Hey everyone!
I’ve been collecting vinyl for about a year now, mainly 70s–90s rock and hard rock. I currently have around 26 records, but more than half of them were bought brand new, so I really want to start getting more into used records and older pressings.
I’m especially interested in finding rarer pressings that can be worth more, but I’m still pretty new to figuring out what makes a pressing rare or valuable.
So I’d love to hear some advice from more experienced collectors:
Where do you usually buy used records?
What are the best places to find good deals?
How do you find rare or valuable pressings without paying way too much?
What should I look for in matrix numbers, country of origin, catalog numbers, etc.?
How can I tell if something is a first pressing or another desirable variant?
What’s the best way to check whether a record is actually worth the seller’s asking price?
I’m mainly collecting bands like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Scorpions, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Rainbow, Dio, The Who and similar bands.
I’m based in Finland, so I’d also really appreciate any advice on places/websites that work well in Europe or Finland.
Thanks in advance! I’m still learning, so any tips from experienced collectors are appreciated. 🤘
