Collector - who me?

[Kenb]

The various posts about record prices/values/collectors (e.g. subject: JM auction results) prompted me to kick this off.

Posts about collectors are like posts about mythical creatures to me. I don't know any. And only know i'm not one, and just have/buy records to keep & play.

I did note in JM 6th edition (2013) it says over 6K collectors had been added since edition 5 and there are about 700 pages of tightly listed 45's. 

So...What's the definition of a NS vinyl collectors? Is there one?

I don't know, but am genuinely interested (no other motive here).

I know some collect by label, some by artist, some by UK, etc, BUT particularly in the context of prices & values what constitutes a typical NS collector? 

Is it someone who has 100K records, 30K records? 5K records?

Is it someone who has 10 records with a value of £100K?, £500K?

Is there a 'collector scale', small, medium, large, v.large...off-the-scale

Are collectors mostly DJ's?

Can you be a collector if you have 1K, 3K, 5K, 10K records each under £30 each?

Can you sell your only copies of a certain record ('rare/obscure') and still be considered a collector?

Is it rarity/obscurity that determines your collector status?

If collectors are buying and selling between themselves, is that collecting or just a transfer of an asset.

What's typical of soul-source collectors?

Is there a definition?

[Richard]

Personally I’d say all of the above.

You don’t have to have £1m collection to be considered a collector.

I certainly wouldn’t look down on someone who can only afford to collect cheapies the same as I wouldn’t look up with godlike status at someone who has a collection worth £2m.
We can all only afford what we can afford other than to win the lottery.

[Dobber]

I’d say from when allnighters and soul nites became more prevalent say around early 90’s,which made it more open for wannabe DJ’s to get spots,especially with the rise of the internet making record buying more accessible! It meant that the DJs weren’t something that fell out of the sky with a magical world in which the records came from! So in answer to the question I’d say the new name for a collector is DJ! Cos most collectors now buy the records with the floor  in mind! 

[Richard]

Actually I think it would be interesting to find out if we all had a limited budget, all have exactly the same amount of money to spend so a level playing field, then what would people buy and how would it vary in their choices?

 

4 minutes ago, Dobber said:

I’d say from when allnighters and soul nites became more prevalent say around early 90’s,which made it more open for wannabe DJ’s to get spots,especially with the rise of the internet making record buying more accessible! It meant that the DJs weren’t something that fell out of the sky with a magical world in which the records came from! So in answer to the question I’d say the new name for a collector is DJ! Cos most collectors now buy the records with the floor  in mind! 

Nowadays you’re never further than 6 foot away from a DJ

Edited January 17, 2021 by Richard

[Tomangoes]

Surely most collectors, collect what they like and what they can afford. Two variables there.

That was me back in the day...

Never understood owning records I did not like but it meant I had everything released on a particular label, but no doubt it happens.

A DJ and a collector can be one and the same, but no guarantee that having a great collection makes you a great dj, even though plenty may think that!

I remember reading an article about Martin Barnfather who had to sell some rare tunes to fund the purchase of in demand great tunes. Thats probably something most djs do unless they are super rich!

I'd agree that having say a collection of 75% of all respected original vinyl records ever played on the scene, is probably double the number needed from 1980.

Ed

 

[Frankie Crocker]

Without overthinking it, your average collector is someone who buys for a number of reasons but generally tends to keep and curate their collection. I would estimate that most collectors do not DJ regularly but plenty have done so on occasions. Many collectors sell or trade records - often to make space in a box or fund purchase of a want; as records occur in varying conditions, many collectors will upgrade the flawed ones when the opportunity arises. Your serious collector will clean the records, re-sleeve them, maybe file or shelve them in some sort of order or system, possibly list or catalogue them, and when time permits, even play a few... Collecting is a diverse field so there may not actually be a ‘typical’ collector. Sometimes, there comes a point when you just pick up what comes your way and end up as a ‘gatherer’ - stuff just piles up and up in odd boxes so it becomes hard to maintain the collection.

[Samplat]

My wife can’t understand why I get my records out , look at them and make sure their ok then put them back in their sleeves and put them away . She says aren’t you going to play them. 

[Geeselad]

Interesting thread ken. It's such a personal thing, that for me has changed and developed over the years, but I reality as I think you're eluding the definition exists purely in the mind of the collector. 

[Philt]

18 hours ago, Tomangoes said:

Surely most collectors, collect what they like and what they can afford. Two variables there.

 

It's a very mixed bag Ken I reckon and everyone will have a slightly different take on it, inevitably. Personally, I buy them because I love them; not to DJ with or because anyone else will swoon over em - Ed's spot on: why would anyone / who can afford to buy records they don't really rate?

Fair play to anyone who has managed to hang on to all their top stuff for 30+ years, wish I'd been able to! I've sold two collections over the years and have always needed to sell records to fund expensive wants, still do. I absolutely regret selling loads of stuff and have also had to accept things in less favourable condition than would be ideal sometimes, either because it made it affordable or just because it was the only way to own it.

I've never really been able to get my head around those who insist on everything being Mint- ; that just feels like a different kind of collector to my mind. Sure, in an ideal world, but I can think of a boat load of records you're 99% certain to never own if that's your mindset. Hey ho, everyone's different aren't they and as long as you're happy with each and every record you pull off your shelves you're onto a winner I reckon. I play some of mine every single day, always have; that's why I bought em.

I came to it too late in the day to fill my car with unknowns or to buy loads 'blind' and had neither the funds, the foresight or the knowledge to go to the US unfortunately but I reckon those are the foundations of the 'major' collections in this country.

Mine is a million miles short of that! My definition, for what it's worth, is more than a couple of 'hot boxes' containing expensive or popular northern. The people who blow me away, personally, have collections which reflect a breadth of knowledge, an enduring passion and what feels like a real ear for black music per se - I can think of a handful off the top of my head, people you could play a hundred things to and they'd immediately spot that extra something in a record. They don't all have thousands of records or ££££££s worth by any means but they're the folk I've always looked up to and tried to learn from.

At the end of the day mate who has a right to judge anyone else? Long as they make you happy and no one else miserable then the job's a good un  

 

 

 

-  

[Baz Atkinson]

Collectors amd DJs are two different animals . Collectors of soul music go back right to the mid sixties and the obsession with all things British . 
Some of these collections are eminently more interesting that a couple of hot boxes and some DJ who buys purely to fill a dance floor at some over rated soul night ? 
Another factor is that a tiny percentage of people in the UK have amassed large interesting collections because their have kept the passion going in the lean times ie the eighties and hence got a vast proportion of records at bargain price both here and in the USA . 
Back in the eighties Detroit was the fascination for lots of us as tastes change so does market trends but the distinction that earmarks a collector from a DJ must of the time is the obsession to own the record either to fill a run on the label or just for pure enjoyment . Some hot boxes have been heard saying “ I’ll buy it because it fills the floor “ my response to that is “crack on then “. 

[Solidsoul]

On 17/01/2021 at 16:25, Kenb said:

The various posts about record prices/values/collectors (e.g. subject: JM auction results) prompted me to kick this off.

Posts about collectors are like posts about mythical creatures to me. I don't know any. And only know i'm not one, and just have/buy records to keep & play.

I did note in JM 6th edition (2013) it says over 6K collectors had been added since edition 5 and there are about 700 pages of tightly listed 45's. 

So...What's the definition of a NS vinyl collectors? Is there one?

I don't know, but am genuinely interested (no other motive here).

I know some collect by label, some by artist, some by UK, etc, BUT particularly in the context of prices & values what constitutes a typical NS collector? 

Is it someone who has 100K records, 30K records? 5K records?

Is it someone who has 10 records with a value of £100K?, £500K?

Is there a 'collector scale', small, medium, large, v.large...off-the-scale

Are collectors mostly DJ's?

Can you be a collector if you have 1K, 3K, 5K, 10K records each under £30 each?

Can you sell your only copies of a certain record ('rare/obscure') and still be considered a collector?

Is it rarity/obscurity that determines your collector status?

If collectors are buying and selling between themselves, is that collecting or just a transfer of an asset.

What's typical of soul-source collectors?

Is there a definition?

 

[Solidsoul]

Just now, Halogen said:

 

I collect USA originals of records I personally consider classic Northern Soul records. I don't collect certain labels or artists. They just have to be great Northern Soul records. They can be cheap or expensive it doesn't matter. As long as I like them!

[Mal C]

Just buy what I like, and like what I buy...and that can be anything really, I do have a penchant for Aussie stuff but that only started cause I lived there a bit some decades ago...  I have realised though that after all these years collecting, there are very few that had my taste in music, Martin who used to DJ at These Old shoes did, every time he bought one, or played one, he was spot on... he is a lovely guy Martin.  I’ve never been a DJ, so I can’t say anything about that, but it must be very constrictive in that you have to have certain tracks... I guess they end up having two collections, one for us, one for them... lol

What about that 'The Banks Brothers - Bring It All Back Home', Mark W just sold a spare of, very very cool record...

 

 

Edited January 29, 2022 by Mal C