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Do you love music? Do you love searching through thrift stores? Do you love finding unusual things? Love a bargain? Then record collecting might be just the hobby for you. It doesn"'t take much time, money or knowledge to get started and it'''"s a lot of fun.

First of all you will need a turntable. If you are only interested in records made since about 1950, then you need a turntable that will pay 33s and 45s. You can find one of those for as little as $100 at your local electronics emporium. You will also need an amplifier or receiver to and a couple speakers to complete your system. Make sure the amplifier or receiver has an input specially marked for PHONO, unless the turntable has a built-in preamp. If in doubt, ask your salesman. You want to make sure your new turntable will work with the amplifier or receiver.When it comes to speakers, let your budget be your guide. You can sometimes find these items at yard sales too. Of course you can always find these things online too.

Before about 1950 most records were recorded at 78 rpm. These will require a turntable that can spin at 78 rpm. There are a few new turntables available that will spin at 78 rpm, but they are rather expensive, costing in the hundreds of dollars. You don''"t need to spend that much money though. Remember this hobby is all about having fun, not draining your wallet!

A cheaper option is to buy a used portable record player of the type used in schools back in the days before CDs. These units usually have the amplifier and speaker built in so there is nothing else to buy.They look sort of like a suitcase when closed up. Most play 33s, 45s, and 78s. These make a great starter player if you are interested in 78s.I recommend buying a unit that has separate controls for the BASS and TREBLE as this will allow you to dial in a better sound. These units often turn up at online auctions or yard sales. I also recommend buying a new needle if you buy one of these used units. The old needle is probably toast by now.( Note: Seasoned collectors and sound engineers wince when anyone calls it a needle. The correct term is stylus. However we are here for fun so I will use the more common term needle. )These needles can be found online for about 15 bucks. Installing the new needle is easy. The directions are usually found on the inside of the phonograph lid.

There are also some new all-in-one stereos available that play 78s. These usually play cassettes, CDs and records. However

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