I've been selling off a load of old vinyls I've had since the 80s/90s as I don't even have a record player any more. I sold a couple to someone on eBay who has now messaged to complain that the album (Pink Floyd, The Wall) "sounds distorted". I asked what she meant and she's said "We played it and all the loud baselines have distortion on them". She hasn't complained about the other record. I can't say I'm a vinyl officianado, but does this make sense? I would have thought vinyl is vinyl, if it's not scratched or dirty, those little ridges make the needle move and that's yer sound? Can a vinyl be "distorted", and just on basslines?! How could that be?
Pinball info
Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Vinyl records question
- Thread starter MarkS
- Start date
On a complete sidenote.... Let us know what you have (or a link to your ebay) please - might be interested in a few 
Records are very sensitive to how they are used. It could be the grooves are full of crud from years of playing, being left on the turntable, fingers etc. The needle might not be able to get the full ‘information’ from the groove. It could be a bad needle has been used and gouged out some of the material.
Record collectors are even more condition sensitive than the back of the back box condition types here.
I find a good professional clean sorts most issues, but as you don’t have a player you are selling on the physical appearance alone and not the actual playback quality. Pretty much ‘untested’.
Record collectors are even more condition sensitive than the back of the back box condition types here.
I find a good professional clean sorts most issues, but as you don’t have a player you are selling on the physical appearance alone and not the actual playback quality. Pretty much ‘untested’.
And of course she may have setup her player badly, there are almost infinite variable in how people can calibrate their player (or not).
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2011
- Messages
- 362
I wonder if they have connected the turntable to the line in on the amp?
David
David
If you can’t test them should be sold as seen/untested then no come backs and priced accordingly. You can get a rough idea on price from Discogs.
If you have any House/electronic dance 12” singles type music I might be interested as well.
I have a record cleaning machine so no complaints here, they can massively improve them so maybe tell the buyer to give it a proper clean.
If you have any House/electronic dance 12” singles type music I might be interested as well.
I have a record cleaning machine so no complaints here, they can massively improve them so maybe tell the buyer to give it a proper clean.
Arent the bass lines on The Wall supposed to be distored? 
I’ve been rebuying a lot of the stuff I sold 10 years ago.
Vinyl does dound different to other formats. Buying stuff off eBay is a lottery about whether there will be hiss or clicks. Even some of the brand new stuff I’ve bought comes with some static noise.
Vinyl does dound different to other formats. Buying stuff off eBay is a lottery about whether there will be hiss or clicks. Even some of the brand new stuff I’ve bought comes with some static noise.
Arent the bass lines on The Wall supposed to be distored?
Well I did mention the title as I couldn't remember much about the tracks to be honest!
I will mention about the cleaning and checking connections. All my records were either mine bought new, my wife's bought new, or a couple that I'd swapped with friends who bought them new... so everything should be fine other than they've been in storage for 30 years, it's not like I've bought them from a car boot or dug them up in a garden! I included this in the eBay text "I am not a record collector so I am describing the record as I see it, please check the photos carefully - my vinyls have not been played for ~30 years and kept upright and boxed in dry, heated storage. Origin: Personal collection, swapped with friend who had bought it new Vinyl: No scratches or damage". I don't want to rip anyone off but it says no returns and I can't see how it's got a weird problem with the bass.
It could be so many variables at play.
You don't know anything about their set up. They could have the +ve and -ve wired the wrong way round on a speaker for example.
But even if they argue that it is only on this one vinyl, I had a very similar experience, when I moved all my hifi stuff to decorate and it was set up in a cramped the corner with the speakers close to the deck.
Whenever I played a certain vinyl, at a certain volume, I got a load of distortion on the vocals.
Moved the speaker about a foot and it was fine.
Fickle things....
You don't know anything about their set up. They could have the +ve and -ve wired the wrong way round on a speaker for example.
But even if they argue that it is only on this one vinyl, I had a very similar experience, when I moved all my hifi stuff to decorate and it was set up in a cramped the corner with the speakers close to the deck.
Whenever I played a certain vinyl, at a certain volume, I got a load of distortion on the vocals.
Moved the speaker about a foot and it was fine.
Fickle things....
Ah well the buyer has now sent a slightly stroppy rude reply saying how expensive their equipment is and how they can both hear it, and now apparently the other vinyl is so bad it's completely unplayable on one side (which is weird as I played just that single's A side like twice ever). My favourite part of her reply is "Vinyl records only have a limited play life that is between 100 to 150 plays before they need replacing" 
WTAF, why would anyone buy a 40 year old vinyl off eBay with no returns and no commitment on quality if you're that fussy/anal over quality.
I'm caught in 2 minds between saying she can return them even though it said no returns (but she'd want postage refunds etc) or telling her to go away as she is crazy.
WTAF, why would anyone buy a 40 year old vinyl off eBay with no returns and no commitment on quality if you're that fussy/anal over quality.I'm caught in 2 minds between saying she can return them even though it said no returns (but she'd want postage refunds etc) or telling her to go away as she is crazy.
Just stop replying and leave it for
Her to decide what she wants - you’ll never win in this situation, and just gets you worked up, write it off as a trading loss.
Her to decide what she wants - you’ll never win in this situation, and just gets you worked up, write it off as a trading loss.
Ah crap, now Im going to have to mark on the sleeve everytime I play one so that I known to just bin it after 150 plays.
Unfortunately the No Returns option on ebay doesnt cover if they are claiming its faulty or not as described, the no returns is just for if they have changed their mind, not sure how consumer rights work for private sellers but distance selling rules say a customer who bought something on the internet can return anything bought within 14 days for refund at their own return costs.
Distance selling regs only apply when the seller is a trader/business.
I’d just refund her, take them back and move on. You’re not going to win with her and eBay will side with the buyer.
Sucks but comes with selling to obsessive geeks sometimes.
Sucks but comes with selling to obsessive geeks sometimes.