Turntable noobie...what advice do you have?

Michael Fremer did a little test whereas he played his copy of The Who Tommy kept in a tattered record jacket that he has played hundreds of times. The test proves that records are virtually indestructible if taken care of. It sounded as good as day one. The video can be seen on you tube, Analpg Planet. So don’t be afraid to play your records! Digitizing/recording them is unnecessary, unless you want to of course, which can also be fun.

The albums I have from when I was a teenager… not well cared for generally, sound fantastic. I use a Nessie record cleaner and use Last treatment. My current turntable stylist drops deeper into the groove and produced great sound even from most of those albums. 

Last Record Preservative is a great product, which I have been suing since it was introduced. So is Stylast. Last founder Walter Davies was my first high end dealer, when he had a little shop in Livermore, CA.

Thank you everyone for the fantastic advice.  It has been very positive and I really appreciate it.  

As a nerd, I tend to research things before I pull the trigger.  The RPM-3 with the Amethyst seemed to be decently reviewed yet not break the bank.  Plus I like the like of that turntable, especially in red (which is what I am getting).  Not a traditional thing but certainly an attention getter.  

I haven't used a record player for close to 40 years and then it was usually in a plastic suitcase and playing an Alvin and Chipmunks record.  This should be a wee bit different of an experience. Also used my parent's 8 track back then and there is no way I will get one of those even if they start to make a comeback (I really hope not). 

I have ordered a sweeper and will look at getting a cleaner in short order. I will admit I read some posts last nights about a Degritter Ultra Sonic and while it seems great, the price seemed rather steep for someone starting out.  The Record Doctor seems more in line for where I am at and what the rest of my equipment is.  At least for now anyway. Since I do a lot of other stuff by hand, like making coffee, I may start cleaning the records that way as well but I want to get more familiar with them before I do. 

 I will be reading through Goldmine Grading Guide after this so I can be more informed about what I am looking at when I go used.  I will also be taking a look at Discogs.  I had mentioned Music Millennium and was planning a trip down there this weekend. But it looks like I have some other stops to make thanks to some locals who know about shops around town I didn't have a clue existed.  

Thanks again for everything thus far.  I have been trying to give back to the community so I have posted a review of my Statements and plan on doing one of the the Voyager GAN amp when it has more hours on it.  I will do the same with the turntable, cartridge, and phone preamp when things start to settle in a bit.  

Biggest and best tip:

Don't buy reissues. If possible buy used original...especially pre-90s.

I bought an 180gram 'audiophile' reissue of a popular Billy Joel album. Came home to find that I had a used version I bought at the Goodwill for 50¢. The thin, floppy 50¢ version killed that reissue!

There are good sounding reissues, but whenever there us an analog original version...most likely...it will be better.

I have reissues that sound almost as good...maybe a few that have been better...but that is very much the exception.