180g new vs. NM used

I would figure out which issue I wanted, then find a very darn good used copy from a reliable seller. Mint, new sealed old stock, only if price is right, but that’s just by availability luck.

New: Open it, play it once, now it is the same condition of a lot of used LP’s, perhaps played only once.

I agree with whoever recently said the new 180 g issues seem/feel like quality, but are nothing special, and I also have received a few 180 g warped, had to return a few.

I am very successful buying used music on Discogs and eBay. Discogs: I sort by condition, then check price while glancing at seller rating.

So far, only one Discogs LP was not as good as described, wasn’t expensive but still disappointing to be sure.

I sold LP’s on eBay, I avoided critical distinctions by selling only 2 categories:

darn good, visible but inaudible scuffs

very darn good, no scuffs.

never had anything but happy customers.

I buy both originals and reissues, and on some titles have both. The statement above that reads "Most new reissues are made from digital files" is one you hear often, and the people saying it never divulge the source of the information upon which they base that statement. Just ’cause some people say it doesn’t necessarily make it so. "Most" new reissues? What percentage? From what companies? Which titles?

Yes, the major labels (WEA, Sony, Universal) master some new reissues from digital, but the good purely-reissue labels (Mobile Fidelity, Analogue Productions, Speakers Corner, Intervention, Tone Poet, Vinyl Me Please, a dozen or so more) go to great lengths to get the original 2" multi-track analog master tapes or the 1/4"-1/2" 2-track final mix tape from which they make their new lacquers. The hype sticker on the front of the LP’s state exactly that, and it’s true.

Some albums are currently available as reissues from more than one company, so if you’re going to buy one, just get the pure-analogue version from one of the good reissue labels that specialize in audiophile quality mastering, plating, and pressing. The Beatles 2014 mono boxset used the multi-track analog masters as the source for that fantastic reissue. The box was originally selling for $300-$400, and now that it’s out-of-print goes for up to $2,000.

For good information on whether a new reissue was made using an analogue, or a digital, source, head over to the Analog Planet website. I guarantee you, the person above making his sweeping generalization doesn’t read Michael Fremer’s exhaustive coverage of this important subject.

By the way: The estates of both Miles Davis and Prince have entrusted Analogue Productions to do all their LP reissues, and they are pure Analog. Neil Young’s Archive series is all analog, and the list goes on and on. Anyone who claims "most" new reissues are made form digital files needs to offer some proof. I’m guessing some people just say it ’cause they heard someone else say it. Talk is cheap.

I tend to agree with @bdp24, having reissues and originals, though depending on genre and era I would prefer to look for original presses in nm or ex+ from ebay sellers, or check locally at stores selling used ones.

Always have a list of wanted, with notes including labels, matrixes,...(great help from discogs)

A good cleaning after and set to go.

G

It depends. 

The Steve Hoffman forums are a good resource, for the most part. 

You can also look up the pressing on Discogs and see what kind of rating a particular pressing has and if there are any comments about it.  This can be less helpful, as you don't know what it is exactly they are "rating" - the sound quality of the pressing, whether they like the album itself, or something else. 

It's also not uncommon to see a mixture of feedback on the quality in comments/reviews with one person thinking it's the best ever and others complaining about surface noise or other issues.