How do you find out what pressing a record is?

A closer look at the spine of the record sleeve will also help determine whether you have an original pressing. Original pressings usually have a four-letter and number combination like WXYZ-1234. Other records after the second or third pressing have two letters and five number combinations, such as XY-12345.

How do you tell what year a vinyl was pressed?

Check the Album's Front or Back Cover

If you have a vinyl record that has a jacket or cover, this is the first place you would check for the date when the album was released. If the album doesn't have any date for that quickly tells you the release date, then you can check the label on the middle part of the disc.

What do the numbers on vinyl records mean?

A matrix number is an alphanumeric code (and on occasion, other symbols) stamped or handwritten (or a combination of the two) into the run-out groove area of a phonograph record.

How do you tell if a record is pressed off center?

To determine how can you tell if there is off-center pressing, a close inspection of the contact between the cartridge and needle with the record, can make the problem obvious. It will wobble back and forth, left and right between the grooves if the pressing isn't properly aligned.

What is a first pressing of a record?

An original pressing typically refers to a vinyl record that was made from the initial batch of lacquers in the production process and cut from the original master recordings. As they are the first records to be pressed, many consider these to be the definitive edition and best sounding records.

How do you know if a record is valuable?

Factors Affecting Vinyl Records Value

1. The Condition of the Record. One of the first qualities collectors look at when determining the value of a vinyl record is its condition. ...
2. Name Of The Artist. ...
3. Availability In The Market. ...
4. Label Design and Artwork. ...
5. Vinyl Color. ...
6. Lacquers. ...
7. Foreign Releases, Limited, and Withdrawn Editions.

Where is the catalog number on a vinyl record?

Catalog Number

1. The catalog number is usually the most prominent number printed on the release - often on the spine, on the back cover and on the label, etc. ...
2. A catalog number is required for every label entered.

Whats the hole in the middle of a record called?

A 45 rpm adapter (also 45 rpm record insert, 45 rpm spindle adapter, 7-inch adapter or spider, the common size of 45 RPM records) is a small plastic or metal insert that goes in the middle of a 45-rpm record so it can be played on the standard size spindle of a turntable.

What is the center of a record called?

Play Hole – The hole in the center of a record that allows the record to fit over a turntable spindle. The hole and spindle keep the record properly centered on the platter so that it will play correctly.

What are the etched numbers on vinyl records?

A catalog number or also known as “cat number” is an identification number which is assigned by a music label when a music is released. It can be found on vinyl records (33, 45, 78 rpm), cassettes, 8-track tapes, CDs and DVDs.

How do I know if my Kpop album is a first pressing?

Both albums are official and legit. The best way to be sure what press you are getting is to look at the fine print on the back of the album. This will tell you where it was printed. The second type of Komca sticker is the 비매 (pronounced 'bimae') sticker.

What are 78 vinyl records worth?

He said that on average a rare jazz 78 might sell for $1,500 to $5,000, whereas sales for a comparable blues record would start at $5,000.

What is the name of the needle that rides the groove on a vinyl record?

The stylus is the needle that rests against the record. Ideally, a stylus is a cone-shaped component made from diamond, which is the hardest natural material on Earth. Besides diamonds, sapphires are also commonly used for record needles. The stylus is connected to the tonearm by a flexible strip of metal.

What are vinyl record collectors called?

The Lifer: Lifers never stopped collecting vinyl and have a section of their homes dedicated to what they've accumulated. Lifers are the most skilled crate diggers on earth, able to smell a rare copy of The White Album a mile away.

What is the outside of a vinyl called?

Jackets: Also commonly referred to as a “cover” a jacket is the outer pocket that records are inserted into – records first go into an Innersleeve, and are then inserted into the record jacket.

Why do some 45 records have a big hole?

Tonearms hate wobbly records. A larger hole allowed the sudden rotational forces to be distributed over a greater distance (π x 1.5; about 4.712 inches), reducing wear and allowing the hole to stay rounder longer. This was especially important for the jukebox industry.

Why do 45 records have a big hole?

According to several websites, including Answerbag, the reason for the large hole used by 45s was simple. It was difficult for the old 78s, with their smaller holes, to find their way onto jukebox spindles. The large hole effectively eliminated that problem.

What is the middle of a 45 record called?

The 45 revolutions per minute (rpm) adapter for records has much more of an interesting history than most assume. It is a small metal or plastic piece that is placed in the center of a 45 rpm record. The adapter allows for the record to be played on a turntable's 78 rpm or LP size spindle.

Do vinyl records have serial numbers?

The serial number of the vinyl record is a great tool for determining a value of vinyl record. These numbers are also called Matrix or Stamper numbers. These numbers are often different from another number. In general, you can find the serial number in the right shows of the records.

What is the rarest vinyl record?

What is this? In 2015, White Album No. 000001, which had been kept in good condition by Ringo Starr for nearly 50 years, was sold at auction for $790,000. This first copy of the White Album is the most valuable and rarest vinyl record ever in the world.

Are 33 records worth anything?

Rare and Valuable LPs (33 RPM)

Some sell for $1000 or more. “Most collected artists” records have the highest values. Most “Fans” LPs made after 1970 sell for $10 or more and some made before 1970 sell for $100+. See Fans below for more details.

Does anyone buy old records?

Platforms like Ebay, Music Stack, and Amazon will conveniently help you sell your vinyls to individual collectors. But, if you want to sell your stack in bulk, you should look to record stores. The advantage of record stores is you can sell to any store nationwide—you are not limited to only a few local vinyl stores.

What is the second arm on a record player for?

To save time switching these cartridges over, having more than one tonearm means that you can easily change from one to the other. This would take seconds instead of the hassle of taking a cartridge off your only tonearm and attaching another.

How do record grooves work?

These grooves are actually sound waves imprinted on the vinyl substrate – a sort of fingertip of the sound captured in the disc. These grooves determine the behavior of sound waves as they move through the air, producing the music that we hear.