The Lifespan of an LP?

Thank you for sharing your experience and research. I have discovered that wear is not always evident in a visual inspection. I have purchased records from the sixties and seventies that are stated by the seller to be  “NM”.  They look really great — shiny, black, no scratches etc. But they don’t all play the way they look. Some have excessive surface noise or pops. When this happens  I do not assume that  the seller has deliberately misstated the condition. Instead, I assume that the seller cleaned and made a visual inspection before listing, without actually playing it. So now, especially with older records, I eiher try to buy from a bricks and mortar vintage store that lets you play before buying and only buy online if the seller in the listing provides notes that clearly indicate that he/she has played it and that it plays NM, as well as looking NM. Is this a common experience?

Been playing Muddy Waters live at Mr Kellys for 50 years and it still sounds great.

@heilbron 


Goldmine  standard is a good standard if used properly. Unfortunately, too many of those who have just entered into the fray from the vinyl resurgence are unfamiliar with the standards, etc, that us who grew up with vinyl, are accustomed. I've bought 3500 used albums from 1998-2006 using Goldmine grading. I have been fooled by 7. With the line contact stylus, they might play NM too. There are too many who don't know how to grade and too many who are merely collectors who think a VG record "plays fine" It doesn't. Besides that, what kind of system are they using? I don't want them playing an album I want to buy.

Yet many newbies  talk about NOT depending on, or replacing Goldmine as if we need to reinvent the wheel. IOW, Too much market and too many newbies make a poor mix. FWIW, I don't trust play grading. Why? Because too many of those people believe that surface noise, pops and ticks are normal. So they say a VG record plays fine. The key is to clean records with a machine using good chemicals. Put them in NEW sleeves, Keep your fingers off the grooves. A good setup goes a long ways. The phono preamp has a lot to do with dealing with SN. Don't cheap out on it. 

Even though it'll soon be of vintage age, one of the reasons I stick with my line contact Lyra cartridge is that, whatever is actually going on, it can play the dreaded inner grooves of 33's & 45's that I'm pretty sure I butchered with misaligned or just plain poor-tracking cartridges 'way back when.  

@artemus_5 

Thanks for drawing my attention to the Goldmine standard. I've now taken a look at the Goldmine site. Extremely helpful!