I'm considering buy a record player -- worth it?

[SteinwayTony]

I realize that many of the best recordings (Godowsky, Cherkassky, Rubinstein) have not yet been transferred to CD.  The local store I go to that sells new & used classical CDs has a noteworthy selections of LPs that look very interesting.  But I'm just 18 and don't know the first thing about record players.

First...do you know that this is a worthwhile investment?

And second...can you recommend a model of great value?  I guess my budget is about $200, but I could afford to go a little over if it's worth it.

Any input would be highly valued.

[Ed Thomas]

Tony:  I really was hoping someone else would answer this.  It is one of those dangerous questions for which there is no right answer, but anyone who gives you any information is automatically dating themselves as 150 years old or more. 

But I assume it is a serious question so I will admit to being older'n dirt and having done my share of hi-fi shopping for a vinyl LP record player.  Here is my opinion.  You should be able to get one free.  By now, there must be 10,000 or more within a 50mile radius of you.  All you would have to do is put an ad in your local penny saver, or the classified section of your newspaper that you, as a serious music student, need a record player to continue your research and further your budding career.  At the very minimum, you should be able to get one for $5 or so at the nearest thrift store.

However, the real problem with record players, assuming you got a nice one with reliable speed and so on, is the needle and cartridge.  This is where the money comes in.  Many audiophiles generally replaced the cartridge and needle at the same time; whether you even have an option anymore or not, I don't know.  But generally, the needle and cartridge cost at least as much as the record player... and you could certainly pay much more.  So if you do get a record player, count on having to spend the bulk of your money on getting the needle and cartridge.  If you are lucky, someone giving you a record player will have a new cartridge with it, so ask.  Don't accept cheesy (light and plastic feeling) record players.  The good ones had some weight to them to keep a steady speed of the platter.  Sometimes the platters were hunks of granite!

Once you get a record player up and running, be sure to return for further advice on care and feeding of vinyl records.  This involves a lot of chanting and ritual and probably doesn't belong here so close to Christmas.