by the way, my eBay name is Starotron and I'm listing tons of 45s in the old school rock n roll/soul/RnB/funk/jazz/50s60s pop genres daily, and my prices are always starting under 10, so if interested, definitely bid and no shipping charges of course. If there's something on my page you're interested in and it doesn't sell, $2 and it's yours.

Let me know if you're looking for anything in particular as well. I've gotten through maybe 100 of the 3,000 given to me, and no duds, so chances are high I have something you're looking for.

2/23/2013 1:38:58 AM

^You've got some fun stuff listed, I might be tempted. I sorta slumped off trying to learn the ways of vinyl and am starting to pick it up as a hobby again.

2/23/2013 3:19:07 AM

Cool, just let me know...

2/23/2013 10:57:38 AM

Goodlord this is overwhelming. PLEASE tell me if you're looking for something...

2/23/2013 10:43:33 PM

Got a copy of "Ralf and Florian" and a couple sealed Stax things at the record show today.

You should've seen the guys face when I said I was going to open and play them.

2/24/2013 5:41:02 PM

It was hot as shit in that room

2/24/2013 6:09:13 PM

How are the prices at those things? I guess it's like anything else.

2/24/2013 10:29:22 PM

Pretty much. If you're not looking for classic or prog rock, you can do just fine. The amount of gouging I saw on (admittedly very nice) copies of Zeppelin and Floyd records was funny/sad.

2/24/2013 10:34:57 PM

I think I have enough records for now. When this project is over I don't want to see another record. Just found another $300 record in this collection, but most is just meh; even if the songs are good...

2/24/2013 10:37:21 PM

From what I've seen, the prices are generally about what you'd expect. A lot of the people there are willing to haggle some though. Most of them will knock off a fair amount if you buy multiple albums.

2/25/2013 9:14:48 AM

Selling off a fuckton of albums at the DTown Market in Durham at Motorco Music Hall 3/30 12-5pm. HUGE amount of LPs and 45s, LOTS of classics for cheap. Would seriously make it out if you can. There's a bunch in this collection I'd love to keep, but my loss is your gain.

No dealers, please.

3/19/2013 12:27:40 AM

motorco doing a record swap i'm guessing?

if i don't go home before then, i'll stop by and check out your wares, ha.

3/19/2013 10:30:35 AM

No it's just me getting rid of a bunch. Gonna be all kinds of vendors out there. Please stop by, tell your friends, etc.

3/19/2013 7:13:56 PM

Saturday April 27th, doing it all again. If any of you came out in March, then thanks. I sold a ton of records for cheap and hope you're happy with what you picked up.

Next time, everything will be new, though I'm scrapping the 45s. However, please let me know if there's 45s you're looking for (they were 4/$1 last time, so don't be shy).

Also, Record Store Day is coming up on Saturday the 20th. Tons of stores around here needing business, so please buy a...something from one of them. Best date of RSD so far, as it lies on the same day as Pot Smoking Day...Might I suggest the Tame Impala EP that is being re-released.

4/13/2013 2:34:07 AM

Quote :

"The amount of gouging I saw on (admittedly very nice) copies of Zeppelin and Floyd records was funny/sad."

Seriously. At what point do you realize you've heard these songs so many times that a copy without that one tick is worth $200 more? I love records, don't get me wrong, but I could never consider myself in the same ballpark as these guys.

Recently sold a rare soul record to some guy in England (proof I'm not lying: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221188744378?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1561.l2649) to close to $500, and that's a little more respectable than these prog rock assholes. They all just seem kinda amateur to me, honestly...

4/13/2013 2:42:39 AM

^ something is only worth what a person will pay for it.

apparently, that dude REALLY wanted that record. I checked the score of the seller and he/she have had no complaints, so I guess they're at least delivering a record in the condition they're saying it's in.

I'm not saying I disagree with you, though; the amount some folks will pay for a record is sometimes insane. The only record I've ever shelled out more than $50 for is a first pressing of Odessey and Oracle, (which I think I actually talked with you about) and it was worth it to me, only because I know how rare it is and scoured ebay for one for years and never saw one for less than $250.

I didn't buy it as some investment, though, I bought it because I really fucking love that record and wanted a first pressing. Probably the same reason the England dude paid so much for his.

4/13/2013 8:59:39 PM

Rare "Northern Soul" (a term that means next to nothing) 45s are always going for insane money. Last one I had a hold of was a band from Charlotte that sounded like Chicago. I don't even remember the name of the band, but the copy we had was only the second copy ever sold and went for in the neighborhood of $600.

4/13/2013 10:30:24 PM

"Northern Soul" means you get more views on eBay. Haha.

^^All that's true. I'm saying the prog rock/classic rock/Beatles crowd seem like amateurs for overpricing these records all the time at shows, stores, etc etc. while essentially ignoring genuinely rare records. I'm sure the dude wanted that Joe Cook record too, but I'm sure it's also rarer than say the White Album.

This one guy tried to sell me 4 sealed Beatles represses once for $1500. Lol.

[Edited on April 14, 2013 at 4:03 PM. Reason : k]

4/14/2013 3:59:52 PM

Anyone know if there's still a line at Schoolkids? I wanna swing by and maybe pick up a random record, but don't have a ton of time to wait to get in.

4/20/2013 12:45:07 PM

No, Schoolkids was fine tonight. No line or anything.

Anyway, gentle reminder for my cheap record sale tomorrow. Please come out to Durham and buy records from me! It's at a bar, so you'll have the opportunity to drink some cheap beer as well.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/emd/3769011186.html

Hope to see some of you. SPOTTINGS

4/26/2013 9:48:22 PM

^haha, funny. yeah i went ahead and went up there after i posted and the line was gone. picked up the toro y moi record.

4/27/2013 5:09:57 AM

If i wasn't working at the hospital i'd stop by tomorrow ;x

4/27/2013 6:04:13 AM

Well thanks to everyone who came out. I did pretty well. Not as well as last time, but better than expected. Will be back at the end of May.

4/30/2013 11:56:13 PM

Does anyone use an equalizer with their setup? I'm currently running a headphone setup with a little amp and wanted to see about options since I'm trying to go without a receiver.

[Edited on August 16, 2013 at 6:29 PM. Reason : ]

8/16/2013 6:26:20 PM

My wife is awesome and got me a limited pressing (250) navy/mustard "See the Light" vinyl

3/12/2014 9:08:02 PM

BTTT....


I dropped off my dad's old Dual 1225 for a complete restoration. after a decade and a half in the attic, a broken dust cover, a disintegrated idler wheel, and grease that has turned to resin I will get it back next week in prime working order. A little pricey, but after talking with the shop I feel pretty confident that it's worth the money.

I don't have a vinyl collection, just a couple dozen of my dad's old ones and a few i've picked up at shows here and there. I plan on setting this up with the nice Kenwood receiver I also inherited and for now just adding a set of bookshelf speakers and a bluetooth transmitter to use for my phone. Looking forward to playing with the setup over the next month or so while it's still cold.

2/20/2015 12:44:30 PM

BTTT again... let's see if we can generate some conversation.


Finally got my turntable back from restoration and it's working beautifully. Also took possession of about 60 albums that were my father's. Some classics including Allman Bros, Beatles, Santana and Pink Floyd to some random country entries and other interesting ones.

These albums have been in a box in the closet for 20 years. Most just seem to have some light dust on them. Do i need to do any kind of disc washing or will a brush and microfiber cloth wipe down be sufficient?

also, i need to get some new inner sleeves. Should i get new paper sleeves or the clear plastic?

3/11/2015 11:28:34 AM

A brush will work for light dust, but I'd recommend a proper cleaning for something that old. Even something simple like a pass in a Spin Clean can make a big difference.

3/12/2015 12:37:24 PM

is there a better option than a spin clean that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?

3/12/2015 8:10:39 PM

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/58982/Spin-Clean-Record_Washer_System_MKII-Record_Cleaning_Machine

3/12/2015 8:41:14 PM

nevermind

[Edited on March 12, 2015 at 10:47 PM. Reason : .]

3/12/2015 10:44:35 PM

KAB makes a manual version of the Nitty Gritty machine that attaches to a home vacuum instead of having an internal vacuum. It's $169 and works well, but in that territory you're another $150 or so from a used automatic Nitty Gritty or VPI, which saves a lot of tedious labor.

3/12/2015 11:27:18 PM

Hopefully someone can help me out here, as I know nothing.

I have a large Zenith Allegro stereo console that I bought last year that is damn near in perfect condition, but I think I need a new needle. I have the package that the current needle came in, that looks like this:



What is the best needle to replace it with, and where is the best place to go about getting one?

the needle itself looks somewhat similar to this



[Edited on March 19, 2015 at 4:45 PM. Reason : img]

3/19/2015 4:44:55 PM

This should work: http://www.turntableneedles.com/Needle-M-855-for-Tetrad_p_1676.html

The LP-only variant will save you a few bucks if you don't have any 78s. However, unless you're just playing old stuff for fun, I wouldn't recommend playing new/valuable records on that console system.

3/19/2015 6:18:19 PM

Yeah, I stick to the flea market finds. I go out there every once in a while and dig through the $3 record tent for anything interesting.

thanks for the link!

3/19/2015 6:31:53 PM

^Don't bother with that guy's tent. Flea market like a pro, son. He's not doing you any favors.

Regarding the cleaning question somewhere above - the most cost effective solution is just soap and water. Don't get me wrong, I love my VPI machine, but these things are not in everybody's budget. I ponied up on one for the resell game alone. If you decide to go that route, take vinylbandit's advice and buy used. No reason in the world anybody needs a new machine like that. Every part on it subject to wear is easily and cheaply replaceable (considering).

Anyway, soap and water - get yourself some label savers (look it up online) - they run about $50 bucks, OR get suction clamps used to grip glass panes from a Home Depot (14 bucks for 2). Next get a paintbrush - the softer the bristles the better. Get some Dawn detergent and some water. Clamp the labels so they won't get wet, rinse, brush around the vinyl with soapy water, let sit about 5 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. Dry immediately and let sit until thoroughly dry. The nerds will complain about tap water/hard water causing mineral deposits, and though I've never seen any evidence of this, or it really mattering, just use distilled water to prevent any of the hype; especially on your more rare finds and things you don't want your OCD self to worry about. You only need thoroughly clean vinyl that's just beat up to hell with dust/mold/dirt, etc. If you're simply just trying to get rid of surface dust or something, get a record brush. They're 5-10 bucks at most.

Another thing - there's this record cleaner solution some of these local stores sell that comes in a blue spray bottle - Pristine Platters - avoid it at all costs. It's wax-based, and all it's doing is impacting dust/dirt further in the grooves. It will make your records look nice, but the point isn't to look at them.

[Edited on April 5, 2015 at 9:43 PM. Reason : f]

4/5/2015 9:34:23 PM

Question for vinylbandit - since taking over the Raleigh NP, are you still using some of Barry's models, such as keeping that eBay game going, or are you strictly selling in-house? I understand why he did it, but it's just frustrating to not give the locals a chance on the more valuable things; especially if you're paying eBay and PayPal nearly 20 percent in fees...

4/5/2015 9:46:21 PM

^thanks for the cleaning tips.


I also need to replace almost all of my inner sleeves. Should i invest in the clear inner sleeves or would a bulk pack of the regular white rice paper be just fine?

4/6/2015 8:21:40 AM

Probably just personal preference. I find the clear/plastic inners annoying. They bunch up, etc. Just get your standard, run of the mill white paper inner sleeves.

4/6/2015 9:21:00 AM

why though

4/6/2015 9:59:10 AM

Why what?

Why are there too many hands in the record cookie jar around here? Good question. It's as annoying as those plastic inners.

[Edited on April 6, 2015 at 10:43 AM. Reason : k]

4/6/2015 10:42:24 AM

Quote :

"Question for vinylbandit - since taking over the Raleigh NP, are you still using some of Barry's models, such as keeping that eBay game going, or are you strictly selling in-house? I understand why he did it, but it's just frustrating to not give the locals a chance on the more valuable things"

We actually started transitioning away from eBay long before we took over officially. rich said he would've paid what we got online for something if he'd known we had it, which spurred a long conversation that ended the practice of listing things immediately in the Raleigh store.

We haven't listed anything on eBay in years. We do list some things on Discogs, but only after they've been sitting in the store for a while. Our current policy is that everything we get sees the floor for at least a month before it moves online, and aside from some very specific scenarios, it's usually longer.

On the topic of inner sleeves, I prefer the plain paper ones to the super-thin plastic because of the aforementioned bunching. If money was no object, though, I'd go for the plastic-lined paper ones, which add the structural integrity to prevent bunching while also avoiding the pitfalls of paper sleeves (tearing, particulates, etc.).

4/6/2015 4:24:38 PM

I ordered some poly inners that have some good reviews. I'll try those on the discs that i'm going to start cleaning tonight and see how they do. I've picked up a few value bin albums lately that could use some cleaning up.

4/7/2015 10:51:56 AM

Quote :

"Anyway, soap and water - get yourself some label savers (look it up online) - they run about $50 bucks, OR get suction clamps used to grip glass panes from a Home Depot (14 bucks for 2). Next get a paintbrush - the softer the bristles the better. Get some Dawn detergent and some water. Clamp the labels so they won't get wet, rinse, brush around the vinyl with soapy water, let sit about 5 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. Dry immediately and let sit until thoroughly dry. The nerds will complain about tap water/hard water causing mineral deposits, and though I've never seen any evidence of this, or it really mattering, just use distilled water to prevent any of the hype; especially on your more rare finds and things you don't want your OCD self to worry about. You only need thoroughly clean vinyl that's just beat up to hell with dust/mold/dirt, etc. If you're simply just trying to get rid of surface dust or something, get a record brush. They're 5-10 bucks at most. "

Man this method has worked remarkably well. I picked up 2 dent pullers from Harbor Freight for $3 each. They seal very well and haven't caused any noticeable warping which I was concerned with at first. I also picked up one of those cheap red paint edgers with the soft bristle pad. Using those, my faucet, and a mixture of distilled water+90% iso-alcohol+couple drops of dish soap and a final rinse of distilled water have achieved some fantastic results. A very scratchy and poppy Boz Scaggs album I picked up last week sounded almost brand new after this method and 20 minutes of drying in the dish rack. It's a little time consuming, I think I did 16 albums in 2 hours last night, but for only really having to do it once per album it's worth the results.

4/8/2015 11:05:33 AM

Told you.

The cleaning solution for the VPI machines is some sort of isopropanol mixture with a buffer, so what you made is probably as close to that as you need to be. You're way more advanced than I ever was, but either way it works well.

4/8/2015 11:34:21 AM

$10 Yep Rock LPs

http://yeproc.11spot.com/sale.html

4/9/2015 12:30:30 PM

welp there goes some more cash

4/9/2015 12:57:00 PM

$50 for me...thankfully they accept Paypal and I had some money sitting there

4/9/2015 12:59:28 PM

what did you pick up? I just got a couple CCL in the cart right now.

4/9/2015 1:25:32 PM

I got all 4 CCL LPs that were on sale

4/9/2015 1:31:47 PM