Record collecting & care guides

Practical, no-nonsense guides for looking after records and buying them with confidence.

CareHow to clean vinyl records without damaging themA dry brush before every play, a proper wet clean when a record needs it, and the household shortcuts to skip.
CareHow to store vinyl records so they lastUpright, snug, cool and out of the sun: the storage habits that prevent warps, ring wear and split seams.
CollectingRecord grading explained: the Goldmine scaleWhat Mint, Near Mint, VG+, VG and Good really mean, why vinyl and sleeve are graded separately, and how grade affects value.
GearFirst turntable setup: the basics that protect your recordsPhono preamps, tracking force, anti-skate and a level surface, explained in plain English for a first record player.
CollectingHow to spot a first pressing (and why the cover can't tell you)Runout etchings, label variations, barcodes and catalog numbers: the evidence that actually identifies a pressing.
BuyingBuying used vinyl online with confidenceA short checklist for buying records online: grades, photos, audio samples, shipping and returns.