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Sven is a teacher based in Leipzig, Germany who specializes in philosophy and PD education. Like many No Echo readers, the father of two likes to unwind by searching for hardcore and punk vinyl. Yes, that was a good enough reason for me to invite Sven into the Record Collector club.
How long have you been collecting records?
I started with CD collecting in 1997, at some point I realized, I could'nt get every release of my favorite artists if I didn't buy vinyl records. So, I bought my first vinyl in 2008, I think it was Chuck Ragans' Chuck Plays Frankfurt, so I started with a bootleg. I realy enjoyed the big cover, so I bought more and more records. The first three years I did't had a record player, so I only bought the records I couldn‘t get on CD. After buying my first record player, I was so into it, so I sold my whole CD collection and bought every release on vinyl. Later, I started with variant collection and here I am…
Where/how do you usually find your records these days?
Today, I try to support the labels which signed artists I like. At the beginning, I ordered a lot of records from a little german distributer named Greed Records, they always had fair prices and could help me out with some rare variants and stuff. They shut down a few years ago, so I have to buy new records from labels and old ones from Discogs or eBay. From time to time I trade with other collectors.
What is the most you paid for a single record, where/how did you obtain it, and what was it?
As I started with variant collecting I started hunting vinyl test pressings right away. I set me a limit of 100€ per record… This worked for a few years. Labels like No Idea Records or Hometown Caravan Records sold tests between $20 and $100, so I could work on my Hot Water Music/Chuck Ragan collection without pushing my limit. But to get a complete More Than Life collection was a pain in the ass, so I bought the test press of Love Let Me Go for 180 GBP on Discogs and this is the most I paid for a single record so far.
Of everything in your current collection, what is your most prized record and why?
Its hard to say what record my "white wale" is. I have a lot of records which would fit in this catagory. There is a supersplatter colored Austin/Lucas/ John Moreland split from the Wax Packs, a really nice looking Fluff Fest edition of Spirits' Discontent, the pink Whatever It Takes by Battery, or my #Sven of two Hot Water Music/ Tomorrow split, with a handmade cover by Var Thelin. If I have to choose, it's my 7“ box set by a band called Dead Hearts. The Dead Hearts singer, Derek, made the box himself, and it contains all the 7“ they released and includes two never officially released records.
Is there anything that frustrates you about the current record collecting scene?
The rising prices and the high shipping costs for overseas shipping are really frustrating. But if want to keep my collection going, I have to accept it.
Which records are still on your want list that you've had a tough time tracking down through the years?
I have a big want list. Right now I am dying to get my hands on a black copy of Austin Lucas' Putting the Hammer Down from the first US pressing and a test pressing of Stay Reckless from the same artist. These are the last two missing records for a complete collection. I am also looking for Spirits ST 7“ on clear/black splatter. There were only two made and I think I never can complete my Spirits collection because this bastard is missing. Since they are the reason I got interested in hardcore n the first place, I would really like to get a test pressing of Battery's Only the Diehard Remain and their ST 7“ with the "straight outta Mike's closet" cover. Help would be appreciated!
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Follow Sven on Instagram, and if Mike is reading this, can you please try and hook my homeboy up?
Tagged: record collector
