7 Steps to getting the Perfect Summer Record Collection

With the hot, lazy summer months approaching, many people are starting to worry about losing the pounds they’ve piled on over Christmas and getting their bikini bodies ready for the beach. However, such trivial things are of little concern to the dedicated audiophile…

With that in mind, read on to get this seasons hottest tips for getting your record collection in shape for the summer.

1) Bulk up and fill in the gaps.

Everyone has holes in their collection, empty slots waiting to be filled with rare pressings, modern remasters, fan favourites and underground cuts. However, if you want to whip your collection into shape, it’s time to plug those gaps with black wax. If you’re having a hard time thinking of anything, have a browse through MusicOnVinyl’s catalogue for some inspiration, and contact us with an order if anything takes your fancy.

2) Get Rid of the Gunk

Collection completed, but is it up to scratch, or, heaven forbid, is it scratched?! Now would be a good time to check…

Whilst you’re checking your records you should give them a clean, removing all the grit and grime that builds up over time and can lead to broken cartridges and dull, fuzzy sounding records. Even new records can benefit from a clean, as it removes any rubbish left over from the pressing plant.

We do offer limited record cleaning services to customers, but the serious enthusiast will want to clean their own. If that sounds like you, check this out….

3) Dress to Impress

From “that Little Black Dress” to your lucky pair of threadbare underwear, everyone has some special garments, and your records are no different. Tailor-made by Tonar, this collection of inner and outer sleeves will protect your precious vinyl from the world. 

4) Preen to Perfection

Now that you’ve washed and dressed your records, it’s time to play them! Right? Sadly, not quite yet….

Before you let stylus meet vinyl, you should give your selected record a brush to remove any bits of dust that it may have acquired. Far from a deep clean, this serves as a quick preen to make sure your disk is ready for showtime. This lovely little velvet and carbon fibre number from Tonar should do just the trick.

5) A la Cartridge

Diamonds may be forever, but the styli that use them to track the grooves of a record sadly are not. Whether it’s from constant use, regular wear and tear, or a (hopefully) accidental bump, your stylus’s days are limited. If you use an Ortofon Red or Blue 2M cartridge, you can actually replace the stylus yourself at home. In fact, the 2M Red and Blue styli can be used interchangeably on the Red and Blue cartridges.

Not all styli can be replaced though, and sometimes a breakage means a total cartridge replacement. If this happens to you, don’t despair! You can use this unfortunate situation as a chance to upgrade your cartridge and get more out of your collection than ever before. Talk to the guys in store for their suggestions.

6) Don’t Forget the Deck

If the record you’re playing is the star of the show, then your turntable should be the perfect stage from which to perform. Whilst you might not be 100% sure what exactly needs doing to your deck (if anything), you can be sure we’ll spot any problems if you bring it in for an inspection. Whether it’s a loose drive belt, shoddy suspension, or  if you’re just worried something’s wrong, our turntable experts will find the issue.

7) Select a Record to Spin.

Ah, the last step, and probably the most enjoyable. All that’s left to do is make the difficult decision of what to play, but with so many good albums out there, it’s never an easy task.

Once you do make up your mind, lie back, relax, and let the warm crackle and pop of vinyl whisk you away to audiophile nirvana. Certainly beats trying to find a spot on an overcrowded Benidorm beach this summer.