Cult artists - don't overlook these gems...

Cult artists - sometimes not listed in price guides, sometimes way underpriced. Jandek, singer/songwriter from Houston way, goes for $25 topping out over $100 - my partner and I found about 25 of his albums at a college radio sale. Townes Van Zandt lps book under $10 each - but his albums on Tomato top out for over $100. If you're in Texas, it may be worth posting ads on your local craigslist looking for those guys. Mojo Nixon - his cds generally go for a lot more than the vinyl. Look for his first cd with Skid Roper - it's self-titled, but popularly known among fans as the Free Drunk and Horny lp. Jimmy Buffet's first 2 lps on Barnaby - Down to Earth and High Cumberland Jubilee can do well - I've bought lps on eBay by misspelling his name in the search engine, then turning around and reselling it on eBay (of course, correctly spelling his name!)

Do a complete auctions search in 45's using "Northern Soul". Keep an eye out for some of those titles - especially if you live around Detroit or Philly. Type in rare funk to come up with some more names. Don't forget to list high price to low price on these searches.

hope you have good luck searching this weekend!

Selling those damned 78s

If you're reading this, you've already realized selling 78's is a tough proposition.

Here's a quick overview -

If you have any blues (and I mean real blues - Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, etc = not Lonesome Shepherd Blues from the Willy Mack Honkytonk Band)definitely auction them - true rarities like Robert Johnson or nearly anyone else from the prewar era - 1930's - go for big bucks generally. We're talking a couple grand and up. These you would probably do better selling to a dealer like John Tefteller outright, who has the customers for that kind of material. Other,later blues, auction on eBay (after researching completed listings and on GEMM)

Early rock can do decently. Some classic country (Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash)And some bluegrass.

So what do you do with the rest? I suggest sorting by label and genre, since that's how a lot of people collect them. Stick them in your eBay store at maybe $1 per 78, and check the best offers box. Consider listing on bonanzle, ecrater, or even Craigs List.

The advantage to the other sites is no charge AND you can set your own s&h fee - 78's are a pain to package - you absolutely have to double box them. Make sure there's no shifting in your first box, then put it in a second box with a minimum of 2" packing material all the way around. Make sure you charge enough for this - most 78 collectors understand.

save those old sleeves!

When going through a collection I bought, I always strip the paper sleeves from the ones I'm junking. The generic paper ones I put in one box - for putting one on a record that doesn't have one before I sell it. Generic record company ones I put in a separate box - nothing like a 60's Columbia sleeve to spruce up that Johnny Cash Live at San Quentin. If you seem to be getting an excess of these, you can put 'em up as a lot on eBay and get 25c to 50c apiece. The album specific ones I usually trash - how many Billy Joel lyric do you really need?

The LPs that are thrashed - strip the paper sleeve, save the jacket for packing - one top and bottom in the box - and save the lp for craft projects. Make bowls, flowers, and much more. Check out etsy.com for ideas - type in lps or albums to get ideas. Other stores put 'em in a box outside - craft project lps 50c each! A few stores around here sell bowls for $4 each - spraypainted flowers for $10 - $20 apiece - the spray-painted flowers go for 10 to 20 bux apiece.

Hope these ideas help you pay for your next collection.