Old Jazz Collector Habits Die Hard
Now that I’m sort of settled in from my month of moving, I’m resorting back to some old habits, browsing eBay page by page by page and even occasionally throwing in a bid, even though I really don’t want to be buying records and would much prefer to be selling records. But some habits are hard to break and, when I see what may be a bargain on eBay, it is hard to resist swinging over to the sniping software and placing a bid. There is a mindlessness to it and, as they say, idle hands are the Jazz Collector’s tools. In any case, I didn’t win last night’s snipe, thank goodness, which was this: Jazz By Matthew Gee, Riverside 221, which looked to be an original white label pressing with what may have been original plastic wrap. The record was M- and the cover was VG+ and with two hours to go on the auction there was only one bidder and $9. I figured I could possibly get the record cheaply, so I put in a snipe at about $45, but I didn’t come close. It wound up selling for $126.17.
I was also considering a bid on this one because it wasn’t getting much action:
Julius Watkins Sextet, Blue Note 5053. This was an original 10-inch pressing and it was probably in VG+ or VG++ condition for the record and probably VG+ for the cover, although the seller uses a grading system unlike mine and, seemingly, unlike that of anyone else. But he does have more than 11,000 feedbacks and a 100 percent rating, so it must work on some level. Anyway, this was hovering in the $50 range for a while and wound up selling for $130.50. I wouldn’t have gone that high, which is a good thing, since my 10-inch LPs are now sitting in storage and, frankly, I still don’t have a plan or a place for them to permanently settle.
Al: your comments reflect in detail my own ambiguous situation: although basically a seller, I am not yet really convinced of my new status. Thus I cannot refrain from being the occasional buyer, to such extent that my sales proceeds cover more or less my purchases.
Re the missed Matthew Gee, it is not a terrific album. Gee is sort of a mismatch for Ernie and Kenny. I have the album, but play it seldom.
these are hard times but I can’t understand why this beautiful record is not running for $ 148,88.
I’ve been following its lonely way the last 3 months, at least. is there anything wrong with this seller ?
http://cgi.ebay.com/blue-note-the-connection-63rd-NYC-DG-RVG-rare-MONO-/370533605485?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item564586206d#ht_500wt_1363
@Dottorjazz – I Truly love ‘the Connection’. A great album indeed. I, unfortunately, only have a newer pressing. Would love to have an original, but even at this price, it’s to rich for me in these ‘hard times’. 🙁
Al, you missed a real treat by passing up the Matthew Gee. Obscure yes, obscure sound, no….Original Riverside for less than $150, with sterling 1950’s jazz sound….In my opinion these are the gems that make jazz so unique….really off the beaten track, making the sound that much more desirable. Also, do NOT get rid of your 10″. The history in them illustrates jazz evolution better than anything else I know…
Freddy Redd “Music from The Connection” -great stuff. Mine is one of those Liberty pressings where the labels still say 47 West 63rd, but no “ear”. What I like to think of as “an early reissue”.
As an aside I picked up a japanese of the Felsted Howard McGhee version of the Connection, which features Tina Brooks in place of Jackie Mclean. Not as good a recording, but I have to say, Tina outshines Jackie in my view.
I don’t plan to get rid of my 10-inch LPs or my 78s. Just have to figure out where to put them. I just had a beautiful cabinet build in the country, which houses a lot of the 12-inch LPs. It’s still not fully finished, so I may adapt the next stage of its creation for the 10-inch LPs and 78s. We’ll see. I’ll keep you all posted.
I’m always interested in how people store LPs. I have a variety of shelves that I have picked up along the way made of high enough quality materials to hold a bunch of records. Usually I see something and say, “that could hold a ton of records” and buy it. It has to be really sturdy though. I’ve seen some very nice looking shelves that people have built using high quality wood. It makes me wish I was good with carpentry.
I used to store my countless vinyls from my seventies funk collecting years on nice tailor made shelves for almost a decade. But after a few moves of house and especially after I started buying 2nd hand jazz gems, I decided to line up -I know it may sound mediocre- a few Ikea cabinets; here in The Netherlands known as the “Expedit”. First of all they’re easy to assemble/disassemble and after you’ve set them up, you just position the cabinet anywhere you want to without worrying about drilling holes, putting up the shelves, making sure they’re perfectly horizontal, etc etc. So, Mike, maybe you should move to the “Expedit” cabinets from Ikea. They’re cheap and believe me: they sure can hold a ton of records! 😉
Mattyman, The Expedit shelfs are a very interesting solution. I’ve read about them before. My only issue is that Ikea is 5 hours away which is why I have never checked it out in person. I just bought the smaller 5 shelf option online after yours and a few other recommendations. There is a company here that drives to Houston once a week and picks up your order for %20, which isn’t too bad. If I like it as much as everyone else does I make have to make a trip to grab one of the bigger ones. The shipping on the big units is very expensive.
I also use the Expedit shelves and they are an excellent, inexpensive solution. I have them in my apartment in the city now. The shelves are little deep for LPs, so what I have done is I’ve had 3-inch pieces of wood cut and I put them at the back of the shelves, so the records come out to the end of the shelf. Neat little trick that definitely enhances the look and usability.
I actually use a series of Ikea lack 4 shelf bookcases lined up, with lights over each row. Only problem is that Ikea recently discontinued the shelves, which are perfect. I have 3 red ones, probably not the most common color people would have bought . If anyone in the midwest has a red lack shelf, I’ll take it!.
Al, is it possible that I could get a picture? I know you are busy so no biggie. I just want to make sure I’m picturing it right.
Mike – sure. I’m up in the country now, but I’ll take a picture next time i’m in the city, possibly this week.
The expedit shelves also get my vote-extremely sturdy,no wobble or “dip” in the middle after holding weighty LPS and easily painted if you must. And don’t forget CHEAP(which is how to score some on craig’s list). Nice!
Not sure if this is the same as yours but I swear by these IKEA shelves, shown here holding my miserable paltry 500 record jazz collection
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/5529/recordcabinet.jpg
Still has room for a few more – probably nearer 600 in the pair when full
Those are ones I ordered LC.
Thanks Al, the one problem I had with them sight unseen was the depth and the fact that something this affordable would dip in the middle. I’ve had cheap shelving do this, as well as some expensive shelving. I like the way they look, they just blend in. I would like my records to be closer to the front than the picture LC posted and it sounds like your modification would work great for that.
Closer to the front is neat too.
IKEA have the best solution for CDs too in my view – not that I buy many nowadays, but have to do something with a thousabnd of them:
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/739/ikeacd.jpg
Because the shelves are moveable it adapts well for the even fewer books and DVDs
London,are those CD racks affixed to the wall or standing freely? If it’s the “Benno”,they supposedly need to be wall-mounted-true or not?
They are indeed Benno. I link each to their neighbour at the top, and each tower individually has one small L-bracket that IKEA thoughtfully provide, that screws the top of the tower to the the wall behind, out of sight.
Their centre of gravity is such that they will fall over at the first opportunity left to their own devices.
The Expedit with their larger foorprint are much more stable
DOCTORJAZZ: I have thought the same of the seller in Taiwan but have not pushed the button on some of his lps. He has decent feedback but, and many would agree, high dollar items bought abroad that aren’t graded properly are losing proposition in the nd (return shipping! which, btw, I’m tired of losing but that’s my fault for taking risks with unknown sellers)
MATTYMAN: My friend has the squarer larger black shelves for lps and they are very stirdy all around. Ideal for lps and cost effective! I prefer the modular kind you can get at Bags Unlimited. They stack well, are sturdy and don’t have the trendy IKEA look, which, for me, is the only bad thing about the IKEA stuff. You can just buy 2 or 3 at a time as well so they are fairly reasonable when you need shelves.
EVERYONE!: Speaking of 10″ I recently aquired a VG-/VG DEXTER GORDON on savoy!! Pretty cheap as well! Some surface noise but it sure does sound great! WHOOH!
DOCTORJAZZ: Did you make extention w/ the taiwan connection? It’s gone! : )
Expedit Owners, do you affix yours to the wall? I just got mine and put it together. They are really perfect for holding lps, but I prefer not to affix to the wall if I can get away with it.