This weekend I went to Asheville, NC on a vinyl hunt. I’d done some pre work on the internet which led me downtown. You can walk to at least 3 shops (had more on the list but ran out of time). OMG, did it turn into a great vinyl adventure! Bought over 50 lp’s (6 new, 28 at $1 each, the rest $3-$10) & still spent less that $200. The biggest surprise was the condition of the vinyl. I expected to spend the next week cleaning them. So far I’ve listened to 8 of the used ones which were perfectly clean & scratch free. They must have run them through a machine. Looked better than a lot of new ones I’ve gotten.
If you’re within day trip driving, it’s worth it. If you’re farther, Asheville is a fantastic weekend trip!
:nutz::nutz:

That's good pricing!

In boston, typically you're spending around $9, and usually wiped down at best. Hardly ever cleaned.

Outside the city, typically $6. Suburbs, $3-$4 but usually filthy and often dubious condition but sometimes you get lucky.


Though Birddog brought me to a small city here in Mass that sold vinyl $3-$4 and it was wet-wiped clean and the vinyl was in VG++ or better.

That's good pricing!

In boston, typically you're spending around $9, and usually wiped down at best. Hardly ever cleaned.

Outside the city, typically $6. Suburbs, $3-$4 but usually filthy and often dubious condition but sometimes you get lucky.


Though Birddog brought me to a small city here in Mass that sold vinyl $3-$4 and it was wet-wiped clean and the vinyl was in VG++ or better.

I got some decent stuff at "cheapo records" in cambridge last weekend , most i bought were $5.99 but all in Vg+ to nm shape , some of the stuff is pricey & they don't have a lot of stuff i was looking for , but not a bad store overall .

This weekend I went to Asheville, NC on a vinyl hunt. I’d done some pre work on the internet which led me downtown. You can walk to at least 3 shops (had more on the list but ran out of time). OMG, did it turn into a great vinyl adventure! Bought over 50 lp’s (6 new, 28 at $1 each, the rest $3-$10) & still spent less that $200. The biggest surprise was the condition of the vinyl. I expected to spend the next week cleaning them. So far I’ve listened to 8 of the used ones which were perfectly clean & scratch free. They must have run them through a machine. Looked better than a lot of new ones I’ve gotten.
If you’re within day trip driving, it’s worth it. If you’re farther, Asheville is a fantastic weekend trip!
:nutz::nutz:

I actually just posted about my up an coming trip to Johnson City, TN which is 1 hour north of Ashville!! Care to be more specific about where these shops are (street address, names, etc). Did they have any classical? I'm flush on jazz an classic rock (although I never stop browsing the jazz sections), but finding good classical selections is getting very hard.

James R.

I've been going crazy the past few days buying records and there are certainly a bunch of places to go to in downtown Toronto. My biggest score happened today, though. 25 dollars got me 50 records, including around 7 Beatles and Lennon records, Thriller, Off the Wall, and a whole bunch of other standards and listenable stuff...

Yellow Submarine is in piss poor condition...Might melt it and make it into a bowl.

I've been going crazy the past few days buying records and there are certainly a bunch of places to go to in downtown Toronto. My biggest score happened today, though. 25 dollars got me 50 records, including around 7 Beatles and Lennon records, Thriller, Off the Wall, and a whole bunch of other standards and listenable stuff...

Yellow Submarine is in piss poor condition...Might melt it and make it into a bowl.

cool you got some beatles ! the few i have found either are just the cover with no LP or beat so bad they would never ever play .
Just got a few lennon albums off ebay $7 shipped for 3 of them , so i was psched to get those .

Yea, I was pretty surprised at how much beatles records I was able to amass in two days without really spending more than 3.30 on 1. Conditions varied, but only one is destined for mutilation. Sgt. Peppers was in surprisingly good condition.

Did end up with two copies of Double Fantasy, trouble with buying in bulk. Must think of cool way to use my extra copy.

Yea, I was pretty surprised at how much beatles records I was able to amass in two days without really spending more than 3.30 on 1. Conditions varied, but only one is destined for mutilation. Sgt. Peppers was in surprisingly good condition.

Did end up with two copies of Double Fantasy, trouble with buying in bulk. Must think of cool way to use my extra copy.

Really listen to both copies before you decide which to keep. I have had "identical" records that were pressed at different times sound drasitically different. I have 2 copies of Van Morrison Tupelo Honey, one an original, and the other an 80's pressing. They look identical (except the labels of course), but the earlier pressing is far more neutral and the later is far more "amped". I keep the original in my listening room collection, and the later pressing in the living room collection. The Living room system is far less critical, and can make even over-processed records sound decent when you're in the other room making dinner.

James R.

I actually just posted about my up an coming trip to Johnson City, TN which is 1 hour north of Ashville!! Care to be more specific about where these shops are (street address, names, etc). Did they have any classical? I'm flush on jazz an classic rock (although I never stop browsing the jazz sections), but finding good classical selections is getting very hard.

James R.

Last time I was in Asheville (November?), Mr. Ks Used Books had a good selection of used classical vinyl. I think all I bought was a Stan Freberg LP in near mint condition. They are not downtown, but in a shopping center right off the interstate. They also have a store in Johnson City, but don't carry vinyl at that location.
http://www.mrksonline.com/

I actually just posted about my up an coming trip to Johnson City, TN which is 1 hour north of Ashville!! Care to be more specific about where these shops are (street address, names, etc). Did they have any classical? I'm flush on jazz an classic rock (although I never stop browsing the jazz sections), but finding good classical selections is getting very hard.

James R.

Static Age and Voltage are both on Lexington Avenue (2 doors apart). Static Age is where I got the $1 & $3 used & Voltage is where I scored used from $5-$10 but also got very reasonably priced new onesI spent three hours between the two. I can't remember the name of the 3rd one. I didn't get to spend time there as I hit around closing time. It was a few blocks away on Haywood very near the main library. There were a few classicals at each location. I snared a few but pickings were slim. In my on-line search I also found several interesting shops outside the downtown area but didn't get a chance to get to them yet. When I make another trip there I'll check them out too. Good luck with your JC trip & hope you find some great music!

Last time I was in Asheville (November?), Mr. Ks Used Books had a good selection of used classical vinyl. I think all I bought was a Stan Freberg LP in near mint condition. They are not downtown, but in a shopping center right off the interstate. They also have a store in Johnson City, but don't carry vinyl at that location.
http://www.mrksonline.com/

I'll be checking this one out next trip over. I didn't realize they had vinyl at this location. I'd been to the JC one so I suppose I thought they were all the same. Thanks for the link!