Anyone who thought the resurgence of vinyl records was a niche trend better enjoy being WRONG. Vinyl is the most profitable physical medium for music and revenues grow every year. RIAA’s 2021 analysis showed that vinyl accounted for more than two-thirds of physical format revenues.
As Kansas City’s favorite record store, 7th Heaven is pretty pumped about this popularity and not just because we sell vinyl records—but because we buy them, too! Stop asking your buddies “who buys old records near me?” and just head on down to our Troost location with your unwanted records in tow.
Are old vinyl records worth money?
One side effect of vinyl’s popularity is that, once you express interest in it to your old rocker relative Uncle Teddy, you may find yourself inundated with a crap load of his dusty old vinyls. He’ll tell you he’s doing you a favor, but really he just needs the space in his garage. We see a lot of folks coming in to sell inherited records at the Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven.
Boxes of old records are a popular auction item, too. It can feel like Christmas when you buy a box for $3 and end up with 87 records to sort through, but that Christmas feeling deflates pretty fast when you realize there’s literally nothing in there you want to listen to. But hey, could those old vinyl records be easy to get rid of for a little cash? Turn that $3 investment into a lot more if you bring it in to us.
What do we buy at 7th Heaven?
We buy LPs, 45s, 78s, 8-tracks, cassettes, used stereo equipment that’s still in good working order—basically anything that plays music is something we’re potentially interested in. Now, we know what some of you are thinking: I don’t know what LP means, and at this point I’m too afraid to ask. Fear not, intrepid reader, we’ll clear it up for you right here.
The history of LPs, 45s, and 78s
Before diving into the history behind the most iconic medium of music of ALL TIME (sorry, channeling some 2009 Kanye West energy), let’s set the record straight (lol) on the differences between LPs, 45s, and 78s.
LP stands for long-playing. So, an LP is a full-length vinyl record. It refers to a 33 and one-third RPM microgroove vinyl. LPs were (are?) the standard 10 or 12 inch vinyl disks and are also called 33s. 45s are the most common form of a vinyl single. Also called a 7-inch, these are played at 45 RPM. 78s are 10 to 12 inches, like LPs, but they’re actually not made of vinyl. 78s are made with shellac, a stiffer and heavier material that many believe gives a “brighter” sound. As you may have guessed, 78s play at 78 RPM.
While LPs became the standard, 78s made of shellac came first, making 78 RPM the standardized speed for all records.
Despite the size, because of the speed they turn at, you could barely fit one song on each side of a 78. A 10-inch 78 could hold about three minutes per side and a 12 inch could hold five minutes per side. Imagine needing a set of two 12 inch 78s to play Iron Butterfly’s 17-minute masterpiece “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” We’re not even going to do the math on how many you would need for Jethro Tull’s “Thick as a Brick.”
It wasn’t until 1948, 47 years after the first 78, that Columbia Records released the first 33s made of vinyl. These bad boys could handle 20 full minutes per side! Talk about a major upgrade, right? Now people could listen to a full album with just one 10 or 12 inch disk. The popularity of 33s led to companies stopping production of 78s by 1959.
Not even a year after the first 33s hit the market, 45s were released by RCA Victor. Also made of vinyl at 7 inches, each side holds about four to five minutes. This made them the perfect format to fit a single song on each side.
Sell Your Used Vinyl at 7th Heaven’s The Vinyl Underground
This whole thing started with a question: Who buys old records near me? We think that question has been answered pretty thoroughly by now, but to sum it up in two simple words: WE DO! We’re also the best place to buy vinyl in Kansas City. You don’t have to take our word for it, KC voted us the best record store in Pitch’s 2021 Best of KC list! Come check out our dope selection of vinyls and bring us some to add to it!
The Vinyl Underground, also known as the sickest place to shop for vinyl records in the KC metro and beyond, drops new vinyl every Thursday from every genre, every era, and from both popular and obscure artists. Some of our most recent releases include Bud Powell, Ghost, Richard Thompson, Pink Floyd, Tears for Fears, Mitski, and Quincy Jones.
While you’re here, don’t forget to stop in at the Smoke Shop and Love Shop for the best selection of smoke accessories and adult toys.
No matter where you live in the KC metro, 7th Heaven isn’t hard to get to. Located at 76th & Troost, we’re ready to welcome you!
Come visit us. We’re open 11am to 8pm Mon-Sat and 11am to 6pm Sundays.
Do you have questions about selling vinyl records? Give us a shout and we’ll be happy to help.