Customer Reviews

Goldmine Record Album Price Guide

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When my mom died, she left behind around 400 LPs and another 150 45s from the 1950-1960s. It was a mess of mixed genres, variety of artists, and varying conditions. Since we're a fan of CDs and MP3 players, the records took up a horribly large amount of space and we wanted them gone. After calling a dealer, who suggested pulling out the Elvis and Beatle records and tossing the rest, I decided to do some research and see what I'd need to do to sell them on EBay. During my research, I found a record guild site with an incredibly helpful forum http://www.recordcollectorsguild.org They listed several price guides, but with warnings about their pricing accuracy. Until I tried to sell the records, I didn't fully realize how inaccurate they really are. While this book was not particularly valuable when it came to pricing, it was helpful in letting me know if I had any records that were worth pursuing. However, guides in general tend to have some problems and this one is no different. Some of the problems include:

1) Do NOT expect to get the list price. It is a best case scenario. The introduction to this book is very clear that these prices are mint condition prices. However, the amount suggested to deduct given their condition, is not accurate. The prices really reflect what you could expect to pay at an antique dealer's store, not what you can realistically expect to sell them for.

2) The price guides do not reflect a changing market. At one time, a mint version of Chantilly Lace might have brought 500.00, but not now. The interest in this record is not as great as it once was. However, the price guide is not updated to reflect that change in market. http://www.popsike.com better reflects the current market and it's free.

3) This book does not give you the knowledge you need to accurately grade records. Granted the purpose of this book is pricing, not to teach grading, but grading is integral to pricing. See, collectors want to listen to the records they're buying. So if the record pops or has any static, the record is of little to no value to them. If you're not an experienced collector, what looks minor to you, might be a huge deal to a buyer. Since the selling price of the record depends heavily on the condition of the vinyl, a book that doesn't give a proper education on condition is not too helpful for selling. Furthermore, this book suggested weighing the condition of the vinyl and jacket equally. That is not accurate. The condition of the vinyl is much more important than the jacket.

Again, where this book does excel is in having a large quantity of records, with a very good description to know which pressing you have, and is easy to use. So if you have a few records and you want to know if it's even worth the effort to try to sell them, this book is very helpful. However, if you're planning to use this book to sale, first see if you can get an experienced record collector to help you out. For us, two experienced collectors were able to accomplish in 3 hours, what would have taken me probably 500 hours to do.

Would I have bought this price guide again? Only if I couldn't find it at the local library. For a price guide, it's probably very good, but the main reason I wrote this review is so people won't get the idea they'll have all the information they need to sell in this book. You're really not going to be able to get the information you truly need to value records from this book or any price guide. So, you'd be better off saving your money and doing some research online.

An invaluable, descriptive price guide on LPs. My #1 overall favorite! Very good for Jazz, rock and punk (obscure artists & bands). Provides three (3) prices based on condition as well. Much more definitive than Osborne's record guides but prices are not as "realistic" (averaged) as Jerry's. Only flaw is that Import and Bootleg LP information is VERY sparse - especially on Beatles, Hendrix, Jazz, and punk. Value of Beatles Vee-Jay "counterfeit's" should also be listed as some are not that terrible sounding. A truly great overall LP guide for most needs. Now if I could only find the same type of excellent price guide for Reel-to-Reel tapes........

I like the book because as opposed to some other similar books it lists the album titles along with catalog numbers. The front of the book also has discriptions of different company's record labels and what they looked like over the years. Although I think there were some things left out in some of the label descriptions. It's still a great book for any record collector. I have seen other record books over the years and this one, Well is a keeper. Now all we need is a real good book to tell us record collectors what kind of inserts and posters came in each record.

Eliminating common LP's and concentrating on $20 and up items is a good idea. Adding various artist, soundtrack, and cast recording LP's is helpful. Also thankfully includes classical LP's, particularly RCA Living Stereo.

This book is something no audiophile and collector should be without and sitting in first position next to the other Goldmine price guides and Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll. The best thing I found about this book is that if you have any questions or something is not listed, you can call the author Tim Neely. He actually calls you back!! Within a couple days even!!!

As an avid record collector, one needs to understand the real value of their investment. Until I purchased this book, I was paying more for records than I should have, and less for those I should have spent more on. The later worked in my favor sometimes. This book is THE resource for grading records and the standard for pricing. It also invaluable information about labels and logos, so one for ex. doesn't pay 1st pressing price for 2nd or 3rd pressings or NM or Ex prices for $1 merchandise. It is an honest publication and well worth it! I actually take this book with me when I search for LPs and grade my own! The only question I have is, where is the Electric Flag (left out for some reason!)

Again a very informative guide on albums, even if I do have to get out the magnifying glass to read some of the sections. I do like the way the author breaks down each section to cover the different record companies that each album came out on, and the misc. information that you would not know about each album pressing

Pretty comprehensive guide. It has been very useful in placing a monetary value on a wide variety of records from rock/pop, country, blues, soul, jazz, to comedy.

people who are looking for real fact's about Records should not look in Tim Neeleys' books. he knows nothing and if he does ? never proves it. he must be married to or have another great/tight conection at Goldmine to let them continue to use his usless "guides" unless they believe (as might be true) of of todays "Record collectors" are idiots who think the Beatles are really important and have lots of "Rare" Records. the truly rare & desirable old Records are not mentioned but a lot of Recorded "nothing" Records are. a good, accurate Record price guide by someone who really knows Records is very hard to come by

I have used this book in the past and again it comes through with ease of use. My only wish is for an updated annual version every year. It is very easy to read and understand. It prevents any mistakes in what a record may be worth. It stops "rip off" record shops and dealers in thier tracks. We use it to buy and sell on ebay. I recently saw a Beatles record sell on ebay for $1000 it was worth no more than $800, the original asking price was $5000!!! Buyer and seller beware, we that know - use this book.