25 Gifts for the Record Collector in Your Life

Various gift ideas (that aren't records) for novices, experts, or yourself + the final record fairs of the year

Dec 01, 2023

As the resident record person in my circle of family and friends, I’ve been asked a similar question many times: “Hey Kadrian, “I’m/my dad/my girlfriend/my husband/my dentist/my dog is thinking of getting into vinyl records, but I have no idea where to start. What do you recommend?” After being asked over the years, I developed a Vinyl 101 guide to serve as a starting point. This guide has basics on turntables, receivers, speakers, etc. Selecting those items, though, are dependent on how deep you want to go, whether you just want to play a record regardless of sound quality, or you want the best sound experience of your life. When it comes to the tech side, I’m not an expert, I just have a personal set-up that works for me, so I’m not going to recommend the best turntable or amp for you (there are plenty of other people that do it way better, and I can point you in that direction). However, with the holidays coming up, I thought it would be a great time to highlight some excellent gifts for the record collector in your life, whether they are just starting, have been at it for years, or it’s just for you (treat yourself!)

Disclaimer: none of these are affiliate links or sponsored content, they are just products or vendors that I truly love and support. I’m also going to do my best to give you non-Amazon links where possible, but sometimes they do have the best product at the best price.

The Dollar Bin (Under $25)

Diskeeper Cartridge Alignment Protractor, $17

If you want to keep your needle in its best shape, then how much pressure you put on it against the record matters. This device tells you if it’s weighing too light or heavy.

Record Weight Stabilizer, $20

For a slightly warped record or just any record frankly, this weight will hold down your record for a cleaner play.

Big Fudge Cleaning Kit, $25

There are a TON of cleaning kits out there, so it’s really up to you to decide what works best. For me, the microfiber brush and the ‘brush to clean your brush’ is what sealed it. Can’t tell you how satisfying it is sweep that dust off.

Catalog Cards by Koeppel Design (50 pack), $25

If you’re not using Discogs or you wanna go analog, these cards designed by Koeppel Design are a personal touch to catalogue your best records. Side note: I am a proud beta tester of these products, and very much vouch for them :)

The Crates (Under $50)

Resealable Outer Sleeves, $26

These are a personal preference, but if you want to reseal your records to make sure no dust gets in them, these are the way to go.

Mobile Fidelity Outer Sleeves (50 pack), $27

Personally, I’m a fan of these Mobile Fidelity Outer Sleeves because of the thicker plastic and they pair really well with . . .

Mobile Fidelity Inner Sleeves (50 pack), $27

The inner sleeves! These will keep your record in pristine shape with a cloth-like support and fit perfectly inside the outer sleeve.

Onzow Stylus Cleaner, $30

Hands down, the best needles / stylus cleaner ever. The gelatin base is washable and makes it sticky all over again so it can remove the dust from your needle always.

had this for 5 years and looks brand new still

Record Jacket Repair Strips, $30

If you shop the dollar bins like me, you’re going to get some pretty roughed-up record jackets with broken seams. These repair strips are great if you don’t want to go the DIY masking tape route.

Custom Cork Mat, $35

I’ve been exploring getting a new slipmat but can’t decide on a design. But if I don’t find one, maybe custom here is the way to go.

Display Ends, $40

For a smaller, curated stack that can grow at any time, these display ends are sturdy and versatile for records (and books about records).

Selektor Vinyl Stand, $50

There are so many ways to display your “now spinning” record, and these are simple and clean.

The Stacks (Under $150)

Selektor Classic Bags, $60-$100

Selektor is best known for their classic carrying bags for the DJ on the go. They look slick and offer great strap support, with various sizes and colors.

Now Spinning Block by Koeppel Design, $75

Another excellent product designed and produced by a local small business owner in San Francisco, these blocks have been the go-to display block for many in the vinyl community.

Anti-Static Gun, $93

Okay, I haven’t tried this yet, but I’m super intrigued because I just listened to my $1 copy of Tangerine Dream’s “Exit” and I so badly wanted to get rid of the pops in the play. This ‘gun’ supposedly is a miracle worker in removing any static from your record.

Wooden Record Bin, $125

I’ll give them a bigger shout-out later, but if you have a small selection, consider these beautiful wooden record bins to store.

Genre Record Dividers by Koeppel Design, $75-200

An incredible and beautiful way to organize and display your records by genre.I swear by these and am heartbroken that Koeppel Design is going to discontinue them, but she will still be making them until the end of the year - get these now while you can!

yes, my KISS collection needed its own section

“Greek” - custom made for my wife naturally

The Wall (Over $150)

Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge, $189

This is the only piece of equipment that I’ll recommend because I’ve ubiquitously heard it’s one of the best needles out there. Diamond tip to last forever with precision to get deep in the groove.

Audio Technica Sound Burger - Portable Record Player, $200

Saw this as a paid partnership from Geraldine.HiFi and honestly, it worked. I’m sold and want this so badly to be able to take records literally anywhere I go.

Vinyl Me Please 6-Month Subscription, $237

Nothing is better than the gift of vinyl, and nothing is the best like this subscription service. VMP has an ever-growing library of essentials in jazz, rock, funk, soul, country, and now, anthologies. The records are reissued beautifully in updated packaging, complete with liner notes, accompanying podcasts, and deeper articles. It’s really the best vinyl subscription service out there and well worth it for record collectors at any level who want to take the next step in their obsession.

The Rare Groove (Over $500)

Intro to DJing Classes at Beat Junkie Institute of Sound, $800+

Ready to go from active listener to active creator? Beat Junkie Institute of Sound takes the art of DJing to the next level by teaching it to people of all ages and backgrounds. I saw them do some workshops at a record fair a few months ago and have been considering it myself.

R/D Record Cabinet, $900 - Custom Quote

I cannot recommend Paul and Dy from @recordcabinets who custom built this piece for me. My wife helped design this stunning record cabinet with my vision and specifications while Paul painstakingly answered millions of emails and questions until all the specifics were right. Paul and Dy also let us visit the studio, which was a treat. The wood, the craftsmanship, the customer service, the delivery, the attention to detail. If there was a fire and I could only save one thing, honestly, I’d try to figure out how to save this. The turntable is inset in the top part of the cabinet, which is detachable in case I ever get an additional turntable and mixer. Each cabinet is categorized by genre and alphabetized by first name. When it was delivered, we discovered that our floor is at a slant which made it look like the cabinet was falling forward. Paul came over twice and created a custom wood shiv to put underneath it. It now rests perfect in our home. If you need a custom record cabinet, you can get a custom quote on their website linked above, or purchase a pre-made one on their Etsy shop.

Off the Wall (Set Your Own Price)

Groovewasher, Multiple Products

An alternative manufacturer if you don’t want to go the Big Fudge route.

Women in Vinyl Donation

Please consider a donation to this important non-profit organization: “Women in Vinyl is a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) working to raise funds that support the education, demystification, and diversification of the vinyl industry by empowering women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and other marginalized groups, to find their way here on purpose and not by chance. We apply funding to assisting in their educational journeys through scholarships, mentorships, job boards, business development and workshops to create, preserve and improve the art of music on vinyl.”

Gift Cards From Your Local Record Store