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Coloured vinyl - To play or not to play?

El Raro

El Raro

Feb 6, 2009
1,071
298
Sydney, Australia
#1
I've recently gotten into purchasing vinyl records and, I've gotta say, I'm really getting into it. In the last three weeks or so I've raked in about 15 different records including some rare "collectible" ones (my favourite being Baroness' Blue Record...didn't come cheap!).

However, some of the records I've purchased are coloured. Now, I started this whole vinyl hobby thing with the intention of playing my records...you know, getting some genuine enjoyment out of them rather than keeping them sealed in their shrink wrap. However, it got me thinking...not only are some of these records coloured or clear but they were only pressed in very limited amounts. Would I be stupid to actually play these records or should I go nuts and play away? What's the general consensus regarding coloured or clear vinyl records in the vinyl enthusiast world?
 
#2
The trouble with vinyl - and I'm saying this as a fan - is that it deteriorates by mechanically wearing away from the very first time you play it. I don't really know how much that detracts from the value, but I could see some fanatical collectors being willing to pay a lot more for something rare in its original shrinkwrapping, even if they never intend to play it themselves.

I do play my LPs at home, but I bought them as a listener rather than as a collector. Most of my original vinyl collection I had to sell to get through college and I'll never be able to replace those records, so I just accepted the collection was gone and enjoy playing the few records I did keep or whatever new ones I manage to get hold of.
 
#6
Cheers for the input, guys. I guess it comes down to personal preference but I definitely want to get some enjoyment out of them.

I was talking to a mate at work and he mentioned something about coloured vinyl not sounding as good as black vinyl. How true is this? And what's the criteria for "good", honestly? He's a bit of an audiophile and can't listen to anything below a certain quality.
 
#7
El Raro said:
I was talking to a mate at work and he mentioned something about coloured vinyl not sounding as good as black vinyl. How true is this?
Click to expand...

The latest Iron Maiden double LP has this notice in the back cover: "These discs are manufactured from vinyl which includes pictures. By nature of this manufacturing process, sound quality may be compromised"

But in all honesty, I think I must hear a black vinyl copy of this album to find out if there's actually some kind of sound degradation. The album sounds pretty good to me.
 
#8
From my understanding, picture discs are more like novelty items because the sound quality is significantly different. The same work mate has a copy of Mastodon's "Divinations" single on picture disc and put it on to show me the difference. There was a LOT of noticeable noise coming from the picture disc which lead me to believe they aren't really designed to be played.

That was just one experience, though. If you say your Maiden picture discs sound great, I'm not going to contest that. It could also have something to do with the hardware used to play them?
 
#9
Some coloured vinyl releases aren't as "rare" as you might think. Regardless, if you're bothered by the idea of burning out your vinyl you could always transfer it to WAV format. If you don't want to break any seals you may be able to find mp3 copies somewhere.
 
#10
I have been a vinyl collector since the 60s and also used to be a record dealer. Along with mainstream records, I used to specialize in unusual pressings including many colored vinyl, picture discs, shaped records, promotional records, limited pressings, rare items, alternate jackets and labels, etc. I even have some records that glow in the dark. I still have quite a few if anybody is looking for something.

Picture discs go way back to the 1930s and colored vinyl has been around just as long. Anyway, to answer your question, if you plan on just keeping them for your own listening enjoyment, play them. If you plan on selling them as an investment, condition means everything to most collectors and sealed, unplayed copies are the most valuable. Rarity can be a misnomer as with anything and can depend on many factors and supply and demand are usually the determining issues to selling records.
 
#11
Depends. As others have said, if you're in it to listen to music, by all means listen to them. If you're in it for investment purposes, well, the discs can only be virgins once, so you should probably preserve them...

But collectibles are tricky, LPs in particular; values rise and fall, so there's no real guarantee that they'll appreciate in any predictable fashion. Case in point: I'm not into treating LPs as collectibles, but many, many years ago (pre-CDs) I bought a picture disc of Never Mind The Bullocks for a steal, thinking it might appreciate. Never opened it, never played it. Every few years, I get curious, and check on current market prices. Short story: If I had sold it ten years ago, I would have gotten more for it than I would selling it today.

Collectible "values" rise and fall. I say: Play the music, and don't worry about future profits that may never happen. YMMV.
 
#12
Colored vinyl / picture discs do not sound as good as the black vinyl.

But as long as you have a quality cartridge and not much pressure on the head you are find playing anything...

The only thing to really watch out for is when putting the record on the deck, make sure the center pin does not rub on the record label! That is what many collectors look for to see if a record has been played a lot or not.

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#13
I have been buying vinyl the entire time I have been buying music. form the early 90's on. I have spent a pretty penny on rare LP's and 45's. I have played ALL of them from TEST PRESSES to sealed rarity's. Quite a few of my friends collect records and have soled some from time to time. They are compulsive about how they treat the vinyl. wont play some of them. I sold a stack about a year ago to help fund a tour and honestly the prices I got were just as good as my friends. Better on a few of them. If you are going to open it then you have devalued it right there. Like SLaPiNFuNK said a quality needle and proper balanced arm is important. Having owned multiple colors of the same records I personally think that white vinyl sounds the best. Black a close second. Picture discs are more of a novelty and are not really meant to be played so they wear out the fastest/ sound the worst. Most of the time if possible I had the album on cd as well so the records were not the only thing I listened to. They are your records and there is no wrong way to treat them. Throw them, baby them, keep them in a box, burn them. Any how, have fun and try not to spend too much Money!!!!
 
#14
Back in my DJ days in the early 2000's I got a chance to visit the record factory my first records were pressed at. What a trip to see!

If you ever want to really have some fun, get some dub plates (acetates) made of your own music and you can play them. Those will NOT last long at all... I used to only get 20-30 good plays out of a dub plate before they started sounding like muddy muffledness... Spent WAY to much money on those!
 
#16
Richland123 said:
I have been a vinyl collector since the 60s and also used to be a record dealer. Along with mainstream records, I used to specialize in unusual pressings including many colored vinyl, picture discs, shaped records, promotional records, limited pressings, rare items, alternate jackets and labels, etc. I even have some records that glow in the dark. I still have quite a few if anybody is looking for something.

Picture discs go way back to the 1930s and colored vinyl has been around just as long. Anyway, to answer your question, if you plan on just keeping them for your own listening enjoyment, play them. If you plan on selling them as an investment, condition means everything to most collectors and sealed, unplayed copies are the most valuable. Rarity can be a misnomer as with anything and can depend on many factors and supply and demand are usually the determining issues to selling records.
Click to expand...

I've been looking for some glow in the dark! what albums should I hunt down ?
 

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