Just Bought Myself a Turntable...

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I just ordered a bunch of vinyl from Euclid Records. They list tons of great titles and their prices are reasonable. I've bought CDs from them in the past. This will be my first LP order so I wonder how well they pack the discs. Shipping was only $4 for 5 LPs.

My only caveat is that their on-line catalog is also their store catalog so what you order may not be on the shelf when they go to pull it but this is only a minor inconvenience.

Also, I spent a few hours at Integrity 'N Music just outside of Hartford. Tons of great vinyl but not in the greatest condition. They had a copy of McCoy Tyner's "Cosmos" for $6.99, which I thought was reasonable. I bought a Mickey Tucker Xanadu date with Ronnie Cuber on bari. I hope the bass isn't too whiney on this... I hate that 70's bass sound.

Later,

Kevin

[porcy62]

wolff, review most of the catalog at Red Trumpet, it all seems overpriced to me. A classic example was the Master Jazz Piano used Mosaic set that I asked people's opinions about on the board a few weeks back...they wanted $300 for it!!! Clearly a gouge attempt, and not appreciated. Their sales aren't bad but I won't buy from them just on general principle since their baseline prices are so high.

Well, that is an example. They all gouge on the OOP stuff nowadays. Acoustic Sounds has been doing it for years. Look at some of their OOP 45rpm Classic Records prices. Anyway, RT is okay by me, OOP Mosaics aside.

In my experience Mosaics are always overpriced in on-line shops, Ebay is far better in this case. If you want to have an idea about Mosaic prices, and jazz Lp in general, on Ebay you can check out POPSIKE.

http://www.popsike.com/index.html

Edited December 28, 2004 by porcy62

[Peter Johnson]

I just ordered a bunch of vinyl from Euclid Records...This will be my first LP order so I wonder how well they pack the discs.

Kevin, I haven't ordered any wax from them in a while (nine months or so) but can't imagine things have changed. Their packing of LP's should be a model for all who ship them--they come in a new, appropriately-sized (given the number of records) box which is taped all around; each record is shipped with the record in the jacket, in the original inner sleeve (if available) or a new paper sleeve (not ricepaper) if not available, placed in an individual poly bag. The stack of records is then surrounded on the verticial with bubble wrap, and then on the horizontal with bubble wrap. Bulletproof!

I Euclidrecords and could not have built my collection without them.

[sidewinder]

I'll second the comment about Euclid. I've had several packages of LPs shipped to over here in England and there's never been a problem. Lots of bubble wrap, very securely packed. Some good stuff acquired from Euclid - original vinyl of 'Impressions of a Patch of Blue', 'Unity', 'Capuchin Swing' and 'Delighfulee' to name but four. None of them mint but the condition was well up to scratch.

Always a pleasure to deal with Euclid.. :rsmile:

[spinlps]

Always a pleasure to deal with Euclid..  :rsmile:

OK, you guys... knock it off! Euclid's selection is horrible, they're prices are outrageous, and Joe is a schmuck!!!!

Euclid is for us locals and no one else. They're strictly our own private "layaway" shop for vinyl... warehousing it for us until we can slowly buy all of the tasty vinyl.... so back off!

[patricia]

Always a pleasure to deal with Euclid..  :rsmile:

OK, you guys... knock it off! Euclid's selection is horrible, they're prices are outrageous, and Joe is a schmuck!!!!

Euclid is for us locals and no one else. They're strictly our own private "layaway" shop for vinyl... warehousing it for us until we can slowly buy all of the tasty vinyl.... so back off!

Fat chance!!

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Well, my Euclid Records order arrived today and they were only able to ship 5 out of the 7 LPs that I ordered. The weird thing is that the other 2 are still listed on their website. What's up with that?

BTW, the packaging was very good. Now I have to get that turntable I got for Christmas set up.

Later,

Kevin

[Bill Fenohr]

I deal with Euclid alot and they are tops with me. Anytime i have had a problem, Joe has bent over backwards to fix it.

Kevin,

The reason those titles are still showing on their web site is because they only update their list about every ninty days.

[Brandon Burke]

wolff, review most of the catalog at Red Trumpet, it all seems overpriced to me. A classic example was the Master Jazz Piano used Mosaic set that I asked people's opinions about on the board a few weeks back...they wanted $300 for it!!! Clearly a gouge attempt, and not appreciated. Their sales aren't bad but I won't buy from them just on general principle since their baseline prices are so high.

Also see: the used racks at Dusty Groove. Gimmie a break....

[patricia]

Now I have to get that turntable I got for Christmas set up.

Later,

Kevin

Kevin, my dear friend, are you telling us that you got a turntable for Christmas and YOU HAVEN'T SET IT UP YET??

Don't make us come to your house and pummel you.

How difficult does it look like it's going to be??

All I had to do was plug mine in, attach it to the amp, check the attachment on the setting, turn the corresponding knob and............voila!!

Get with the program. Immediately!!

Edited January 8, 2005 by patricia

[frank m]

I just figured I'd reply to a couple of comments here and there in this thread about the relative sound quality of 78's,lps and cds. I survived both changeover revolutions and IMHO lp's were a vast improvement over 78's. However, I remember and still have some of the first lps which had a heck of a lot more music on them than later, after the record companies woke up. I was never that impressed with the sound quality of cd's vs lp, but that may just be personal taste. However, there is one hi fi value that cd's could have, and maybe sometimes do have: dynamic range. I heard an early cd with Bubecks group when Morello dropped a rim shot that used every bit of dynamic range I figure was possible. I had the lp and theres not a doubt of the early use of dynamics then. Were the same dynamics applied to an lp, the needle would be blasted out of the groove. Maybe they are still using the same dynamic level in classical cd's but I don't hear it that much in jazz. Don't tell me theres dynamics in rock, it all sounds high volume. But Idon't want to argue about it. de gustibus etc/

[sidewinder]

Re: the sound quality of CDs and LPs. In my opinion it is not clear cut, there are some instances where the LPs sound to me clearly superior (e.g. early BN LPs in good condition) but other occasions where the CDs shine. Case in point I have just 'AB'd a first pressing Pacific Jazz Gerald Wilson 'Moment of Truth' with Mosaic set CD1. The CD version sounds better to me, more dynamic range, more depth - most suprising. Possibly a byproduct of some fiddling around I have been doing with the connectors on the Naim CD power supply, which may not have been optimally set up previously. The very fine mastering on the Mosaic is also clearly a significant factor. End result is that the Mosaic CD sets are taking on a whole new life..

Edited January 9, 2005 by sidewinder

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Kevin, my dear friend, are you telling us that you got a turntable for Christmas and YOU HAVEN'T SET IT UP YET??

It's my second one for my main listening area that I need to set up. It has to be wall-mounted and I still haven't decided what to use for a shelf. I think I'm going to go with a thick slab of wood from these guys, but they're darned expensive... $60 for a chunk of wood? Like I said, that's all I need is a shelf. I have no room in the cabinet and I have a subwoofer so my hardwood floor isn't an option. It'll have to be wall-mounted.

Later,

Kevin

[Alexander]

Okay, I will admit freely that I didn't know jack-shit when my wife bought me my turntable. The player she got me is belt driven, and I'm having trouble with the speed being somewhat inconsistant resulting in what I believe in referred to as "wow" (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm a total novice at this sort of thing). Here are some questions I have:

Is it possible to correct this?

I've had it for less than a month. Should I return it and get a direct driven turntable? What are the pros and cons of direct drive vs belt drive?

[wolff]

Okay, I will admit freely that I didn't know jack-shit when my wife bought me my turntable.  The player she got me is belt driven, and I'm having trouble with the speed being somewhat inconsistant resulting in what I believe in referred to as "wow" (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.  I'm a total novice at this sort of thing).  Here are some questions I have:

Is it possible to correct this?

I've had it for less than a month.  Should I return it and get a direct driven turntable?  What are the pros and cons of direct drive vs belt drive?

Are there any small screws near the pulley? Maybe the belt is riding in the wrong spot. Brand?

Edited January 9, 2005 by wolff

[Alexander]

Okay, I will admit freely that I didn't know jack-shit when my wife bought me my turntable.  The player she got me is belt driven, and I'm having trouble with the speed being somewhat inconsistant resulting in what I believe in referred to as "wow" (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.  I'm a total novice at this sort of thing).  Here are some questions I have:

Is it possible to correct this?

I've had it for less than a month.  Should I return it and get a direct driven turntable?  What are the pros and cons of direct drive vs belt drive?

Are there any small screws near the pulley? Maybe the belt is riding in the wrong spot. Brand?

Both good questions. The answer to the first is: "I don't know, but I'll check." The answer to the second is that its a Sony purchased at Best Buy, so it's pretty much the bottom of the line.

[patricia]

Kevin, my dear friend, are you telling us that you got a turntable for Christmas and YOU HAVEN'T SET IT UP YET??

It's my second one for my main listening area that I need to set up. It has to be wall-mounted and I still haven't decided what to use for a shelf. I think I'm going to go with a thick slab of wood from these guys, but they're darned expensive... $60 for a chunk of wood? Like I said, that's all I need is a shelf. I have no room in the cabinet and I have a subwoofer so my hardwood floor isn't an option. It'll have to be wall-mounted.

Later,

Kevin

My apologies. I was just really surprised. Space can be a problem and a wall-mounted shelf can be very tricky. Stability may be a problem. I'm assuming that the rest of your sound system in the selected area is filling up whatever it's on, or in. My entire shebang, including a good-sized TV is housed on top and on the shelf beneath a four-foot long hall table. The turntable is on the top, alongside the TV and the amp, dvd/cd/video player is stacked on the shelf below. I found that the cd player included with the video player was not as good as the one I was already using, so I added the old player. Everything runs through the amp, which is on the bottom of the stack. The large woofer/tweeters are on either side of the room and I'm a happy lady. Great sound.

So, I guess I'm saying that the wall shelf is a little less recommended than is a more solid setup.

How solid is the shelf?? Sixty dollars is not that much, if it works, but if it doesn't you have a place for some records, or books, or bowling trophies. Then sixty dollars is too much.

[wolff]

My turntable wall shelf frame looks a lot like this one. My actual shelf is a light, but very strong laminate job.

Properly fastened to the studs and levelled they make a great home for turntables.

[wolff]

Both good questions. The answer to the first is: "I don't know, but I'll check." The answer to the second is that its a Sony purchased at Best Buy, so it's pretty much the bottom of the line.

The belt may be rubbing against something other than the pulley and platter. Or, the belt is riding up and down the pulley because it's too loose.

Pulley/motor screws can tilt the pulley a bit so it(the belt) rides correctly on pulley.

Is the tt on a firm foundation and levelled?

[patricia]

Maybe because I'm not a man, adjusting the innards of my turntable would never occur to me. If adjusting the stuff on the tone-arm didn't work, I would take my turntable to a record/turntable guy and have him look at it and make any adjustments to the inside. But, maybe it's just me. If Alexander doesn't know what he's looking for, it might be a little risky to try to do the adjustment, if that's what will fix the problem, himself. I've found the record guys, especially if they are not just clerks, very helpful.

One thing that I've noticed, and maybe the rest of you have too, is that vintage record places are generally owned by those, like us, who have been seduced and won by the constant pleasure that vinyl gives them every day. They are usually tickled that the rest of us come to them, not just to buy records and the equipment to play them. They will almost always help you do it better, or know someone who will. Ask them. I don't think that you will be surprised.

Edited January 10, 2005 by patricia

[Alexander]

Update on my turntable:

So I adjusted the screws and it worked...for a little while. But after a few weeks the "wow" came back and I began thinking that I really needed to look for a direct drive turntable.

Flash forward to this week: I was on mid-winter break from school (I'm student teaching) and I spotted a nice looking Pioneer direct drive TT at the local vinyl shop. It was used, but looked to be of recent vintage and in excellent shape (from what I could see). I asked to take it for a test-spin, and they hooked it up for me. The two discs I spun on it ("Our Man In Paris" and "Lets Get It On") both sounded great to my ears, so I enquired if a trade (or partial-trade) could be arranged. They were agreeable, so I brought down my Sony and was able to walk off with a really nice machine for about $60. It sounds great even on my crappy little tabletop system.