A beginner’s guide to entering the world of Vinyl…
Technology has a lot of pros, it’s made music insanely accessible but there are also a lot of cons. Let’s face the music, being so accessible has taken away a lot of the charm and excitement. In the same way that pasta cooked fresh in front of you in Italy is better than an Uber Eats delivery, Vinyl is just better than Spotify. No contest.
So why not look into starting your own record collection? If you’re a newbie, don’t fret. Baby steps peeps. Let’s run through the basics.
Your Turntable:
Shock horror. The music isn’t going to play out of your smart device. You’re going to need a turntable. There’s a gazillion record players out there, and obviously you don’t have to go top shelf. But don’t skimp on quality as this will just damage your records and sound sh*t. If you’re planning to chuck on an album once in a while, obviously you don’t have to go super hi-tech. It all depends on your budget and your needs.
Stick to specialist stores like Vinyl Revival in Fitzroy. They are the experts and will help map out your first turntable!
Your Collection:
First and foremost. Buy what you like and what you’ll actually listen to. Don’t buy what you think is cool. It’s as simple as this.
You’ll quickly notice records aren’t cheap and so if you buy sh*t you don’t like, you may as well just give the money to us instead. For first-hand albums, you’ll be looking at about $50 an album. Most record stores have second-hand bins where you might be able to score a bargain but again, don’t buy it unless it’s your kind of vibe.
Speaking of record stores, there’s a stack of them across Melbourne. Suss out a vinyl lover’s guide to the best stores in Melbourne here from Beat. Speak to the guys there, tell them your taste and they’ll give you some insight. Just like when you tell a bartender what gets your juices flowing and they work their magic.
