For anyone buying music (Phoenix: sales, cabinet, pricing)

[Voebe]

New Times lists some options for you.

The 12 Best Record Stores in Metro Phoenix

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/musi...ctors-11263390

[madison999]

Thanks, been meaning to hit a couple of those shops up.

One thing that sucks is the garbage quality of most new vinyl.

[TheYO]

Originally Posted by madison999

Thanks, been meaning to hit a couple of those shops up.

One thing that sucks is the garbage quality of most new vinyl.

Really? I'm by no means an expert on vinyl, but I thought the 180g wax most new releases are pressed on is superior to the older 140-150g records of the past. Colored vinyl and especially picture discs are another story.

Is the mastering worse quality than in the past? I'd like to educate myself some more.

As for the article itself, I'm a huge fan of Zia and Stinkweeds. I need to explore these other shops.

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by madison999

Thanks, been meaning to hit a couple of those shops up.

One thing that sucks is the garbage quality of most new vinyl.

I was amazed to hear that vinyl sales are up!

[PhureeKeeper]

Originally Posted by Voebe

I was amazed to hear that vinyl sales are up!

Thanks for posting this! I bought a record player last year and dug out my old vinyl. I'm inspired to buy more music and will have to check some of these places out.

Now if I could just find a nice cabinet to hold all of the albums instead of keeping them in moving boxes!

[madison999]

Originally Posted by TheYO

Really? I'm by no means an expert on vinyl, but I thought the 180g wax most new releases are pressed on is superior to the older 140-150g records of the past. Colored vinyl and especially picture discs are another story.

Is the mastering worse quality than in the past? I'd like to educate myself some more.

As for the article itself, I'm a huge fan of Zia and Stinkweeds. I need to explore these other shops.

I'm no expert but here's what I'm pretty much finding in new purchases and what I read. Keep in mind some things probably aren't noticeable with low level equipment, depending how good the listener's ear is, etc. This applies to USA printed vinyl...

1. 180 gram is bs. Most of it's recycled not true virgin. 180 is thick and heavy and something to advertise vs a regular thinner record. They need to justify the ridiculous pricing.

2. All the knowledge left the vinyl industry in the 90's when vinyl died. Every press in the US is old and running 24/7. All the people who had deep knowledge of these things retired or died. No new presses will be imported into the US, it's not worth it.

3. Tons of new releases are digital masters, they put them on vinyl because people keep paying. Most new records were never even mastered for vinyl, including re-released of old stuff.

4. The quality of new records themselves is garbage. I don't think most of these kids are playing them or even opening them. I've bought maybe 20 new records in the last year or so. One had three center holes all in the wrong spot, several others I had to finish cutting out the hole itself, and severe warping but who knows where that happens.

I've had maybe 3 out of 20 that would compare to the quality of records back in the day. I'll keep buying because I'm a junkie but it really slowed my buying down. Always try to find an original version is my rule of thumb. Just my experience, take it with a grain of salt.

[madison999]

Originally Posted by PhureeKeeper

Thanks for posting this! I bought a record player last year and dug out my old vinyl. I'm inspired to buy more music and will have to check some of these places out.

Now if I could just find a nice cabinet to hold all of the albums instead of keeping them in moving boxes!

There are a million YouTube videos on making them. Or buy from Amazon.

[campnn5as5]

Originally Posted by Voebe

New Times lists some options for you.

The 12 Best Record Stores in Metro Phoenix

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/musi...ctors-11263390

thanks

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by madison999

I'm no expert but here's what I'm pretty much finding in new purchases and what I read. Keep in mind some things probably aren't noticeable with low level equipment, depending how good the listener's ear is, etc. This applies to USA printed vinyl...

1. 180 gram is bs. Most of it's recycled not true virgin. 180 is thick and heavy and something to advertise vs a regular thinner record. They need to justify the ridiculous pricing.

2. All the knowledge left the vinyl industry in the 90's when vinyl died. Every press in the US is old and running 24/7. All the people who had deep knowledge of these things retired or died. No new presses will be imported into the US, it's not worth it.

3. Tons of new releases are digital masters, they put them on vinyl because people keep paying. Most new records were never even mastered for vinyl, including re-released of old stuff.

4. The quality of new records themselves is garbage. I don' t think most of these kids are playing them or even opening them. I've bought maybe 20 new records in the last year or so. One had three center holes all in the wrong spot, several others I had to finish cutting out the hole itself, and severe warping but who knows where that happens.

I've had maybe 3 out of 20 that would compare to the quality of records back in the day. I'll keep buying because I'm a junkie but it really slowed my buying down. Always try to find an original version is my rule of thumb. Just my experience, take it with a grain of salt.

This is hugely interesting on a broader scale - that is, it seems like almost anything we buy nowadays is garbage. When I was having problems with my washing machine, the repairman advised me to hold onto it as long as I can since the newer ones (by which he meant the last 10-20 years) are garbage. I'm told the same about TVs. Same about radios. My plumber even said the same thing about pipes.