I am new to this board but I need some help. My grandmother recently passed away and she had stack of old records. Well I was given a stack of about 30 of them. What is the best and easiest thing to do with these since I know nothing about them. My mother took all the Beatle ones that were still in the plastic, all of these are opened and have been sitting in my grandmothers house for about 30-35 years..
check music stack for info..,ebay ...google..
all depends on the rarity of the lp..
most original beatles on capitol are not that much in value..
i have most of them..
it all depends..
If I were you personally, I would hold on to them since they are a part of your family, though most people probably would sell them. Just don't go getting rid of them without knowing the value of what you are getting rid of either. Also, if you plan to sell them, you might want to consider what they are first of all, learn how to grade the vinyl/album covers before you consider taking on such a venture.
With that said, I don't really feel comfortable giving you a definitive answer as to what you are supposed to do with them. I say keep them until you either know their value, or you are really sure you are really wanting to get rid of them. Besides, vinyl records are making a huge comeback these days, and you might want to hold onto them. Maybe perhaps you might get a turntable? But hey, that's just me.
Other than that Kelly, I cannot conscientiously give you an answer to this, as this is something personal & totally up to you. Just don't do something I wouldn't do. Besides, once vinyl grows on you, it can be addictive. lol :-)
well JV..
perhalps the person could purchase a vynil collectors book/dictionary
like they have for comic books that give some idea of value
Well yes Brian, if they even exist, a lot of times the information is at times inaccurate, or out of date two months after the fact of the books existence. They are what they are Brian; guides, that is pretty much it. Nothing more, nothing less.........
Price guides are out there, but checking here on Musicstack for similar items can yield a better cross-section of what the market is doing.
Always remember though... if it is for sale at $10... it does mean it hasn't sold at $10
When researching, always take care to make sure you are looking for exactly the same item... catalogue numbers and other bits of information are very important... a $1000 item can be re-issued and be valued at just $10, so be cautious and don't jump at ambitious valuations... that way, you are more likely to be happily suprised than feel insulted by any dealers who make any offers.
Just a little extra info.
Please be aware that, most of the best classical recordings are recordings from the 50´íes ,60´íes and 70´íes.
If you should be so fortunate as to have received some of these, your reaseach (the priceing of them) should also incl. which orchester, soloartiste and conducter. Because, as you probably well know, a work by a great composer will have been recorded by many an orchester with many an different soloartists and interpreted by just as many a conducter. And if that wasn´t enough, the same orchester, soloartist and conductor may have recorded and released the same piece several times over the years (year of release is therefore very importent), all of them different interpritasions.
Wether or not the priceguides that the guys mention above, includes classical musik (guys ?), or if a such exists, I don´t know, but generally, when it comes to priceing these older classica recordings, take your time, take your time, take your time, some off these recordings are real gems and there are people "out there" willing to pay quite a bit for them. Who knows you might want to keep them. As VJ writes above, vinyl has a tendency to grow on you and become quite addictive (these old classical gems for sure are.....).
Classical is a very difficult area... definately peaked a few years back, it was very specialist and kept almost secret from the mainstream dealers... now everybody has had a fair crack of the whip... prices have fallen drastically.
The US goldmine price guides do cover some classical... UK price guides tend to completely avoid the subject.
Musicstack isn't the easiest website to navigate for understanding the pricing of classical items, specialist websites are probably your best focus for clues and maybe for advise.
Most dealers now use the internet for research rather than a printed book... books are good... but it is only one perspective and can quickly outdate or could be wrong. If you can find a specialist website, you should see top dolar prices, and probably a lot of advise on the kinds of things they look for... with UK records, we look for early stereo with certain colour labels, text, and even the feel of the label... With some records being £400 for a definate first edition, £100 for 2nd, £30 for a 3rd and £10 maybe for any other later issues.
Again, classical is a specialist area, the buyers tend to be very very strict on quality and grading, and tend to stick to buyers they have trust in.
... but it's true they do... UK price guides will only mention an album with a famous orchestra if they are backing Deep Purple or something like that... ... I've had to rely on websites for my information... I have print outs of some of the best dealers stock lists, so that I have my own semi-price guide.
... for a dealer, you have to try to learn it... it takes time when classical isn't your bag... but research pays off... I've picked up classical albums and sold them for £1200.00... and I have also refused boxes stuffed full, thousands of disc all in great condition that were mine for free... because I knew I would not be able shift any for a profit against my time.
... in the UK you have to learn to tell your WB ED1 GRVD from a basic NB, W/G from a stamp or a B/S from a note...
....Same scenario i Denmark, i think it`s a global issue.
Its really a pitty, it makes entering the classical scene very very difficult. Most people (dealers, collectors and music lovers in general) simpley give up (Kelly......are you still with us ?) when confronted with the wall of "specaillisation" that surrounds the classical scene.
Here In copenhagen theres no recordstores left dealing in classical vinylrecords. Theres a few second hands, that are begining to see the possibilties in this and have started "cleaning" up" the classical sektion on the back shelves (BIG love to them for their effort). Theres hardly any new recordings, being released on vinyl either (this I REALLY find to be odd, one would reckon that, if any, people PLAYING/recording classical music would really be into good sound and the reproduction of it).
It really is a pitty. A lot of people, who would love this, being introduced to it, are being cheated of some wonderfull musical experiences, simply because of.......how can I put this politely?.......-extreme specilisation.....there I`ve said it...naughty me...:)
Anyway I`ve found a few rule of thumbs to be working, for entering this scene:
- Chopin was Polish, look for Polish soloartist/phils. (the band...:D) and conductors and so forth (it ensures a deeper cutural understanding of the work in question, and is more likely to give you a good musical exp.).
- In general go for complete works and avoid classical "greatest hits" (releases with several diff. composerers).
- If viny, then look for 180 gram
And last, releases from the 50`s, 60`s and 70`s (vinyl obviously...:)).
I think these tips/thumbthings, would do well for a dealer too, when flicking through a box of newly arrived second hand classicals.
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