If you have built up a collection then you are bound to have two types of vinyl records, 7” EPs and 12” LPs – These are the two most common record types.
If you are looking at seriously collecting vinyl records, or upgrading your record player you may ask the question which is ‘will all my vinyls fit and work on any record player?’.
In this blog, we look at record players, standard vinyl record sizes, and will all vinyls fit all record players.
Do all vinyls work on any record player?
This may seem obvious to most people, but actually not all vinyl records will play on all record players.
Most record players especially modern ones will play 7” and 12” records. These play at two separate speeds 33.3 RPM and 45 RPM.
Historically there was also 10” vinyl records. These were in circulation before the traditional 12” record. The rarity of them now as well as the fact they aren’t commonly in production means that modern vinyl record players aren’t set up for playing 10” vinyl records.
This isn’t too much of a problem for the modern collector. If you are looking at building up a rare collection that involves the 50s & 60s records, you may come across a 10” record or two that you’ll need to get a record player that can play this.
Can you play new records on an old record player?
The next question people commonly ask is about playing new vinyl records on an old record player. Vinyl record production hasn’t actually changed that much over the years, the same process is being used with only the materials being slightly more hardy over the years.
This means that modern vinyl records, both 7” and 12” will play on most vinyl record players from the 50s onwards.
If you picked up a record player that dates pre-50s then you may find it has a slightly different setup
How do I know what size my vinyl record is?
Generally, the cover sleeve will say if it’s a 7” or a 12” it will also state the playing speed as this can also differ. Playing a vinyl record at the wrong speed won’t damage the record, but it will affect the sound you get out (it won’t sound right).
If you have lost the sleeve then you can always measure the vinyl record. It’s measured based on the diameter, across the full record.
For anyone that’s a fan of Subway you can also tell by knowing how long a 6” and a footlong are. If your record is closer to a footlong you’ve got yourself a 12”. If your record is smaller and closer to a 6” Subway, then you’ve got yourself a 7” vinyl record.
