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I Just Inherited 4,000 LPs

My longtime friend just passed away, leaving me his 4,000 LPs. 

I haven't had time to really look, I know there is a ton of jazz. He lived in New Orleans for many years, we went to the music festival together twice, listened together here often over the years. The LP's are only 5 minutes from here.

And serious wood library shelving, each self-contained 3 ft wood shelf has a partial back and recessed metal tracks for adjustable metal dividers. They can be put individually on top of any shelf, I will leave the too tall uprights, put the shelves into new wire shelving.

Our house is a small split level with an internal garage full of 42 years of junk as well as our existing 2,500 LPs.

OMG, what a project to rearrange, discard long dusty stuff, (Donna’s 100% on board) assemble new wire shelving to condense stuff we keep and new wire shelving to fit the LPs here.

Then: how to merge them with my 2,500 LPs which are alphabetical. Logistical Options keep me up at night.

Twenty 3 ft shelves, I will use 3 bankers boxes per shelf to get them off the shelves, leave 60 boxes over there, get the shelves over here on the wire shelving, finally the LPs over here. I believe his are generally alphabetical, perhaps Donna and her twin sister Effie can find what's out of order over there while I am working here.

A labor of love, and a lifetime memory and gratitude to my friend Roderick.

Elliott




elliottbnewcombjr
elliottbnewcombjr OP
5,922 posts
 
ebanksms

You are right, wads of enjoyment and wads of memories.

I was already selling some of my LP's, a typical listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133640465798

on the right side, click 'see other items'.

primarily to make room because I thought I was done buying, had my nephew with strong back and knees alphabetize them; then couldn't help myself, now perhaps 100 extra LPs leaning on the shelves that are full. I have some I never played, given to me by friends when they dumped their vinyl. Some not my taste anyway.

Damn nephew moved to San Fran, I could use him now!

I started at $2.99, let the market decide. Many went single bidder, $2.99. I figured out the combo of Paypal and eBay fees, on $2.99 I was clearing $2.31, not wads of cash. I felt I was wasting my non-precious time.

Then, Led Zep sells for $77., Monk for $50. you just never know. I like getting my tapes and LPs to people who want them more than the $. But, considering the work involved, it's hard not to feel foolish?

I raised my starting price to $4.50, to feel a bit better, and got it down to 1 photo. Now I'm only going to sell apparently flawless LP's without cleaning/listening, I hope that goes well.

I'm sure I will find duplicates to sell, and excess of many artists i.e. how many Duke Ellington should I keep?


wturkey's avatar
wturkey
856 posts
 
Sorry for your loss. 
audio2design
1,351 posts
 
Made my day Elliott. Thank you for sharing.

I am sure many would not understand the significance of what you inherited (people here will), but your friend passed along his happiness. It's a special gift.

I am sorry for your loss, but think that will be softened by the memories when those records are played.
davehg
85 posts
 
Elliott,

to be gifted 4000 lps is a testament to your friendship. When I think about how much time it would take to collect and curate, let alone enjoy a collection of that size, he clearly wanted them to go where they would be loved and appreciated as much as he did.

I have a number of objects I’ve collected over the years, cars, bikes, audio gear, cameras, watches. They have value but they mean more to me to give to those who would find joy in them.

so good for you, and make a plan to listen to them.
elliottbnewcombjr OP
5,922 posts
 
davehg4

I am emotionally very pleased my friend chose me, I know he did have an idea to give them to Tulane University in New Orleans.

My step-father (the evil one) kept admiring a house with plentiful landscaping and gardens, frequently asking the owner to sell to him. Finally he got it.

After a few years, he said he felt like a slave to the gardens, living someone else's life.

At first I wondered, where will I put them, will I be a slave to all these? Perhaps I should simply cherry pick. Every random pull was a keeper, so it was off to the total rearrangement of the garage, nearly done.

I like to keep one small thing I can hold in my hand of anyone I want to remember. His DUFF Beer glass does that, I better get a spare, he has many.
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