Christmas lists

All I want for Christmas is a Schlumpf Muni!

I’m waiting to see how kind Santa will be (my Xmas bonus check)… and then I’ll have to wait for Florian to ship the thing, so it may end up being an Easter present…

Be careful what you ask for. These things will suck massive amounts of time and money from your life. The turntables are just the tip of the iceberg… you’ll likely want to upgrade the needles ($200) and the mixer ($500-1000) within 6 months of practice. If you don’t have a good sound system, you’ll likely blow out your amp ($500) and/or speakers ($1000+) before too long.

Then comes the record habit.

Unless you live a major metropolitan area where you can easily pick up second-hand records of decent quality, you’re gonna spend $10-$20 a pop on albums, and you’ll need to buy a couple hundred albums before you put together a decent set, not to mention the hundreds of hours you spend practicing, or the days spent searching for vinyl stores, poring through stacks of vinyl, standing at the listening stations. Your weekends will disappear, as will your non-musician friends.

This is all contingent, of course, upon the fact that you’re serious about turntablism. Your tables could just end up gathering dust…

…but if anyone is serious about turntablism, here are a few tips for getting started:

  • Record your practice sessions and listen to them, you’ll hear a lot that you won’t hear while you’re playing. Practice often.
  • Protect your hearing: damage to your ears is not reversible, and it can happen quickly. Even if your monitors are blasting, keep your headphones quiet, and don’t take 'em off; use your mixer to monitor your program. Your headphones can protect your ears if you use them right.
  • Don’t skimp on equipment. Good headphones are worth the money, and they’ll last a long time if you take care of 'em. My $120 Sony MDR’s have lasted me over 6 years. Good speakers and coffins (not made from particle board) will withstand years of gigging, no matter where you take 'em.
  • Protect your records. Wash your hands before handling your vinyl. Always shelve your vinyl in a record jacket. They’re designed to last longer than CDs if you handle them right.

PM me if you want more tips…