For vinyl enthusiasts, there really is no feeling quite like laying hands on rare and limited-edition records. Very often, it is items such as these that form the core of a collection—that is, those that are treasured not only because they are so unique but also because they bring back memories. Finding hard-to-come-by items requires knowledge of where to head for them, whether one is an experienced collector or a new enthusiast. Here’s your very own guide to three top online destinations for finding rare and limited-edition vinyl records: Experience Vinyl, eBay, and Discogs.
Experience Vinyl
Established in 2016, Experience Vinyl has grown into one of the largest independent vinyl retailers in the United States with over 40,000 titles in stock. Some of the things that really set Experience Vinyl apart are the limited-edition and exclusive pressings that it tends to focus on more than usual offerings.
Each month, Experience Vinyl offers a limited pressing of the most influential albums in music. Subscribers have first dibs at acquiring these specially curated releases that commonly include special elements such as colored vinyl, unique artwork, and autographed copies. Contrary to most subscription services out there, vinyl records from Experience Vinyl are not put into an obligatory purchase slot every month. From classic rock and jazz to punk, indie, or blues, all major genres are offered by Experience Vinyl, creating a welcome diversity of records that will keep collectors hoping to find something special by searching the website often. In addition to this, one of the co-owners of the service happens to be Matt Sorum from Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, who brings some authentic rock ‘n’ roll credibility to the service. Experience Vinyl is based in the heart of San Francisco, but its services extend worldwide, allowing it to serve as a trusted resource for music collectors interested in augmenting their record collections with rare and unique pieces.
eBay
eBay remains one of the world’s largest and most varied online marketplaces. It is also the ideal site for anyone looking for rare vintage vinyl editions. There are millions of listings from sellers worldwide, offering records in almost all genres. Being an auction site, record collectors can bid on many other rare items and, on occasion, find some nice surprises at very competitive prices. While sourcing rare vinyl using eBay, one must include very detailed keywords and filters to bring up relevant results. “Limited edition,” “first pressing,” “autographed,” and “promotional copy” are keywords that have become vinyl collectors’ best friends while browsing the site.
Other than this, the rating and review of sellers should be checked to ensure that collectors have a good buying experience. Coupled with its buyer protection policies in place, eBay has tried to establish itself as a secure marketplace where collectors can buy vinyl records with confidence. Whether you’re looking for that elusive pressing of a classic album or something special from an Indie band, eBay has rich diversity to satisfy all tastes.
Discogs
Although conceived as an online record marketplace, Discogs is much more of a music database and community platform for vinyl collectors. Since its founding in 2000, the site has become an international marketplace from which anyone can sell or buy records. Touting over 13 million listed records, this truly is a catalog that spans every imaginable genre and degree of rarity.
Detailed listings on the site include information that provides the label, year, country of origin, and condition, all of which facilitate collectors’ searches for exactly what they are looking for. On Discogs, a very large community of collectors shapes the database by contributing their knowledge—a rich resource for anyone interested in vinyl. This platform provides collectors with up-to-date records of collections, wish lists, and recent purchases due to its user-simple interface. Through a well-established feedback system, it ensures openness and trust in every transaction. Whether looking for that hard-to-find promotional pressing or that limited edition colored vinyl, Discogs has your back with a trustworthy and well-rounded marketplace for finding those hard-to-find records.