VacationVinyl.com

Author: WWBP2021@vacationvinyl.com

  • 10 Great Record Stores in Atlanta 

    10 Great Record Stores in Atlanta 

    Atlanta is known for so much–incredible shopping, incredible music, and being one of the largest cities in the US. Their record stores are unbeatable, too—you can hear music from all over the world just by browsing on one street. If you’re an audiophile curious about where to make a stop, we have the list for you. 

    The best record store in Atlanta is Criminal Records on Euclid Avenue, with Moods Music on the same street following it up. You could also visit the highly rated Fantasyland Records, Wax ‘N’ Facts, or Rat Room Records. For a full listening room experience, visit JB’s record room or Decatur CD. 

    Below, I’ll give you the details on each of Atlanta’s top ten record stores. Then, I’ll give you a few tips and tricks on picking up quality vinyl from the used record section. 

    1. Criminal Records on Euclid Avenue

    Criminal Records is located just outside of the Virginia Highlands neighborhood in Atlanta. The store is small but provides a nice selection of vinyl records at reasonable prices. They also have an extensive selection of rock memorabilia, with items ranging from posters to shirts and hats. Their hours are limited, so make sure you check before stopping by!

    They have a great selection of new and used vinyl, with very reasonable prices. If you’re looking for something specific, they will order it for you at no extra charge. They have a small selection of CDs and DVDs as well. 

    The staff at Criminal Records is knowledgeable, helpful, and very friendly. If you have any questions about a particular album or artist, then they will be able to help!

    Sometimes, this store even has some surprise guests. Recently, Yungblud visited on his record store tour. 

    You can find Criminal Records on 1154 Euclid Ave NE A. Their hours are 12 PM-6 PM on weekdays and 12 PM-7 PM on weekends. If you have any questions, you can give them a call at (404) 215-9511. 

    2. Moods Music on Euclid Avenue

    Anyone interested in finding a unique piece of music history or with a passion for vinyl records will love Moods Music!

    What kind of music do they have? They have new releases and used albums and CDs with genres ranging from classical to rockabilly to hip hop to pop! What’s the vibe like? It’s a very friendly place where customers can enjoy browsing through all sorts of different genres until they find something that suits their tastes perfectly.

    You can find Moods Music at 1131 Euclid Ave NE. Their hours vary, so double-check before heading in. Generally, they open at 12 PM (on Sundays, they open at 1 PM) and are closed by 6 PM. On Saturdays and Sundays, they close at 8 PM. If you have any questions, you can give them a call at (404) 653-0724. 

    3. Fantasyland Records on Pharr Road 

    Fantasyland Records is a Pharr Road institution. It’s been around for several years and is one of the best places to find new and used vinyl in Atlanta. The boutique has everything from punk to country music, so you can get lost in the stacks for hours or come here with a specific artist or genre in mind.

    The store is small but organized—the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their product (which includes CDs, too). You’ll be able to find everything from rockabilly records by Wanda Jackson to obscure Brazilian imports on this well-curated shelf space.

    This place isn’t just fun to visit—it also gives off some serious vibes. Vinyl lovers will feel right at home among Fantasyland Records’ collection of more than 100,000 titles.

    You can find Fantasyland Records on 360 Pharr Rd NE, suite B. Their hours are 11 AM-7 PM, Monday through Saturday. 

    4. Wax ‘N’ Facts on Moreland Avenue

    Aesthetic photographers and vinyl lovers will appreciate Wax N Facts’ comprehensive selection of rare and new albums. The shop has the look with walls of vinyl and posters, so you can also count on it for any older releases you may be looking for while taking sweet pics for your feed.

    You can find Wax ‘N’ Facts at 432 Moreland Ave NE. Their hours are 1-5 PM every day.

    5. JB’s Record Lounge on Oak Street

    Located in the Oakhurst neighborhood, JBs is open 5 days a week, and they sell new and used records. The selection is huge—we’re talking thousands of records here. You’ll find plenty of jazz, soul, rock, and pop albums on their shelves—and if you’re a vinyl collector looking for something rare or out-of-print, JBs probably has it.

    This spot has an extensive selection of vinyl for sale, including some hard-to-find gems. There’s also a listening room where you can discover some great new music before buying it.

    You can find JB’s Record Lounge on 898 Oak St SW Suite F. Their hours vary daily, so check them out online before heading in!

    6. Rat Room Records on Cheshire Bridge Road

    Rat Room Records has a large selection of new records and used vinyl. In addition, they have a listening station where you can try out the albums before buying them. If you’re in the mood to browse, this store is perfect for you.

    They carry a variety of genres, such as rock music, country music, and hip-hop, among others.

    You can find Rat Room Records on 2323 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE inside the Big House Guitars storefront. Their hours are 12 PM-7 PM daily, except on Sundays when they close at 6.

    7. Disorder Vinyl on Ormond Street

    Disorder vinyl is a definite candidate for the top ten list, with dozens of glowing reviews. This store is perfect for anyone who wants to find a new album or an old one they missed out on the first time around. They sell vinyl records and CDs of all kinds, including jazz, blues, and classic rock.

    You can find Disorder Vinyl at 55 Ormond St SE. Their hours are 12 PM-6 PM every day of the week!

    8. Decatur CD & Vinyl in Decatur

    Decatur CD is the perfect place to pick up a new album or two at the corner of Church Street and College Avenue. The store is open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM-6 PM, and Sundays from 1 PM-5 PM, making it easy to stop in on your lunch break if you work downtown (or just want to grab some records while running errands).

    The shop offers a wide selection of CDs, vinyl records, and tapes, from classical music to country music to soulful rock ‘n’ roll and hits from yesteryear (and today!). If you have an idea of what kind of music you’re looking for but aren’t sure which artists would fit your taste best, ask one of the employees at Decatur CD—they’ll be more than happy to help!

    9. Beatlab on Moreland Avenue

    Beatlab is a record label and a record store located in the Little Five Points area of Atlanta. The shop offers a wide selection of CDs, vinyl, and music-related merchandise.

    Beatlab has been active in the Atlanta music scene since its founding in 2008. It has released over 150 albums by artists such as Bantam Rooster, Mike Davis & the Ramblers, Doug Banker, and many others. The store specializes in blues but also carries other genres, including rock n’ roll and folk, as well as various imports from Europe or Japan.

    You can find Beatlab on 464 Moreland Ave NE. Their hours are 12 PM-8 PM Thursday through Sunday and 12 PM to 7 PM Monday through Wednesday.

    10. Local Thrift & Vintage Stores

    There are plenty of great record stores in Atlanta, but there are also local thrift stores and rummage sales that sell all kinds of records. You never know what you’re going to find!

    If you’re an Atlanta resident, you know that the city is home to many thrift stores and rummage sales. If you’re not from here, you might not know how much fun it is to dig through these places for records.

    Local thrift stores and rummage sales are also great places for records. You can find some gems at these places, especially if you’re willing to dig through the crates.

    Whether it’s a charity fundraiser or a flea market, there are plenty of opportunities for record shopping in Atlanta. You’ll find everything from jazz records to punk rock to country music and everything in between!

    How To Get Quality Used Vinyl

    One of my favorite things about collecting vinyl is finding great music that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford. However, it’s important to ensure your used records work before purchasing them so they don’t sit around collecting dust somewhere in storage.

    Here is some advice to keep in mind next time you go hunting for used vinyl records.

    • Inspect the cover. Before buying used vinyl, it’s important to inspect it visually. Looking at the cover of your record is an easy way to spot whether or not there are any scratches on it. If you notice that the cover is scratched up, you may want to reconsider buying it. This can lead to warping of your vinyl and damage to your needle.
    • Check for cracks and scratches. If there are any visible errors, it might mean that your record has been damaged by someone who didn’t handle it with care or just by age. This could mean that there are other issues with the vinyl itself—or even worse, that it was already broken when they sold it to you.
    • Check for a barcode on one side of the album label. This is usually the sticker on top. Also, take a look at the track listing on the bottom of the sleeve. If these aren’t present, this may indicate that this isn’t an authentic copy of what was originally released—it could be something else entirely!
    • Listen to the first few notes of the record. A new record will sound crisp and clear, even if played at a low volume. On the other hand, a used vinyl may have pops and cracks when you first put it on. Most record stores will have a place where you can play a used record to make sure it works well. This is the benefit of going to a local record store over a thrift.
    • Check for mold. Since records are made out of plastic, they are susceptible to picking up moisture from the air. Over time, this moisture can lead to mold growth on your records, which will cause irreparable damage. 

    Make sure that any used item has been stored properly by checking if there are any visible signs of mold or wear, such as dampness around edges or corners where dirt/dust could accumulate in dangerous amounts.

  • Do Record Players Spin Clockwise? Let’s Find Out

    Do Record Players Spin Clockwise? Let’s Find Out

    We all know the clock moves clockwise, hence the name. The planets and other celestial bodies revolve counterclockwise around the sun, and water drains counterclockwise in the Northern hemisphere. But which way does a record player spin?

    Record players spin clockwise universally. They rotate to the right if they’re working correctly. Turning a record player counterclockwise would damage it and is, therefore, not advisable.

    To understand this better, in the rest of this article, I’ll explain the design of a record player and why it spins the way it does.

    Berliner Designed Record Players To Turn Clockwise

    The reality is, record players on this side of the world spin clockwise because Berliner, who invented disc recording, was used to things turning that way. If you’ve looked at the clock your entire life, your brain automatically assumes clockwise is the normal way to spin. Also, Berliner based the design of his flat disc player on a music box that turned clockwise.

    There’s no scientific or technical explanation for why a disc should spin to the right and not to the left. It’s just that clockwise seems like the most natural rotational movement to most people. 90% of the world population is right-handed, and placing the tonearm with the left hand is counterintuitive and awkward, to say the least.

    However, there’s a design aspect in play, too.

    To play a record player, you need to put the needle on the groove. The needle and the record’s rotation must go in the same direction; otherwise, the needle would bend backward and break or scratch the disc. Since needles in the USA and this side of the world are designed to travel from the outside, the player must turn clockwise to match that rotation.

    You would imagine that record players in other parts of the world turn anticlockwise because their designs might be different. For instance, some people have the perception that record players in the Southern hemisphere, especially Australia, spin counterclockwise. However, this is not the case since record players turn clockwise universally.

    Greg, a store attendant working at RoundAgain Record Store in Australia, confirmed this. 

    “All record players in Australia spin clockwise. Spinning your player in a counterclockwise direction would only damage it, hence it’s unadvisable to do so,” he said.

    What Happens if You Play the Record Counterclockwise?

    The stylus and the disc itself will get damaged if you play the record counterclockwise or backward. Numerous cartridges aren’t designed to run in reverse, so playing the record counterclockwise means that the record is going against the law of their nature. 

    For this reason, the sound you get will become horrible, and people say it sounds like the devil’s voice.

    When you play a record counterclockwise, the vinyl grooves push against the stylus because they come towards each other instead of moving in the same direction. Think of it as the difference between dragging a stick behind you when walking and trying to push it forward when it’s in front of you. The latter will be harder, and the stick will likely break at some point.

    Some people claim that playing a record backward can help you hear tracks that contain subliminal messages. While that may be true, you do it at the risk of destroying your record player and the records you are playing.

    Do DJ Record Players Spin Clockwise?

    DJ record players, known as turntables, spin clockwise until the DJ starts back spinning. Back spinning is where the DJ manually manipulates the vinyl record playing on the turntable using his hand’s force to spin backward, despite the platter’s rotation under it. 

    Back spinning allows them to go back to a particular point in the record, cut music, or juggle beats. Deejays use a slipmat to reduce friction between the record and the platter when spinning the wrong way. You can tell it’s going the wrong way because it makes a shrill sound, otherwise known as a scratch.

    However, it’s important to know that DJ turntables are designed a little differently from regular record players. Deejays prefer direct-drive turntables over belt-driven record players because the belt is likely to get stretched or damaged during ‘scratching.’ That said, Deejays are aware that scratching affects the records, and they replace them often.

    If you try to spin records in your record player like a DJ, all you’ll accomplish is destroying the setup.

    Common Record Player Issues Related to Spinning

    Sometimes record players stop working or work in ways they’re not supposed to. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you take good care of your record player. Some of the issues that a record player may face are as follows:

    The Record Player Is Not Spinning

    There are plenty of reasons a record player would stop spinning, and most of them are fairly easy to solve:

    • There is a lack of power. As embarrassing as it is, the main reason why a record player doesn’t play is that it’s not plugged in or plugged properly. Start by checking the power source and move on to other culprits if that’s not the issue.
    • The tonearm isn’t reset. Most record players’ tonearm holding the stylus needs to be frequently reset because it clicks off when a record ends. The player won’t play until the arm is reset to the correct position. Gently push it back until you hear a clicking sound, and the player will spin again.
    • There are belt drive issues. The belt may get too loose or wear out in belt drive players. Such a problem can be solved by tightening the belt in case of looseness or buying a new one if it’s old. Belt issues are a very common problem, so it should be one of the first signs you check out.
    • There are direct-drive issues. If you have a direct drive record player, it could be the internal mechanism of the motor, often affected by dirt or debris getting stuck in the shaft. A jammed platter and faulty on and off switch could be the issue. Regular maintenance and keeping the player clean is the only way to prevent the issues. You can also take it to an expert for a check-up, as most direct drive issues are complicated.

    The Record Player Makes No Sound

    What do you do when your record player is turning just fine, but there’s no sound coming from it? Do the following:

    1. Start by checking the connection on the cartridge. Make sure the stylus is sticking down on the cartridge.
    2. Ensure the volume is up by turning it clockwise.
    3. Ensure nothing is connected to the earphone jack on the back.
    4. Check that the stylus is in the correct position and reset it if it’s not.
    5. Ensure the speakers and amplifier are connected and powered on if you can hear the music on the turntable but not on the speakers.

    The Record Player Plays Too Fast or Too Slow

    Do you think your record player is moving too fast? You may not be imagining things. Sometimes, the speed selector may become faulty due to dirt or grime build-up over time. This causes it to send too much voltage to the motor, making the record spin too fast. You can clean the switch and lubricate it or replace the entire thing if it’s too old.

    A loose and misaligned belt is another reason a player can move too fast. With time, belts stretch and get repositioned, causing deviations in speed. You need to replace the belt with a new one.

    But what if it’s playing too slow instead? Consider doing the following:

    • Lubricate the parts. Some gears and motors under the platter need to be lubricated to reduce friction.
    • Change the speed selection. When you change records of different sizes, it’s easy to forget to switch the speed selector from 33 rpm to 45 rpm or vice versa. It will affect the speed, so you need to do it with every change.

    Final Thoughts

    Under perfect conditions, a record player should spin clockwise until the record is up and then stops. Something is wrong with your record player if it stops playing somewhere in the middle or starts spinning backward. You need to have it often serviced and keep the parts clean.

    For people who may want to spin records backward, a spin table designed for Deejaying is the best option for you.