How to find Good Pressings

It would never workout i worship keith richards n all i own is a yorx stereo complete with toaster n blood pressure cuff i dream of a bose radio

Elizabeth,
If I were so picky about selecting records by quality, I'd be realy struggling to find rare 'boutique' music pieces that worth money even if scratched. Hence, I'd like to add one more section or paragraph for 'boutique' music that came with very limited quantity on the market.
Other than that I truely managed to have almost all of my 'boutique' music records in perfect shape. Most of them I bought in large parcells from one german record dealer...

Excellent post, Greatly appreciated. One note, I was hoping for some tips on how to identify good pressings and some resources to help with that. Is there something about the serial numbers, country, inscription scratches etc... that makes it easier to identify good pressings?

I have heard some people mention that Michael Fremer has a guide that explains much of this, I have yet to see it though.

I think that Tom Port of Better Records has done a wonderful job identifying differences between vintage recordings and current reissues. He writes wonderful descriptions around specific titles around "hot stampers"--copies of exceptional sound. These are often pricey, but it a good online resource. He has detailed information from various weekly shoot-outs and while opinionated, seems to find the diamonds from the coal. He is also quick to point out shortfalls around a title, especially around the newer vinyl. Read up on "Aqualung" and Led Zep's "Houses"--classic "butcher" jobs.

I always look for a trusted vinyl shop where you can pre-listen to the vinyl. In LA, where I live, I especially like Rhino Records in Claremont and Equator Books in Venice Beach. I have found a lot of great vinyl digging through their bins.

For the maximum number of albums, I also like Ameoba Records in Hollywood and SF. You can usually meet up with seasoned collectors who will freely offer their opinions up. I have been steered to a lot of great artists this way.

I also think that magazines like Q and Goldmine are wonderful endorsements of back catalogue.