Punk, garage and rockabilly
Vinyl guides and rock and roll culture, one crate at a time
Dem Derby writes plain, unhurried guides for people who still play records: punk, garage and rockabilly listening, record-store habits, and the decks and styluses in between.
Fresh off the turntable
Latest guides
Newest guides first – the grid below updates itself as new ones publish.
How to Listen to Vinyl With Headphones: Better Sound (2026)
Learn how to listen to vinyl with headphones in - the right preamp, headphone amp, connections, and fixes for hiss, quiet audio…
Are All in One Record Players Bad for Vinyl? (2026)
Are all in one record players bad for vinyl? How tracking force, cartridge type and built-in speakers affect your records, and what…
How to Upgrade a Cheap Turntable: Simple Fixes (October 2026)
How to upgrade a cheap turntable in with safer parts, a cleaner setup routine and a ranked upgrade order that improves the…
What Causes Inner Groove Distortion on Vinyl in 2026?
What causes inner groove distortion on vinyl in ? The real culprits, how to test each one, and the fixes that work…
What Are the Main Parts of a Turntable? A Beginner’s Guide 2026
What are the main parts of a turntable? A plain-English guide to the platter, tonearm, cartridge, stylus, drive belt and phono preamp,…
Why Does the End of My Record Distort? Fixes (2026)
Why does the end of my record distort? Learn the causes, how to test the outer grooves, and the fixes to try…
Asked at the counter
Questions this site answers
- Reissue or original pressing – which one is worth the money?
- How do I grade a second-hand record before I pay for it?
- When is a stylus worn out, and what should replace it?
- Where do I start a punk and garage collection?
About Dem Derby
For people who still flip through crates
Dem Derby keeps vinyl guides and rock and roll culture on the same page: punk, garage and rockabilly listening, record-store habits, and the turntables and styluses that make them sound right. If you read the whole guide before you buy anything, it was written for you.