The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[Tony the Tigger]

@Tony the Tigger I need some record store owner advice. My oldest dd wants a record player for Christmas. She wants a blue one and I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg. I saw a Victrola one that is under $50. Are those good enough? She isn’t going to be dj’ing or anything.

You would both do better to spend $100 on a not-blue one, generally speaking.

Not generally speaking, how old is she?

Generally avoid Victrola, Crosley, and Vinyl Styl. These are low budget "suitcase" models all made in the same factory. Not only do they not sound that great (which may not be a big deal) they can have trouble playing the newer 180 gram records (much heavier than most of the records we knew from the 70's and 80's.) The tone arm can skip across the record, and you think the record skips, but it's the turntable.

From experience, we had a lot of people a few years ago coming in with brand new records saying they skipped. We always asked, "What kind of turntable do you have?" And it was always Crosley or the like. Then we'd demo the record on our in-store turntable (which was a used Panasonic from the 80's, nothing fancy) and it would play fine.

Again, if it's for an 8 year old, cool, just have realistic expectations.

If it's for a 12-15 year old, I'd hate to sour them on the record player/vinyl experience by having it do the opposite of what it's supposed to do: sound better and be more fun than an mp3.

To be fair, Crosley has started using parts from another company called Audio Technica on some of their higher end models.

My usual answer is then why not get the Audio Technica brand? The basic model (LP60) is about $100, and it's the only brand we currently stock. We also use it for our in-store demo and listening stations now. It's not "high end" so much as a workhorse that will function well and last.

As far as colors, the newer models just have a stripe across the front - mostly red, white, or black as far as I know. (Maybe green?)

Also, they don't have built-in speakers, so that will kick them up more than $100.

If you do end up going with a $50 one, try very hard to avoid a plastic "needle" (aka "stylus.") They ruin the records. And if you intend to buy any brand new records, they're usually at least $20 or more, so it's a bummer to ruin those with an inexpensive turntable.

Let me know if that brought up any more questions!

ETA: Crosley did an offer a few years ago - if you ordered x number of turntables, they'd give you a free one to use as your in-store listening station. I got the beautiful turquoise blue one! After a few weeks, we had to remove it as our in-store listening station because people thought so many of our used records skipped after listening to them on it!

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

 

[MinnieM123]

View attachment 424492

Mr. Ferret, tomorrow is November 11 -- is that the Remembrance Day for Guernsey? I read a news clip about the Queen of England and Royal Family members attending a special service today (they have a service the Sunday prior to the date, I guess. Not sure if that is that is how Guernsey observes as well.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Mr. Ferret, tomorrow is November 11 -- is that the Remembrance Day for Guernsey? I read a news clip about the Queen of England and Royal Family members attending a special service today (they have a service the Sunday prior to the date, I guess. Not sure if that is that is how Guernsey observes as well.

Tomorrow is armistice Day. (Now veterans Day in the USA). Today was remembrance Sunday when all the parades and serices are.

Remembrance Sunday: Royal Family lead tributes to nation's war dead

The Queen and politicians joined commemorations for those who lost their lives in conflict.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[MinnieM123]

Tomorrow is armistice Day. (Now veterans Day in the USA). Today was remembrance Sunday when all the parades and serices are.

Remembrance Sunday: Royal Family lead tributes to nation's war dead

The Queen and politicians joined commemorations for those who lost their lives in conflict.

www.bbc.co.uk

Very interesting report and photos by the BBC. It's a very somber day.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

You would both do better to spend $100 on a not-blue one, generally speaking.

Not generally speaking, how old is she?

Generally avoid Victrola, Crosley, and Vinyl Styl. These are low budget "suitcase" models all made in the same factory. Not only do they not sound that great (which may not be a big deal) they can have trouble playing the newer 180 gram records (much heavier than most of the records we knew from the 70's and 80's.) The tone arm can skip across the record, and you think the record skips, but it's the turntable.

From experience, we had a lot of people a few years ago coming in with brand new records saying they skipped. We always asked, "What kind of turntable do you have?" And it was always Crosley or the like. Then we'd demo the record on our in-store turntable (which was a used Panasonic from the 80's, nothing fancy) and it would play fine.

Again, if it's for an 8 year old, cool, just have realistic expectations.

If it's for a 12-15 year old, I'd hate to sour them on the record player/vinyl experience by having it do the opposite of what it's supposed to do: sound better and be more fun than an mp3.

To be fair, Crosley has started using parts from another company called Audio Technica on some of their higher end models.

My usual answer is then why not get the Audio Technica brand? The basic model (LP60) is about $100, and it's the only brand we currently stock. We also use it for our in-store demo and listening stations now. It's not "high end" so much as a workhorse that will function well and last.

As far as colors, the newer models just have a stripe across the front - mostly red, white, or black as far as I know. (Maybe green?)

Also, they don't have built-in speakers, so that will kick them up more than $100.

If you do end up going with a $50 one, try very hard to avoid a plastic "needle" (aka "stylus.") They ruin the records. And if you intend to buy any brand new records, they're usually at least $20 or more, so it's a bummer to ruin those with an inexpensive turntable.

Let me know if that brought up any more questions!

ETA: Crosley did an offer a few years ago - if you ordered x number of turntables, they'd give you a free one to use as your in-store listening station. I got the beautiful turquoise blue one! After a few weeks, we had to remove it as our in-store listening station because people thought so many of our used records skipped after listening to them on it!

Really helpful. She is 18, She is into Broadway tunes right now. I am hoping my step-dad still has our old records and he can just mail them to us. Wish the old Sony record player worked. He said it broke a few years ago.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

Really helpful. She is 18, She is into Broadway tunes right now. I am hoping my step-dad still has our old records and he can just mail them to us. Wish the old Sony record player worked. He said it broke a few years ago.

There are decent used ones to be found at Goodwill and such in that $30 to $50 range. Stick to the names we knew in the 80's: Sony, Panasonic, Sanyo, Technics, etc., and I think those are often even better than the new ones. (Sometimes you'll have to get a needle and/or belt on ebay.) But it will be a much better deal in the long run.

For an 18 year old, I definitely recommend getting the basic Audio Technica. Like I said, solid, easily worth the extra $50 when new records cost half that. (You can find plenty of used ones for $3 to $5 but they won't be recent music, of course.) If she likes it, she'll be buying new records eventually.

The only difference between the 3 main AT models are the features. They all have the same basic workhorse turntable. The basic can be $89.99 to maybe $109. Here's a Broadway reference: "I can get it for you wholesale" at about $73 and might even be able to get the distributor to ship it directly to you. I'm guessing shipping at their special rates would be in the $10 range, but would have to check. Looks like the options are red, black, or silver. This will easily last her through the college years, and it's the one we sell the most. Literally zero complaints over years of sales.

The next step up adds a USB port in case she wanted to copy a record to her mp3 player. (marginally more expensive.)

The next step up from that adds a USB port and Bluetooth capability. So if she has a Bluetooth speaker, no wires. That's more expensive, but recently came down in price after they refreshed and improved the model. Retail is around $150, I can get them for just under $100.

Beyond that, you do get into the "DJ turntables" and they are upwards of $250-$300.

FYI!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

So much information. So do speakers need to be bought separately from the record player with the USB/Bluetooth?

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

When we come back to NJ we are thinking of taking I-81 North all the way to the PA Turnpike and then head east to Brick NJ. It is more miles than the I-95 route but the traffic delays in the DC area and the northern VA area was SOOO BAD that I am thinking the 81 to PA Turnpike route might be quicker. What are your thought on this? @MySmallWorldof4

I-81 North worked out well. I was able to go 75 to 80mph almost the entire time. No frustrating I-95 gridlock.

 

[Gabe1]

Yeah, but I think if she could design her own coffee cup, it would have some bling on it. Remember how she decorated Rory's hammer for Habitat for Humanity? She takes things that aren't pretty and makes them pretty...like a hammer.

Yes! And the teeny tiny coffee cups when she couldn’t go to Luke’s at a coffee shop near by. She wanted a coffee bowl.

I myself thrive on coffee so I can relate. My Gran Intro’d me to coffee as a preschooler that was more cream than coffee. Downhill from there.

 

[Songbird76]

I did score 2 good deals yesterday at Target. They were offering 25% off one toy, plus I had a $5 off coupon they sent in the mail. So I took care of 2 presents for my 12 and 8 year old. 8 year old wanted a Wheelchair Barbie. I have no idea why. Any that was less than $30 for the two. Also my 12 year old’s list was quite sparse. She actually only asked for 3 things on her list. She told Santa that she knows he has to travel the world and give presents to all the kids and that is a lot of work. She doesn’t know what she wants so she only wants 3 things. Two items were some small sets for a doll house, and the last request was for Lindt chocolate. She asked for things that in total (the toys) are $23 in total. On the other hand my 8 year olds list is closer to a $300 request! Either my 12 year old knows there is no Santa and doesn’t want us to spend a lot of money, or she is really satisfied with what she has. Either way, it almost made me cry reading her letter. She is really a little sweetheart.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if she knows he doesn't exist...or suspects it. But it's nice of her. My daughter has said for the last couple of years she doesn't really want anything, she's good. Last year I kept track of things she wanted throughout the year...like one time she said she wished she had her own hair dryer so she didn't always have to come in and use mine. Totally unrelated to Christmas, so I kept those kinds of things in mind and got her those things for Christmas. When she said she really didn't want anything for Christmas, I told her she really did. She was so happy with everything, and it was all a surprise because she couldn't remember ever asking for things.

 

[Songbird76]

Yes! And the teeny tiny coffee cups when she couldn’t go to Luke’s at a coffee shop near by. She wanted a coffee bowl.

I myself thrive on coffee so I can relate. My Gran Intro’d me to coffee as a preschooler that was more cream than coffee. Downhill from there.

I don't drink coffee or tea. I've actually never even tasted coffee as it just smells horrible to me. I won't put that in my mouth. And tea is NASTY. I will occassionally drink it if I'm really sick, but then I have to put soooooo much honey in it just to stomach it. Blech.
So I can't relate to Lorelai. Apparently Alexis Bledel doesn't drink coffee either so they always filled her cup with coke.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

 

[MinnieM123]

So much information. So do speakers need to be bought separately from the record player with the USB/Bluetooth?

I'm sorry, but you've exceeded your questions quota for the week.

(That was some excellent information so far from Tony. Even I read it with interest, although I'm not in the market for a turntable, etc. Still, really good details to learn about.)

It always amazes just how many talented people are on this forum -- from music, to computers, to cooking, and a whole bunch of other topics as well.

 

[MinnieM123]

I-81 North worked out well. I was able to go 75 to 80mph almost the entire time. No frustrating I-95 gridlock.

Isn't that dangerous?

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I'm sorry, but you've exceeded your questions quota for the week.

(That was some excellent information so far from Tony. Even I read it with interest, although I'm not in the market for a turntable, etc. Still, really good details to learn about.)

It always amazes just how many talented people are on this forum -- from music, to computers, to cooking, and a whole bunch of other topics as well.

Yes, we are not just chit chatting, we are “networking”.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Isn't that dangerous?

The speed limit on 81 in Virginia is mostly 70, and on 81 it is 65. It is pretty common to go 75-80 on those roads as that is actually how the traffic flows. He was probably just going with the flow of traffic.

 

[Figgy1]

 

[Figgy1]

1 day until National Fancy Rat and Mouse Day Guess what will be served as part of tonight's dinner?

 

[SteveBrickNJ]

Isn't that dangerous?

No....it was a sunny & dry day...on a multi lane highway. 75mph to 80mph is what 40 to 45% of the drivers were also doing. I'm far from alone in traveling at that speed. There were a few idiots that wanted to go 85 to 90mph and they actually passed me.