How to know if vinyl records are original?

How to know if a vinyl record is original and avoid scams

The other day my friend Raúl came over to my house, excited with a bag full of records he had picked up at a flea market. He swore he had found some “bargains” and already saw himself with a luxury collection. But, as soon as he started taking them out, I saw that something was strange… some records were too “new” to be originals, especially being old editions. Raúl, who is a very careful character, fell for it. In other words, they had tricked him.

We started going through the details one by one, and I took the opportunity to tell him about the big scams in the world of vinyl. Hopefully, he would learn to recognize the originals and not be so easily fooled in the future.

Cover and design: the first look

The first thing I told him was to check the album cover . The issue is simple: the original cover design has to match to a T. On some of Raúl's albums, the colors looked washed out, and there were some details that didn't match, as if they were photocopied versions. "Listen, man, look closely at this next time, the details are the first thing that stands out," I told him.

I also told him that limited edition fakes are super common. Some albums, especially first pressings, are hard to find and cost a fortune. For example, pressings of "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" with songs that were later removed are so rare that they can cost a fortune. Of course, counterfeiters know this, and they go out of their way to make copies to rip off the unsuspecting. So I made it clear to Raul that if something seems too good to be true, it probably isn't.

Physical state of the disc: play it well, lol

Next we examined the record itself . The key here is that it doesn't have any strange marks, scratches or stains. On original records, the color is usually uniform and clean, like a good collector's item. On one of his records, there were some spots from what looked like bad printing. I told him, "Play the record properly, that's not normal." I was joking, of course, but he understood it.

I also told him about bootlegs, or pirated records . These are vinyl records with live recordings or unauthorized material that some sell as “rare gems.” The problem is that they are of low quality and, for a serious collector, they are not even worthy of being used as coasters. Raúl was shocked to learn that there is a whole market for pirated records on sites like eBay or Discogs. “So you know, before you spend a euro on the Internet, make sure you check.”

Record label: read it, man…

The next step was to check the record label on the back of the disc. This is another important detail to know if the disc is authentic. On one of Raúl's discs, the label was printed incorrectly, and I told him: "Read it carefully, man... the label has to be clear and without mistakes." On the original discs, the quality of the printing is impeccable. If it looks strange, copy alert!

Here we take the opportunity to talk about scams on online sales platforms . Nowadays, many people buy records online, but not everything that glitters is gold. There are sellers who put photos that are not real, sell copies as if they were originals, and so on. Raúl thought for a moment and told me that, from now on, he would only buy from sellers with good reviews and ask for detailed photos of the records.

Sound quality: listen carefully

Finally, I suggested that we put one of the records on the turntable, because sound is another key. On an original record, the sound should be clean and crisp. We just put one of those records on and it sounded weird, with interference and distortions. I laughed and said: “No way, man, if it sounds bad from the start, it’s a copy.” That’s clear. Fake records usually have a lower audio quality, and if something in the sound is jarring, it’s better to be suspicious.

Review of the album edition: beware of reissues

Finally, I told him about the importance of knowing the edition of the album . The same album can have several editions over the years, and not all of them are worth the same. So I told him that, for future purchases, he should carefully check the details of each edition, both on the back and on the cover.

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Tips to avoid falling for vinyl record scams

While we were at it, I gave him some tips so that he doesn't get fooled again:

• Research before you buy : Know the details of the original editions, such as catalog numbers, labels and covers. You'll save yourself a lot of trouble!
• Buy from trusted sellers : It is better to buy from specialist shops or online sellers with good reviews. Avoid the risk of unpleasant surprises.
• Ask for proof : If you can, ask for certificates of authenticity or proof of provenance. Better safe than sorry.
• Physically inspect the record : Play it carefully, lol. Inspect the quality, the condition of the labels, and any unusual details.
• Listen to the album : If you have any doubts, do the sound check. The ear does not deceive.

Raul left with fewer records than he brought, but with much more knowledge about how to avoid scams and learn to distinguish a good vinyl from a copy. We had a laugh about his “intensive vinyl course,” and he told me that next time he will be the one to teach me. What a character!