7 Tips for Beginning Vinyl Freaks

3FM called me. If I had any tips for beginning vinyl collectors. Sure! They wrote the article below about it.

(source: http://www.npo3fm.nl/nieuws/3fm/375777-7-tips-voor-de-echte-vinyllover)

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 - 4:00 PM

Vinyl is the new black. Large pressed records, you need them! Because the beginning hobbyist may not immediately know how to handle them, we spoke to online record store owner Bob from Bob's Vinyl to find out the do's and don'ts for you. This is how you get the most out of your collection!

1. DO YOU LIKE CONVENIENCE? GET YOUR RECORDS ONLINE

Are you sitting in your lazy chair and don't feel like searching through dozens of boxes for a new purchase? Then ordering online is an easy way to facilitate your hobby. Make sure it is a reliable webshop that ships your new kilos of vinyl in a sturdy box. Vinyl is quite sensitive to damage and you don't want that.

2. BEWARE OF SECOND-HAND RECORDS

Short on cash? Don't worry! There are plenty of collections that are resold for next to nothing. Make sure there are no scratches, dust or greasy fingers on them, these are signs of a poorly maintained record. They can also damage your needle and even other records via the player, so get rid of them!

3. LEAVE THAT SUITCASE RECORD PLAYER ALONE

You have roughly two choices you can make when it comes to record players. Are you #teamcase or #teamcaseless? Bob knows. He leaves the cases as they are. No matter how cool the design is, if you can't adjust the needle pressure (which is the case with cases) then there is a big chance that your LPs will get damaged. Also pay attention to the needle. Make sure it is sharp, blunt needles are bad.

4. KEEP YOUR PLATES CLEAN

If you are all set to go nuts on your new record, dust it off each time with a special brush. This will keep your records dust-free, which can only improve the listening quality. Are they really dirty? Then you can always go for some special cleaning fluid. Not too expensive and lasts a long time, always nice.

If you really have money to blow, then there is Bob's personal favorite: the record washing machine. A bit more expensive than hand washing, but easy to use!

5. KEEP YOUR RECORD PLAYER NICE AND CLEAN TOO

Small detail: a dirty record makes your needle dirty and vice versa . A little alcohol should do the trick. Now you're all set! Put that record on (with care) and do a little dance or two, you've earned it.

6. STORING VINYL? DO IT SAFELY

Worked out and twisted? Then store your pressed babes safely. Vinyl is best stored upright in a safe place, because if you stack them horizontally they can warp under the weight, you don't want that! You can also replace the paper inner sleeves with one with a plastic lining to prevent scratches.

7. FIX A GOOD PRESS

If you are going out to buy a new record, pay attention to the pressing. There is a lot of difference between them! This is not so easy to see, but a low price and poor quality of the cover/artwork are signs of a bad pressing.

WHAT A JOB!

No, you don't just become a vinyl collector extraordinaire . But let's be honest, how cool is it to have a record collection. Just be nice to your darlings, then they will last a long time. Who knows, in 30 years you might be able to auction them off and become a millionaire, nice bonus, right? If you don't know where to start yet, Bob recommends 'Ten' by Pearl Jam and 'Abbey Road' by The Beatles. "Everyone should have this one," says our expert. Good luck!