Time Travel!!!

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008, 01:49 (GMT) Post subject: Time Travel!!!

I finally broke down and did it.
Years ago I owned over 2000 vinyl lps. In the mid 90's I sold every single one (or gave them away) and sold my Technics direct-drive turntable. I've been kicking myself ever since.

This week, while in a local antiques store I started browsing thru the $1.00 bin of albums and picked up an old Linda Ronstadt, 2 Kingston Trios, Saturday Night Fever (although unfortunately not the original), an amazing Rolling Stones live and some others.

Problem was, I had no turntable! So today my new Audio-Technica AT-PL120 arrived and I'm like a hog in slop. Here's the first tune I recorded off of it tonight.

Allison Scussel · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008, 02:01 (GMT) Post subject:

WOWSY Scott!!

That turntable looks alot like my old Pioneer TT. I forgot the model #, but I bought it back in the mid 80's and paid $110 for it. Needles became too expensive to replace and the RPM was off after years of wear and tear. I ened up throwing it away! Rolling Eyes

After listening to Linda Ronstadt, I can understand why CD's took over. I just wanted to "blow" on the needle. Laughing

Speaking of classics on vinyl, I used to own the Rolling Stone's album "Sticky Fingers" that had the actual zipper on the front cover. Like a dummy, I sold it at a garage sale many yrs ago for a $1. Crying or Very sad

Chris Mezzolesta · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008, 03:00 (GMT) Post subject:

I've been playing vinyl all evening, transferring my "dementia" 45s to the computer so I can play them on my Internet radio show tomorrow night (Power Salad's Cream Cheese Library on Dementia Radio, www.dementiaradio.org)

I'm using an Esoteric Sound RA-6 that I bought in 1995, it's a 6-speed table with pitch control for both the 33 and 45 master speeds. It's not a sooper dooper table like you'd see in Stereophile (like $5k) but it's groovy, plays 78s (and 76s, 77s, 79s, 80s, etc...from the old old days). For styli and cartridges I use Garage-A-Records.com.

A sampling of what I've transferred this evening:

Viva Vinyl, is all I can say. Looking forward to getting more new-ish releases on vinyl, such as any Ben Folds. I have 2 of the 3 Beatles Anthology sets on vinyl, they sound fantastic.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008, 03:00 (GMT) Post subject:

Y'know, Allison, it's so ironic. I was one of those guys who would buy the album, CAREFULLY pull it out of the virgin sleeve, gently place it on my TT, hit it with the Discwasher, then record it onto cassette on the inaugural spin. And I'd always curse the pops and clicks that would STILL be there! Thus I was THRILLED when cds came out (and still am, and am a huge fan of .mp3s). But maybe I'm just regressing into my childhood and miss all the rare, great stuff that I'd gladly pay a buck or two for now, but not $15.

And talk about value... you paid $110 for that tt in the '80's. This AT turntable is direct-drive, plays 33, 45 AND 78 RPM (which is a must for me; I have a HUGE collection of my mom's old 78s!) and weighs a TON which - to me - is a plus. And it was less than $150. I think it was a great buy.

Michael J. Schoen · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008, 03:32 (GMT) Post subject: playing records

You geeks would be interested in my system -- in the garage!!
It's only steps away from my fully equipped home theatre, which includes a sonograph (Conrad Johnson) belt driven turntable, with Musical surroundings phono preamp and Benz micro cartridge..Outlaw amps Paradigm speakers Velodyne sub
--
In the garage I have four record playing devices -- an old "Dual" changer with a grado 78 cartridge that I use to play 78s -- I have collections from a number of grandpas and grand uncles.
I have a 50s vintage 45s only RCA changer fitted with a shure 44m stereo cartridge.. plus a Music Hall LP belt driven turn table with project arm. The system also includes an HD video projector, sub woofer, two stereo poweramps and a wall of speakers...
Have to see it (and hear it) to believe it.
Women who visit say "what do you need all that for?"
Men say -- it's great!

Bob Bair · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008, 14:44 (GMT) Post subject:

Scott,
I'm with you my man. Thorens turntable, Sonus cartridge, Antistatic mat, Pod clamp for spindle, etc... Clean album before each use. Clean stylus once a day. Play an album only once for every 24 hours. Etc...

I still have my Thorens. Plus most of my vinyl. My favorite? The Monty Python album with 2 tracks on one side. Depended on where you dropped the stylus as to what you heard.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008, 15:33 (GMT) Post subject:

One more... this one is in a little better shape and is from a GREAT live album.

Scott Pollak · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008, 16:17 (GMT) Post subject:

So this morning while I'm out I drop by the Salvation Army store and there in the middle of an extremely meager album collection is this jewel. A box set of 5 vinyl lps, a collection of hits by various artists, and the albums are LIKE NEW! Almost like they've never been played! Just SOME of the songs on it are:

- Steelers Wheel: Stuck in the Middle with you (Gerry Rafferty was their lead singer)
- America: I need You
- Smokey Robinson: The tears of a Clown
- Rare Earth: Get Ready
- Spinners: Rubberband Man
- Van Morrison: Domino
- AWB: Pick up the Pieces
- Orleans: Still the One
- Maria Muldaur: Midnight at the Oasis
- Gordon Lightfoot: Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
- Seals and Crofts: We may Never pass this way again
- Harry Chapin: Taxi
- Arlo Guthrie: City of New Orleans
- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Mr. Bojangles

Cost? $3.00 !!!

Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008, 18:02 (GMT) Post subject:

That sounds like a typical hour of the tunes I would have played back when I was a Top 40 DJ.

Clinton Nobles · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008, 19:57 (GMT) Post subject:

I love the turntable. Call me old fashioned but I like that crackly sound. I used to record my own radio shows (I was like 10 lol) and I loved when I figured out how to add that sound lol

Michael J. Schoen · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008, 21:38 (GMT) Post subject:

Not a dud in the pack, Scott. Real pop music.
I was once sitting at an outdoor dining section at the old Boulevard restaurant on Broadway at 87th street... had to be around 1990 when so many people were dumping their LPs in favor of CDs.
Woman walks by struggling with a huge pile of LPs -- of which I offered to relieve her. She had great taste.
Bill Withers, to Dwight Yokum and Patsy Cline, the Cowboy Junkies and Elton John. All sorts of stuff in decent condition.

Favorite LPs to play -- A German pressing of the Beatles White Album on White Vinyl.
New issue of James Taylor's Sweet Baby James and Alicia Keys last two.
many more.