Using Key Value Factors to Evaluate Vinyl Records

By Scott Lacourse | November 30, 2015

  • December 1, 2015 at 9:56 am
    Tyrone Settlemier says:
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    The article mentions 78rpm records, but does not mention that the vast majority (95%+) of them are made of shellac, not vinyl. These are easily damaged by moisture, whereas vinyl is not. 78rpm records are heavy and brittle, and do not warp easily. It should be noted that most records are still worth a dollar or less. Records are not also known as albums. Only LPs and sets of 45 or 78rpm are albums. No mention of cylinder records either, but who wants to read an article on the subject that is 400 pages long? Ok, I would, but nobody else.

  • December 1, 2015 at 9:59 am
    Tyrone Settlemier says:
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    Also, when evaluating a claim, condition, condition, condition! Jacket wear is easy to discern, but knowing the signs of needle-wear and other use-related damage takes a trained eye.

  • December 2, 2015 at 2:23 pm
    Vinylville Records says:
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    Vinyl isn’t back. It never went anywhere. Over the years many indie, mom & pop record stores hung in there. What went away was consumers. Mainstream consumers went digital, but many of us are a tube amp, analog fan from way back.

    As far as collectibles, we mostly get young music lovers, not minutia experts. We get young college aged folks asking for Otis Redding, not Snoopwhomever, Dog.

    Nothing wrong with “collectibles” but they tend to price records out of the reach of the actual music lover.

    I’ve sold rare records. Out of the thousands, only a handfull end up as genuine rarities. I had a 78rpm that was one of six known copies on the planet. I actually got more for a rare 45 of a garage band, than the obscure blues shellac.

    Collectors aren’t our average customer at the retail record shop. Most of them want to find a super valuable rarity in the dollar bin.

    Vinyl rules, is all I know for certain, but then I’m biased. I’ve been obtaining vinyl since i was a kid in the 60s.



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