How to Judge an LP


OK - so I'm new to vinyl, and I envision myself stopping at the church rummage sale, scrounging around for good LP's. How to I judge the quality of an LP just by looking at it? What matters and what is superficial? What should I avoid at all costs? Should an LP with a missing sleeve be automatically disqualified. I might have used to know this back in 1980, but the memories don't last! Thanks all you vinyl heads!
peter_s
Pbb, I find it highly unlikely that I am not aware of exactly how prevalent these defects are, and exactly how objectionable they are. I have owned more used records than most people have ever even seen. I have played used records for most of my life. I buy and sell and trade used records, and have done so for 30 years. I am acutely aware of the entire used record market, and probably forgot more than most people will ever know about records, their conditions, rarity, value, and usage. During my lifetime, I have probably bought, sold or traded, over 250,000 records. I have had personal record collections of over 20,000 records at a single time, and the majority were bought used. I am not the biggest record collecter around, but I certainly have more than enough experience to know about the "prevalence" of vinyl defects in used records.

I am also aware that there are some who cannot, or will not use records or analog gear. Fine. That's more records for me. I know just what to do with them.
Lugnut:
I haven't even said a disparaging word, and I am tempted
to take your offer. I'm in Washington State.
Jeff,

I'm just outside Boise. Send me an email if you like. I'll not require you to eat your words. ;>)
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You've all missed !!!! It's the music which is so often unavailable on CD, DAD, hybrids and especially SACD. The literally millions of titles only found on old stock vinyl. As a friend and I always banter back and forth "It's the music stupid"!