks in 2008 now its 350 bucks on ebay, damn! Should have kept it in the plastic, it would be worth 600 😂 Just learning that now, im getting a rush outta this!
I'm 67 years old and just rediscovered vinyl, something I grew up with. But cd's came along and I stopped listening to records. A few weeks ago I took my 25+ year old Technics SL-QD2 turntable out of the closet. Took me some time to get the tonearm to behave correctly but I finally got it. Got a new stylus and since my albums are in pretty rough shape, I bought the stereo remastered Beatles white album. I couldn't believe how great it sounded. I've since bought Aqualung and Rumours and they've also blown me away. I'm planning on picking up a Fluance rt85 table in the near future.
Question for you - and for the other collectors here - what's your take on shrinkwrap? Do you remove or retain? I know the reasons not to, i.e. potential to warp, but throughout my entire collecting life, I favour a copy in shrink. I would actually pay good dollar more for a copy still in original shrink 🙂
Great video. Love the comment. No one else cares about your collection but you …so true. I wondered why the wife always switches off when I start talking. Bernie grundman Chris bellman. Kevin gray blah blah blah
New to vinyl, just got my first two records over the weekend. This was a perfect video and a great reminder to keep enjoying the ones I have rather than trying to rush out to get more vinyl to play.
I love my LP60X (179.99) as my starter turn table. Have that paired up with some Edifiers R1700 BTS (175.99) - so just under 360 getting out the gate for entry level gear.
I have been collecting LPs for 6 or 7 years and the truth is that it has been one of the best things I have been able to do in my life. There are many people who say that it is not necessary to buy records, that it is a "useless" expense, but I I have learned over time that my albums are mine alone and no one else is going to see the value they have other than me, as you said in your video. I really feel that everyone has some "object" that makes them feel happy, even if it is the simplest thing, but that's what humans are like. See the complex in the simple that can be as good as bad or as bad as good I guess
Congratulations Dillon on going over 100,000 subscribers. There's nothing wrong with being a vinyl junkie. We don't put the needle in our arm, but instead in the groove !!
One more point. Not every record store owner or employee for that matter is as cool as Dylan. 😂. Most record store snobs are not into “good” music but the obscure for obscurity sake.
I've been collected records since 1971 and I can still pick up things from you I'm not as much of a collector as I am a listener I have counted and keep a paper inventory of my albums and I'm pushing up just over 4,200 albums and very few are albums that I picked up just because they were rare or some new craze for example I basically hated the 80s with few exceptions but that's because the vast majority of my listening pleasure comes between 65 and 78 but now in my old age Aubrey visit the 80s and have learned to like a lot more of it keep giving suggestions and advise you never too old to learn
I found the 1001 Albums book in a charity shop here in the UK. Great to go through and tick off the ones I have on vinyl and CD. My wife commented that the title is 1001 Albums you have to LISTEN to, not necessarily BUY.........
Once again one of your videos made me dig through my records. My 1980 pressing of Grant Green NIGERIA I got in a thrift store years and years ago turns out to be an original. (The tracks were recorded in 1962 but never released until 1980.)
You’re doing fantastic work on this channel! It’s great that you’ve taken the time to help out the beginning collectors with this video. I wish that I had someone knowledgeable to have given me advice when I began collecting when I was a 15 year old back in 1977! At that time, I felt that nobody was more collectible than Elvis Presley, who had just passed away at the time. I should have also directed attention towards other groups and artists such as KISS, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Expanding one’s horizons never hurts. Like you said, “be adventurous”!
I’ve collected for over 50 years now. LP’s were all that was available when I was a kid, no CD’s, no streaming. I used to clean windows after school to raise money to buy music I enjoyed (mostly Bowie back then) and am lucky to have mostly first pressings of those records. In the late ‘90’s/early 2000’s CD’s were king so vinyl was cheap as many people sold off their collections in boot sales or auctions so I continued to buy the records that had passed me by earlier. I also bought new releases on vinyl wherever I could which made my friends scoff & laugh (who’s laughing now?) I am amazed they are so collectible again, prices are incredibly high considering what they were 20 years ago. The question is, will they fall again? Surely they must.
I remember asking in local record shop what jazz album I should buy. I was 19 years old and wanted a bit of culture in my life and he recommended Miles Kind of blue. I bought it, didn't like any of it apart from the first track so forgot about jazz for around 15 years. I rediscovered jazz through looking for breaks for DJ purposes, it creeped up on me until I realized wait a minute you now have a ton of jazz that you love. I still at 49 years old don't like kind of blue very much, I know I should but I just don't. So reinforcing what Dillon said don't be told what you should like or it may lead you to a conclusion that is not accurate, in my case it was needlessly avoiding jazz for 15 years.
You saying 'if the cover looks good' is something I once did. I saw in a second hand shop Aladin Sane I was blown away by the cover. Only David Bowie I had heard before that was Space Oddity . Because of the cover I bought that L.P ,today it remains in my top ten albums of all time.The same applies to Dark side of the moon,it only took me 40 years after release to get around to buying it ,that also is in my top ten.You do good videos thanks .
for my entire life, dust has always been my biggest complaint. My records always have too much dust no matter what I do to clean them. Don't feel like buying a 1000 dollar piece of equipment to clean them, too.
Love this Dillon! Especially for your advice on "enjoying" the hobby. I think it's easy to get caught up on gear, sound, whether your record is clean or in good shape or not etc. I lose sight of this sometimes too. However, I think that this is by far my favorite way to enjoy music, and when I remember that, I just get so captivated and drawn into the music and the experience it brings:) Also love the "your best record is the one you just bought" advice. I couldn't agree more. It's another thing I need to remind myself of more. Focus on what you have and enjoy that new purchase. Once it gets on the shelf it may be some time before you can get back to it again. I always love your enthusiasm and joy you bring to this hobby. Thanks Dillon:)
I love this ! I started record collecting because my parents have always had a record collection and collected my favourite artists and branched out into more obscure genres and buying records when i go travelling to other countries. My parents brought me my first record player which was a suitcase one (i will be upgrading) but for now i actually like playing them on my suitcase as im super greatful for my parents getting me it and when i saw everyone online attacking them or people who had them i always felt less than other people. Anyway i started just collecting again for the fun and dont really watch much vintl record youtube but ill be sticking around here.
Also - old comic book shops can be great places to find great record. I just grabbed Chicago - VII, Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic, The Kinks - The Kink Kronkies, Queen - News of The World, and Aerosmith - Greatest Hits (the red sleeve with the white wing) all for 68 bucks - all in great shape!
Great video Dillon, sound advice as ever (no pun intended!). If I could add one further tip, it would be ‘Only buy what you can afford’. Worth mentioning, as we all know what a rabbit hole this hobby can be. But it is no fun putting records on a credit card. One thing vinyl collecting has going for it as a hobby, though, is how much enjoyment can be had on a tight budget. You can visit a great secondhand record shop with £20 in your pocket and still have a great time choosing what to buy (albeit your gaze will be closer to the crates on the floor than the records high up on the wall!). Of course, it’s also great fun if you are feeling flush and head to a record fair with £300 in your back pocket. But fundamentally the same experience regardless of budget. The same cannot be said of a lot of other hobbies! Greetings from London.
I've never considered myself a collector, but just someone who loves records since I was a kid inn the 70s. Evenn though I'm nnot a beginner these are good tips. Keep up the goodd work, Dylan! If you like it, you like it. That's always been my philosophy.
Like what you like. Truer words could not be spoken. When I started getting serious…I fell for those “lists”. The records you MUST have lists. I ended up buying records that I thought I “had” to have but ended up never listening to them or regretting the purchase. I have since sold all those and have changed my mindset back to only buying what “I like”. I am definitely open to having my listening ears expanded to things I haven’t heard before (and I have, partly thanks to you and many of the fantastic folks that have contributed and shared here), but if I can’t tell myself that I like it, I’m not buying it. Kudos to you on another video full of great advice.
I enjoy collecting records cds started since my 18th birthday when my parents gave me I suitcase record player which I have still and the first Beatles album now I I’m almost finished with my Beatles collection (studio albums) and just need Beatles for sale I also have some other stuff like John Denver beach boys and elo and soundtracks and stuff like that right now I’m 20 and recently got a Phil ochs record called pleasures of the harbor I’m a huge Phil ochs fan and there hard to come by so it was cool to get yesterday. Also collecting is just fun looking through records seeing stuff you don’t know about or want to get as well.
Peer pressure is the worst. Buy what you like and you won't be disappointed. Great advice from Dillon as always. 45 years of collecting, and I'm working on a purge of "Peer Pressure" purchases. Enjoy the experience, enjoy the hobby, and enjoy the music!
It was like you were talking to me. This was me at every step even the family member buying me my first record player and it being cheap and not knowing at first and spending big on records while still having the all in one
Great suggestions, all of them. I’ve been a collector since I was 7, and am now a seller as well. Follow your muse! I have so many records from so many genres and I treasure them all. But I gotta be careful of the space lol
Thanks for the video! I am 68 yrs old and just started collecting. I have been watching and buying on the internet auctions and having too much fun! I also started a RU-vid channel but haven't put any content up yet. Always enjoyed your videos!
I love the whole video and I really agree with the last segment. I have a great collection of vinyl and CDs, and the most enjoyment I ever got from music was as a teenager, when I couldn't afford to buy new music every week.
Oh man. I spent soooo many hours as a kid listening to a not a lot of records … a lot of times! That was so much fun so “buy what you like” and “quality over quantity” is EXCELLENT advice no matter how old you are and how sophisticated you are as a collector. About a year back into listening to vinyl, I appreciate your channel!
I’ve been collecting for 20 years or so and I still like watching these kinds of videos just to see if I’ve got any bad habits I’m taking for granted. Good stuff.
