00Diablo
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 135
Alameda, CA/Las Vegas, NV
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Posted on Jun 13 2008 06:26 PM
Title says it all, really. I haven't seen much discussion here about collecting vintage surf music on vinyl records, and have a few questions:
Is it very difficult to find original vinyl recordings from the 1st wave of surf music in decent condition?
I have a pretty sizable collection of CD reissues for most of this stuff. But as we all know, sometimes questionable remastering choices and sources are used. Although for the most part, I'm pretty happy with the sound of my surf CD reissues - and I'd even say quite a few sound incredible.
But I can't help but wonder if it might be worth the effort to track down the original vinyl for some of my favorite surf recordings just for sound quality reasons - to hear it in 100% analog as originally intended.
I imagine most of these records were originally owned by teenagers and are probably not in the best condition. And as cool as it would be to own some of this music as it was originally released - I'd probably be passing over well-worn copies, and looking for excellent condition or even sealed copies. Is that even possible at this point in history?
If there are any die-hard surf vinyl collectors out there - I'd love to hear about your experiences. Any problems or scams to watch out for on eBay and the internet when it comes to purchasing vintage surf on the original vinyl?
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tommyalvarado
Joined: Jan 03, 2008
Posts: 512
Delaware, USA
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Posted on Jun 13 2008 07:44 PM
Most of the vintage vinyl I find is pretty hammered, but there are still some decent copies out there. Start at flea markets, garage sales, Goodwill (don't laugh; a friend of mine found all of the Astronauts records there in mint condition for $1.00 each at a Goodwill or Salvation Army store), and anywhere else you might find used junk. Try ebay, too. Just make sure you look at the seller's feedback before you bid, and be prepared to pay quite a bit for it.
Good luck!
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00Diablo
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 135
Alameda, CA/Las Vegas, NV
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Posted on Jun 13 2008 09:19 PM
Thanks Tommy - all of the Astronauts records for $1 each? I love hearing stories like that!
I hardly ever see vintage surf at Amoeba or Rasputins in the Bay Area. Only The Ventures albums seem to show up there. A few months ago I was at Amoeba looking through the new (used) arrival section when a young girl dressed in black pulled out a nice looking "Surfing With The Astronauts" LP from the next bin over. "Fat chance she'll buy that one - score!", I thought to myself as I waited for her to put it back. Then my heart dropped as she headed off to the cashier with it. I should've bribed her.
I guess I'll have to start going by the thrift stores looking for a miracle.
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bigtikidude
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 25582
Anaheim(So.Cal.)U.S.A.
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Posted on Jun 13 2008 09:24 PM
I buy all my Vinyl in person, so I know what I'm getting,
I have some really bad stuff, and some absolutely mint condition stuff.
and prices are all over the map,
I have payed 50 cents to 20 bucks.
Ask Outsides, her and her husband have a used vinyl sales online company.
— Jeff(bigtikidude)
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ElMonstroPorFavor
Joined: Sep 01, 2006
Posts: 2729
New Orleans, LA
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Posted on Jun 15 2008 02:06 AM
At least you're in California. There are a lot of places (like New Orleans where I am unfortunately) where there's not too much hope. But yeah, you've gotta work and you've got to just accept that you won't come out with top condition. Check out all the local flea markets, don't skip out on the 45s, talk to the flea market vendors and let them know that you're looking for surf. I became friends with my local flea vendors and they helped me out a lot.
— Storm Surge of Reverb: Surf & Instro Radio
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Jun 15 2008 02:41 PM
00Diablo
I guess I'll have to start going by the thrift stores looking for a miracle.
I have found about 90% of my surf vinyl at Salvation Army, Goodwill, and St Vincent de Paul stores...and it's funny how great it feels when a miracle does occur... like, .75 cents for a Challengers record in mint condition...
I have mainly shopped in SoCal and around here in the Mojave Desert...but, I have found surf vinyl in unexpected locales like Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Missouri and Oklahoma...
never found surf in Texas, though...hmmm, I wonder what that means? 
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krupanut
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 492
Austin Texas
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Posted on Jun 16 2008 08:04 AM
dp
00Diablo
I guess I'll have to start going by the thrift stores looking for a miracle.
never found surf in Texas, though...hmmm, I wonder what that means?
It means we got there first. 
You can find plenty of Surf records here.
Ask MG about the dead stock stash he used to raid in Corpus Christi.
How about unopened original Davey Allen albums!
— The Thunderchiefs
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Jun 16 2008 11:15 AM
krupanut
dp
00Diablo
I guess I'll have to start going by the thrift stores looking for a miracle.
never found surf in Texas, though...hmmm, I wonder what that means?
It means we got there first.
You can find plenty of Surf records here.
Ask MG about the dead stock stash he used to raid in Corpus Christi.
How about unopened original Davey Allen albums!
my response was sort of tongue-in-cheek...I've only been out to Lubbock and Midland and Amarillo and El Paso...out West Texas way...that Texas, it's a big place 
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00Diablo
Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 135
Alameda, CA/Las Vegas, NV
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Posted on Jun 16 2008 01:07 PM
The problem with the thrift stores in the Bay Area is there are too many hipsters about looking for this kind of stuff. You really have to have both good timing and persistence to get lucky around these parts.
I imagine SoCal is the best place to cruise thrift stores looking for vintage surf records, but I love hearing stories about all of these cool finds in unexpected places.
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CaptainSpringfield
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 4387
Under the Sun
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Posted on Jun 16 2008 02:13 PM
00Diablo
I imagine SoCal is the best place to cruise thrift stores looking for vintage surf records
Not necessarily - though you can find a decent amount at record stores that sell used vinyl here, but a lot of them are $25+.
-Warren
— That was excessively violent and completely unnecessary. I loved it.
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2293
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Jun 17 2008 03:27 AM
I've got most of my original 1st wave surf LPs on eBay and usually have paid between $20-$50 (not included shipping). I never bid on records graded less than VG+ and have been satisfied with the actual condition in most cases. There's also quite a few vinyl comps from the 80's and 90's of rare 1st wave 45s ripped directly from the vinyl source using an analog transfer, many of them sounding great and very close to the original 45.
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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UnsteadyFreddie
Joined: Feb 28, 2006
Posts: 2979
Hell\'s Kitchen, NYC
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Posted on Jun 17 2008 01:13 PM
I have scored a lot of surprisingly hi quality vinyl in thrift shops as well; it seems people that collected that stuff when it first came out either got copies of them on CDS or simply lost interest in the music itself, or perhaps just vinyl
I always also dread traveling out of town and finding a record store that sells old vinyl, b/c being somewhat of a junkie for the format, I inevitably shell out some ca$h (I recall a real good one on the campus of Princeton Univ. in NJ, and another time when I went to see THE SHARKSKINS in NEW HOPE, PA.--good one in that town, lots of stuff, reasonably priced)
besides SURF I am always scouting for BRITISH INVASION vinyl
UNSTEADY FREDDIE
p.s. I don't want to mention a certain NY surf guitarist by name, but he converted a lot of his vinyl to mp3, and was sweet and kind enough to offer the disks to me, which I cherish BEYOND BELIEF (dude, you got any more??).....some things in that collection I most likely would never have come upon, for sure....for that I am most grateful
— http://www.facebook.com/unsteady.freddie
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dp
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
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Posted on Jun 17 2008 05:23 PM
UnsteadyFreddie
I have scored a lot of surprisingly hi quality vinyl in thrift shops as well; it seems people that collected that stuff when it first came out either got copies of them on CDS or simply lost interest in the music itself, or perhaps just vinyl
or, they just died and their family donated all their "worthless stuff" to the Sal-Army... 
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