Comments on: Condition is Still Critical . . . Isn’t It?

By: Michel

Michel — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 07:21:04 +0000

I m as amazed as Rudolf by the new condition standards. Maybe Instagram trophies…it has been discussed many times…
Happy new year to all !

By: Rudolf A.

Rudolf A. — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 07:29:56 +0000

The last Curtis Counce group album to be issued, on Dootone, is an Elmo Hope album in reality. I like it very much. Of course, Carl Perkins and Elmo have quite a different way of playing.
I almost never break the seal of sealed albums which I intend to keep in my collection.
Re the less demanding condition standards these days, I am amazed. As a seller, I always thought impeccable condition to be a price booster.
Happy New Year to all of you.

By: Kevin Twit

Kevin Twit — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 04:47:03 +0000

As one who works with college students (as well as talking with my 22 Ye old son) they really aren’t picky about condition – at least at this point in their early collecting lives. They can listen to music on Spotify with no crackle – so they expect crackle and pop on actual vinyl records and seem to consider it part of the aesthetic. For myself, I regularly buy jazz in less than stellar condition because as a pastor with 3 kids in college it’s all I can afford. I especially love to find clean vinyl with trashed covers because I really don’t care about the covers and it saves me a ton on records I love to listen to. I was just down at Bananas warehouse in St Pete and I love to browse the bins with vg or less jazz that they won’t sell online. I found some great records I could never touch if they were in better condition.

By: austingonzo

austingonzo — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 03:41:27 +0000

The Counce does indeed appear to be original. It’s less known, as it was a later issue. Perkins and Sheldon were gone. Elmo Hope replaced Perkins, so it’s almost like an extra Elmo Hope album. You can find extra (stereo) cuts on this Bel Canto release: Curtis Counce Quintet* / Buddy Collette Quintet – Jazz On The Bounce With Collette And Counce

Url: https://www.discogs.com/release/5343863-Curtis-Counce-Quintet-Buddy-Collette-Quintet-Jazz-On-The-Bounce-With-Collette-And-Counce

The seller’s price is way out of line with the market, obviously. I wouldn’t nibble, much less bite, on that one.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 01:14:03 +0000

Unfortunately, there will more than likely be a correction, when the current crop of enthusiastic new collectors move into the ranks of the jaded experienced collectors. There is always a lot of pain when entering into a new hobby, and record collecting is a prime example.

By: Steve Hinds

Steve Hinds — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 00:32:08 +0000

I agree that appearance may not be as relevant, depending upon the equipment used for playback. I have used my Garrard 301 with a wooden tone arm for over 50 years. I recently found an original pressing of a Lee Morgan BN which was really scratched and dirty, I wiped it with my “home-made” solution and it played through with very little extraneous sound. I would rate it at least VG, Other equipment may not gotten the same result.
And now an age old question: What per cent does having a cover for an original BN pressing, or for any good jazz lp count? I have several, both 10 inch and 12 inch without covers that I have acquired over the years.

By: billsf

billsf — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 20:36:53 +0000

we used to throw all the VG- and below in the $1 pile. maybe that’s why my other car is not a BMW

By: Art Klempner

Art Klempner — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:51:48 +0000

Visual grading is often misleading, if it looks terrible then it play terrible ? Back in the day many of the more “valuable” records were pressed on vinyl that for whatever reason sounded pretty good when the surface said “G or VG-” I have been pleasantly surprised for over 50 years !

By: Japhy

Japhy — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 16:46:13 +0000

I played my copy of that Gryce a few weeks ago (fantastic!) and thought the same thing, as we often do here: on another label this record would be coveted. It’s ponderous stuff. And I’m bummed to see this only brought $34! Could be partially attributed to lack of a detailed description. I’ll never buy a record when the seller doesn’t make an effort to point out any blemishes, etc. I think most of us can read the words “light surface scuffing throughout” or “half-inch lightly feelable line” and generally know how that will translate in playback. But just saying “VG” doesn’t cut it for me.

By: DaveS

DaveS — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 16:14:45 +0000

I think condition is always important but matters to me personally less for NM-/VG++ records. In other words, I won’t pay a premium for top condition records. Why? I play my records and don’t mind the occasional noise within reason. I am perfectly fine with VG+ records and covers. I am also concerned that I will mess up a top condition record if I play it or mishandle the cover.

I have also found that buying records based on play grading is helpful but not definitive. Different turntables and cartridges track and sound differently. What plays fine on 1 set-up may not on mine. I am personally also surprised that people (maybe some of the readers on this forum) will spend $1K+ on an individual record and play them on a set-up that in total costs less than that. People dial up super- high tracking weights that will push through anything and won’t skip but risk groove wear, etc.