Recordz
Learn: vinyl collecting, explained
Plain, sourced answers to the questions record collectors ask most — how grading works, how to tell an original pressing from a reissue, what the codes in the runout groove mean, how to clean and store records, and how to buy and sell on Discogs.
First press vs reissue: what's the difference?A first press comes from a record's original production run. Repress, reissue and remaster each mean something different. Definitions, and why they matter.How do you clean vinyl records safely?Brush records before each play; wet-clean dirty ones with distilled water and a non-ionic surfactant, rinse and dry. What archives advise and what to avoid.How do you find rare records?Where rare records turn up and how to recognize them: record stores, fairs, estate sales, online wantlist alerts, and knowing which pressing you're holding.How do you grade a vinyl record?A practical process for grading vinyl: inspect under bright light, play it, grade the record and sleeve separately on the Goldmine scale, and note every flaw.How do you identify an original pressing of a record?Check the label, catalog number, dead wax matrix and sleeve against documented first issues, then match your copy to one version on its Discogs release page.How do you read a Discogs release page?What each part of a Discogs release page means: master vs release, versions, barcodes and matrix runouts, have and want counts, sales stats and credits.How do you sell records on Discogs?How to sell records on Discogs: seller setup, matching the exact release, grading, pricing from sales history, shipping, and the fees Discogs charges in 2026.How do you spot counterfeit vinyl?How to tell a counterfeit record from the real thing: bootlegs vs counterfeits vs unofficial releases, print and label clues, and checking the matrix runout.How do you start a record collection?Practical first steps for a new vinyl collection: what to buy first, setting a budget, where to buy, judging condition, and the basic gear you need to play it.How should you store vinyl records?Store records upright in a cool, dry, dark place in clean sleeves, away from heat. What archives advise on temperature, humidity and sleeves.Mono vs stereo records: what's the difference?Mono records carry one channel, stereo records two. The history of both, why 1960s mono pressings are collectible, and how to play mono records safely today.What does 180g vinyl mean?180g means the record weighs about 180 grams. What extra weight does and doesn't change, what pressing plants and hi-fi makers say, and where they disagree.What does DMM mean on a vinyl record?DMM means Direct Metal Mastering: the master was cut into copper instead of lacquer. How it differs, what it changes, and how to spot it in the runout.What does VG+ mean in record grading?VG+ (Very Good Plus) means a record shows light cosmetic wear but plays cleanly. The full Goldmine scale for vinyl and sleeves, and where graders differ.What is a matrix number on a vinyl record?A matrix number is the code stamped or etched in a record's dead wax. What its parts mean, how mother and stamper codes work, and what it can't prove.What is a promo copy of a record?A promo copy is a record a label gave away to radio, press or shops. Common promo markings, when promos are collectible, and whether you can legally resell one.What is a test pressing?A test pressing is one of a few copies pressed from new stampers so the label can approve the sound before production. How they work and what they're worth.What is a white label record?A white label is a record with a plain or blank center label. How white-label promos, test pressings and dance white labels differ, and how to tell them apart.What is Discogs?Discogs is a user-built music database, a marketplace for physical music and a collector community. How its data is contributed, and what the site and app do.Why are some vinyl records valuable?Records become valuable when few good copies exist and many collectors want one. How scarcity, demand, condition, variants and provenance set prices.
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