WI=3 Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 Just thought I'd bring this to everyone's attention. First off I have no affiliation whatsoever to this store. Hi Fi Gallery in Napier has gone seriously into new and second hand vinyl, but the icing on the cake is that they have employed someone to list and photograph all their vinyl stock, including second hand records, for their website: http://www.hifigallery.co.nz/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=12 They have not finished listing everything yet as they have just built a huge room full of second hand vinyl, but the place appeals to me because the owner, Gordon, is a vinyl fanatic from way back, and he has great taste (read similar to mine!) in 60s - 80s vinyl and in Jazz, his imports are quality, well selected and his prices better than most. On top of this he will clean any new vinyl purchase for free in his record cleaner (a wonderful machine, I think Keith Monks). The vinyl part of his shop he runs basically out of sheer enthusiasm and love for vinyl, hence he keeps overheads as low as possible. Anyway, I just thought that places like this deserve a mention from us old (and other) vinyl freaks - again I have no link at all to the place and it is certainly worth a look at their record stocks.
NeilNZ Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 Yes Gordon has certainly embraced vinyl cleaning! He actually has a brand new VPI Typhoon cleaner, which by all accounts lives up to its name!
Guest Posted July 30, 2010 Posted July 30, 2010 Not much has changed since http://www.audioenz.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=10471&highlight=gallery The info sez VPI RCM. $36.90 for an NZ Spyro Gyra ? Still no label/origin info for new releases.
WI=3 Posted July 31, 2010 Author Posted July 31, 2010 My point is that we should be supporting people like this who are keeping vinyl alive in a small country. The guy is a genuine enthusiast and you can go onto many sites and select a specific price to knock if you want to be nitpicky. Such posts achieve nothing IMO, you don't have to buy it if you don't like the price. As someone who lives in Hawkes Bay it is a pleasure to be able to visit a store that is run by an enthusiast and where overall the prices are very reasonable and the environment is welcoming and sincere. I have been into many second hand record stores around the country where prices are considerably higher and the condition of the records considerably worse. The alternative for us in the provinces is that we knock people like this and end up buying everything sight unseen (sound unheard?) off the internet. By the way, I have seen the Spyro Gyra - it is absolutely mint.
Guest Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 Did you even read the earlier thread ? Nitpicking is part and parcel of serious vinyl collecting. The Spyro Gyra example is endemic of NZ record sellers pricing the abundant and mundane unrealistically. I've picked up several mint copies of Catching The Sun for well under $10. Ditto for the $45 Carole King Tapestry. :rolleyes:
WI=3 Posted July 31, 2010 Author Posted July 31, 2010 Don't want to appear to be "nitpicky" myself as we are all here for the common good, Michael, and the common love of audio so I take your point. But to be honest, and speaking as someone who has been a vinyl fanatic since I was fifteen (40+ years unfortunately), the prices don't really bother me that much now. It is a breath of fresh air to be able to go into a shop where there is good hi-fi, good company, good vinyl and free coffee. I was simply trying to point out that if you live out of the main centres then places such as this deserve to be acknowledged and perhaps visited, you don't have to buy their wares. I suppose that since I have most of the vinyl I want I invariably buy new myself, so I am not heavily influenced by second hand prices. Anyway, have a good night - I am off to listen to my new pressing of Downtown Meeting (Arne Domnerus and Bengt Hallberg).
stedor Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 michael w;129142 wrote: The Spyro Gyra example is endemic of NZ record sellers pricing the abundant and mundane unrealistically. I've picked up several mint copies of Catching The Sun for well under $10. :rolleyes: Want to sell me a copy:D I kept my 1980's "Access All Areas" 2 LP set ($4 new) when they couldn't give them away? (World Record Club special) I liked it and have recently got CDs of new albums "Road Scholars" and "Down the Wire" now too. Excellent stuff! I can only suggest buy what you like the sound of and don't be convinced to get rid of it! If only my other LP purchases had been as successful:( Real Groovy now sell really popular LP's for $30-$40 ea which is far too much!!!! 12 months ago these were $15 - $25ea. Get along to your local vinyl swap meet & get these for 1/2 price! Mind you JB prices for vinyl have come back a tad recently too? Watch for artists that are out of favour. My son reported Ben Harper LP's for <$20, the week I was out of town of course :mad: cheers stejdor
paul300b Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 Let the market decide! Haha (P.S. I don't vote for A.C.T)
jasper1553552693 Posted July 31, 2010 Posted July 31, 2010 Neil is correct that the Hi Fi Gallery's Record Cleaning Machine is the VPI Typhoon. Gordon has had the VPI 17.5 for years, and after thousands of records it is still functioning perfectly, but he got a dose of upgradeitis. I was going to treat myself to a 16.5 model but after seeing that freak'n Typhoon in action I'm going to dig deeper!
Guest Posted August 1, 2010 Posted August 1, 2010 stedor;129154 wrote: Want to sell me a copy:D I kept my 1980's "Access All Areas" 2 LP set ($4 new) when they couldn't give them away? (World Record Club special) I liked it and have recently got CDs of new albums "Road Scholars" and "Down the Wire" now too. stejdor Sorry, you're too late. I got one locally and one from Real Groovy, Welly about 12 months ago, unfortunately both sounded worse than my original NZ copy so I gave them away. Also got a used US Morning Dance* (ex-US radio station WOKY Sunny 920AM) for $6 and picked up a nice US Access All Areas from WT Audio ($5!). There are still bargains out there if you are very, very patient. *The NZ isn't too shabby but the standard US is superb, unlike the 1/2 assed Nautilus re-issue.
jasper1553552693 Posted August 2, 2010 Posted August 2, 2010 Well, whilst browsing the racks this morning at Hi Fi Gallery, I had a look at the aforementioned Spyro Gyra LP. It is truly, absolutely mint in both cover and vinyl. It looks brand spanking new in all aspects. Story was the guy played it once, to record it to cassette, stored it away and then promptly died! The albums have been sitting around stored ever since until they made their way to the shop. So, to be fair, if you love that album and wanted the best one you could find a once-played one at 36 bucks doesn't sound unreasonable.
Guest Posted August 2, 2010 Posted August 2, 2010 jasper;129290 wrote: Story was the guy played it once, to record it to cassette, stored it away and then promptly died! I can understand that. I was fortunate to survive - just - my encounter with that group.
joe90 Posted August 2, 2010 Posted August 2, 2010 Michael Jones;129302 wrote: I can understand that. I was fortunate to survive - just - my encounter with that group. I to have a tale of a death resulting in listening to the same album my flatmate played it on my stereo and i promptly killed him,However it was a mercy killing i just hope the people renting it now don't start a veggie patch
Recommended Posts