School Me On Records

Lucky Cynic

So I have a good friend of mine who just loves his record player. We sat around listening to some early 90's rap and old school R&B and jazz and I simply want my own set up. The sound quality, the depth and tone, the blatant hipster appeal, it is all a siren call to me.

So besides snooping the Wikipedia articles related to records and vinyls, what do you good folks recommend? I don't have a lot of money, but don't mind buying something if I know I am going to enjoy the ever-loving shit out of it.

Also, where best to get good quality records. There is a second hand book/dvd/cd/game/music store that has a surprisingly robust record section with some good choices, but what about online shops and ebay?

Thanks for your inputs.

bwanie

DISCOGS

edit: for records i mean

Santa Claustrophobia

Check your local Yellow Pages. There should be a few used record shops in there.

Sygnon

gemm is great.

matt has a problem

Goodwill and Salvation Army. You'll have to dig of course, but they get all kinds of stuff and you never know what you may find. Plus it's usually like $1 a record.

Lucky Cynic

Okay, so uh, how about players themselves and how to set up this whole thing? Any important reading guides I should look into because I am not at all versed in audio equipment. I don't mind reading however so if you guys can point my muzzle in the right direction at to what to look for, I'd appreciate it.

adytum

Get good needles.

I'm not up on current products but Shure Whitelabels were what I had on my decks and they were fantastic.

Shure Whitelabels on Amazon, for reference.