About to go down a path that might be trouble.

[billbillw]

Well, I can't believe I'm thinking of this. I know it will probably lead to down path of obsessive/destructive behaviour, and divorce if I'm not careful!

I'm thinking of buying a turntable!

Innocent enough, just a used HK T55C for dirt cheap. Probably needs a belt and a new stylus or whole cartridge.

What the hell? How could that be a bad thing? What path of destruction could it lead to? Well, I've seen it.

For many years, I've said I don't want anything to do with vinyl. Its a pain in the arse, dust problems, static, delicate to handle, etc. I only own one album and its mainly a collector/promo item that was a radio station giveaway that I've held onto because I love the band. I've got more than 1000 cds. Why on earth would I think about vinyl?

Meanwhile, about 8 years ago, I watched my older brother innocently get back into vinyl by taking my Dad's old LAB-420 to play his old record collection. Fast forward 8 years, and my brother has been through half a dozen turntables and probably sunk over 15-grand in his current setup between his Oracle turntable, his Blue Circle Amp/Pre-Amp combo, and his Ohm I speakers that have been totally restored. I have no idea how much he has into his albums, but he has a whole wall full.

I don't want to go anywhere near that level of commitment. My problem is that I can't pass up a good deal. I know I don't want to get into vinyl like my brother, but I just think that old turntables are cool and if I can get a nice one for dirt cheap, I can't resist! To top it off, the seller is going to throw in his last remaining album, a Springsteen 5-disc Live set. Hey, then I'll have more than one album. Oh no, its starting!

Help, someone talk me out of it!

[TroyD]

Vinyl is an EXPENSIVE hobby....lots of words already spent on it.

BDT

[Dennis Gardner]

Building a collection from "scratch" pun intended, can be high $$$. It is really a crap shoot buying used vinyl, unless you find whole collections for sale.

You claim to not want to get involved at your brother's level of interest, but that may be the level it takes to get the sound you like..............

[Early B.]

Walk away slowly...

[madmax]

The coolest part about it for me is walking into a Good Will with $25 and out with 30 some LP's in mint condition that I have never heard of before. Sure, a third suck, another third has that song you know and like and the other third turns out to be rather enjoyable. Every 50 lp's or so you get that one you would have paid $50 for had you known about it.

Of course I like almost all music so that is something to think about. If you are very selective it can get as expensive as $50 a record which may or may not sound good...

Good luck!
madmax

[Skynut]

I have been thinking about it also. It does look dangerous and I have probably 100 albums I bought from a friend several years ago. I have never heard any of them yet.
I am afraid I will want to build a 2 channel system, then upgrade, then comes the financial problems and worries about the kids playing my records when I'm not home.

The whole thing is scary.

[billbillw]

I don't intend to buy any music new on vinyl, but I like the idea of what madmax said. Gimme the thrift store/garage sale deals! I've always walked pass those displays, not anymore...that is, if I follow through with this foolish idea.

[MacLeod]

Phew! I thought you were thinking about getting married!

[billbillw]

Phew! I thought you were thinking about getting married!

Went down that road two years ago. So far, no regrets, but it has changed my lifestyle.

[wingnut4772]

I have actually been thinking about doing this too now that I have 'discovered' two channel.....so I say let's go for it!

[billbillw]

Well, the deal is off. The frickin guy who had the TT seemed to think his stuff was like gold and wanted WAY more that I was willing to pay. I told him to pack it away and keep it.

[madmax]

Aw, just pick up something on ebay or around here. It's just too cool once you start picking up lp's... Truthfully, unless you get into a high class rig it really doesn't matter what you use so long as it doesn't mess up your lp's. You will notice that cheap stuff isn't as good as CD's but you will probably pick up on certain aspects you will enjoy more than CD's.
madmax

[billbillw]

Aw, just pick up something on ebay or around here. It's just too cool once you start picking up lp's... Truthfully, unless you get into a high class rig it really doesn't matter what you use so long as it doesn't mess up your lp's. You will notice that cheap stuff isn't as good as CD's but you will probably pick up on certain aspects you will enjoy more than CD's.
madmax

Haven't seen may TTs come up around here. I don't like Ebay for TTs because you never know if its going to be packed correctly and there is a huge risk for shipping damage. I might keep my eye on a 100 mile radius on Ebay and of course, Craigslist, but damn if I haven't had the worst luck with Craigslist. Either the stuff is sold by the time the seller replies, or the seller thinks their stuff is worth WAY too much money, won't negotiate, and both of us end up getting frustrated. It drives me nuts!

[madmax]

Just wondering what range were you looking for? Sometimes you can pick up one used (a decent one from the 70's) for as little as $25 if the person has no interest or you can get a nice new one for $200 including a new cart and all. Something like the Pro-ject $200 table is pretty nice for that price.

[reeltrouble1]

Hey ga bro, you sound alot like me, say about 18 months ago, wanted to get back in and bought a new cartridge from Tour for my Kenwood TT for something like 40 bucks. Well, 3,000 sheckles later I am finally getting some tones coming from the Amazings that I am thoroughly addicted to.

Its fun and you really dont have to spend that much, but I REALLY like the different sound of vinyl compared to CD. If you have the itch your going to eventually scratch it.

RT1

[billbillw]

Just wondering what range were you looking for? Sometimes you can pick up one used (a decent one from the 70's) for as little as $25 if the person has no interest or you can get a nice new one for $200 including a new cart and all. Something like the Pro-ject $200 table is pretty nice for that price.

I'm looking to spend less than $100 including cartridge, etc. I'll just be patient and wait for something to work out. If it doesn't, oh well.

[TroyD]

Well, here's the thing about vinyl, IMO. I'm sorta along the same lines as Chuck on this.....unless you are starting with good clean vinyl, I don't see the attraction. Dirty vinyl, IMHO, ain't worth the time to spin it. So, when you DO get a table, plan on another couple hundred for a vacuum cleaning machine. I've tried a LOT of other methods and they are all various shades of not worth the effort.

BDT

[billbillw]

Well, I'm officially on that road now. My brother sent me one of his spare tables (Technics SL-Q2), a couple cartridges, and some of his duplicate albums along with all his discwasher stuff.

Yesterday, I called on a Craigslist posting for a collection of 70 boxes Jazz, Soul, Blues, and Funk albums. I was so excited, I planned on buying about 50-100 albums if they were in good shape. I got there and there were about 3000 albums to look at, but sadly, I found that most were in very poor condition. After sorting through for an hour I found about 10 that were in really good or excellent shape and I gave her $10 for them. Its a start.
Some of them are pretty cool. Fats Waller, Big Joe Turner, Tony Bennet, Ida Cox, Charlie Parker, Branford Marsalis and a few others.
There is another guy local who has about 1000 albums to look at. He is trying to sell the whole lot for $500. Probably an excellent deal, but that would be too much for me right now. He said he would work out a deal if I only wanted to pick up a hundred or so.