The resurgence of vinyl in the past decade has introduced the format to many who had never encountered it before. If you’re a bit older, you likely have fond memories of listening to vinyl back in the day, and much like riding a bike, it is something you’ll never forget. For those who are new, we thought we would take some time to talk about some tips and offer some suggestions on how to get the most out of the marvel that is the vinyl record.
A Good Player Goes a Long Way
No matter how good the music on your record is, sometimes it can be hard to truly appreciate it until you have a quality player. There are a number of entry level models being offered by brands, and while they serve their purpose of getting people interested in the hobby, these players are not good long term solutions.
There are some serious audiophiles that want people to spend thousands of dollars on their systems, but that’s completely unnecessary, you can get a solid turntable within the $100 – $300 range. We recommend finding a player with a counterweight on the tone arm, as players without this can slowly degrade your records. Additionally, players with internal speakers tend not to have the best sound output, instead opt for one with an external speaker setup.
Preserve Your Collection!
We all cherish and love our record collections, it’s what the hobby is all about, which is why it’s a good idea to protect your collection. One simple way to do this is to properly handle your records, touching only the outer edge and the inner label so as not to leave fingerprints.
Additionally, investing in inner sleeves for records without them will protect against scratches, and investing in plastic outer sleeves will protect your album covers against shelf wear and any potential spills.
Expand Your Collection, Buy Used
New vinyl is expensive, and it seems to only be growing more and more so, with many artists opting for costly deluxe editions with many different variants.There are some artists or albums you can’t find in a used record store, digital only artists or albums that just came out, but if you’re looking to expand your collection with great music, buying used is the way to go.
At a used record store, like we manage at Bonjongles, you can find records from throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, all the way from shellac classical records to rap LPs. Trying to fill out your collection buying new albums will break the bank, instead hitting up used record stores will allow you to find some of your favorite albums, and help you discover new favorites. Used record stores offer both quantity and quality!
Stop By and Browse What We Have Ready to Spin!
At Bonjongles, we’re passionate about music, and from the experiences we’ve had with our customers in the record room, so is our community! If you’re in the area, or if you’re looking to check out a new shop, stop by and see us in the Winchester Exchange Building in Westminster, MD