If you have read Part 1. then will be wanting a few new ideas to explore.

Uncovering a gem, discovering an artist you instantly love, or reuniting with a record you owned back in the day, that's the thrill of record collecting. Record collecting is one of the great pastimes that will invariably become a passion. Music is about discovery and is an emotive, joyful, and occasionally frustrating pastime.

Where to begin? Firstly, make a list of records you are looking for. There is nothing more daunting than a room full of vinyl and no idea where to start. A list, for even for the seasoned collector, is a great way to focus on finding that elusive gem.

Where to start looking? The obvious choice is your local record stores, and we have a few great options in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, et al....

Online is a convenient way to focus on the list. Don’t be concerned about asking questions to the trader especially if you are unsure about the condition of an album. Having a supplier that you have purchased from before, or has a great rating, is essential.

 Discogs is another way to snag something you are chasing, but expectation vs reality is often different. Condition of a record is very subjective, and some traders don’t adhere to the guidelines. Overseas freight costs, damage, fraud make this a riskier prospect buying records from overseas. Recourse is sometimes not even an option.

Crate Day/Record Fairs- A great way to top up the collection and these are held all through the country and it’s also nice to be part of the Vinyl Collecting community. Make new contacts, meet new collectors, etc.. If you are in a spot searching though, hold your ground. Usually, these events are a deodorant free zone. Bring cash!

Garage sales or Thrift shops an option but less successful for collecting than they used to be.

Pressings- This is a big subject and worth discussing if you are after older albums.

‘First pressings or any early pressing refers to the record being pressed with a chunk of vinyl at high temperature using a ‘stamper’. The more vinyl units pressed will degrade the quality of the output during the life of the stamper. This is a metallic plate used to mould records under pressure. Created through an electroplating process, the stamper is a mirror image, or negative, of the record's grooves.

Therefore, theoretically a record closer to the start of the process retains more original information. That’s the received wisdom from generations of record buyers.

But the challenge in NZ is finding those early pressings at reasonable money. For example, ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ UK early pressing will set you back several hundred of dollars to several thousands. Is that the space you are in?

As someone new to, or learning the craft, our suggestion is to find the best value pressing in your price range that simply sounds the best. A new Reissue might give you the best mix of value and sound. The fun is also locating a better sounding copy eventually.

Quality- With experience and research you will be able to differentiate the different pressings, and the impact on sound quality and related values.

Jacket- When inspecting look at the jacket condition first. There may be creases, marks or foxing. Does it have any inserts, which may be photos, books, stickers or posters based on your research? These can all impact pricing. Again, Discogs can help with this.

Is the quality in keeping with how the jacket and record has been described? When the seller is pricing, they come up with a number based on how they feel about all the above factors. What will be the market value?

Record Visual inspection- Looking at lots of records is simply the best experience in evaluating what you are seeing. Research again and check on a few of these, including obvious marks, pressing faults, dirty records/mould, residue from old plastic sleeves, the list goes on…

The only way to truly find out how good this purchase will be is to clean the record and listen! You won’t get it right every time. And this is where an experienced eye and ear come into play.

An important thing to consider: If you are not happy with any wear or condition issues on the records/ Jackets, at all, then consider purchasing new.   Clean first, before a play though please.

Document what you buy- Lots of people are using Discogs as the primary way to keep tabs on what they have. Forget about the values and look at the fun in collecting. If you are approaching Record collecting as an investment, then that’s the wrong angle. We are all in it for the simple joy of collecting and listening to music. As your collection grows you need to keep track of the gems. It will also help to identify Vinyl you have purchased and may want to replace as you find a better sounding copy. There are other apps available for your desktop or mobile, worth investigating.

Summary- There are lots of factors to consider when buying records. You can never replace the feeling of going through a stack of records and there is that element of discovery. Records are an important part of our cultural heritage and need to be treated as such. If only each record could tell you their story, where they have been, who has listened to it, then you would have something amazing. You can see glimpses of that with a name written, something left inside the jacket, or the smell of where it has come from.

The music is just as important, and this in its own way transports you to that time and place. An original record seems to be enbibed with the essence of the time. Look at every detail on the jacket, and the inserts.....no rush. A Japanese pressing is an example of the detail, care and attention lavished.  

Enjoy the journey and let us know how you are going.

All the best

David and Otis.