So wandering in, oblique as it may, a record shop. Now for a guy that has a rich history of liking old stuff and recipe books by the Galloping Gourmet, Dave's Record shop is gonna be on his list. What's even better, is he has a collection much different than a scratchy vinyl of Herb Albert's Tijuana Brass that you can get for a buck at Goodwill. Instead, his selection is specifically for audiophiles with tube tuner receivers, graphic equalizers, tape decks and the ultimate record player with a diamond stylus. I left the place with three albums, one never seen before double play Beach Boys, Cal Tjader plays in Europe and the before 'Talking Heads' with David Byne's "Catherine's Wheel". However filing through the albums, my eyes lite up with many albums I haven't haven't seen in 30 years like first presses of Miles Davis, really old and classic Hendrix. He carries so much music, but he also carries and prices albums like the Who, Beatles, Emerson Lake Palmer albums, plus so many, many more album in terms of Jazz/Blues in better than average condition priced accordingly. So, if you are really looking for a unique present for that hard to buy for partner or Dad, go check the store out. For that matter, even quiz Dave by saying.. ummmm..who was Wes Montgomery anyways? One thing i have missed owning 33 is the album cover itself, its design with words and pictures on it is well worth the money spent on it. . - Also .. if you happen to know who might be selling it or have one, Dave seeks one of those white egg shaped chairs that had headphones in it. read more

Very good selection and very good prices and a friendly and knowledgeable owner. The only thing not very good is the location. Parking is almost impossible in that area. He would be wise to look for a location closer to Amoeba and Rasputin's so he could siphon off some of their customers and also some Cal students. And now would be a good time to do that because the selection of used items at those 2 stores is really sad. read more

Popped in here expecting not to find much and wound up almost $100 lighter upon leaving with a bag full of vinyl - and there were a few more I would have bought but I had to set a limit on myself (though I may sneak back and get them soon if they're still there). It's a very small record store with a small selection, but the records on offer are quality and very reasonably priced. It's not like the bigger "crate" stores where you flip through hundreds of crap records hoping to stumble into something cool, which can be exhausting. It's very relaxed. Not so much newer music - but if you like older rock and pop, jazz, blues and obscurities, it's definitely worth a visit. It is strictly vinyl. read more

The phrase, "get lost" has significant new meaning when it comes to Dave's. Getting lost in the masses of vinyl records has become sort of a past time of mine. From the moment I walk in, the overpowering sound of music on vinyl, with cracks and pops aplenty, takes me back to my childhood. Whether it be a song I can hear on any radio station, or a song that has been stored away and all but forgotten in the depths of my mind. Or, if I am lucky, a really cool song that I have never heard, that has me raising my iphone up with the shazaam app open. I'm rambling, but since I very rarely come across a vinyl only store, it's easy to get lost in my description during this review. Go see and hear Dave's, and remember to look high and low for records you want, or records you didn't know that you wanted. read more

I love Dave's. I love it because it's a great addition to the neighborhood, and a great local business. I love it because Dave seems like a stand up guy who genuinely cares about vinyl and the people who love and appreciate its warmth, character, and depth. It may be a small shop (which I also love), but it's got big heart and a great selection. Surprisingly so. Granted, my husband and I were looking specifically to round out our 70s rock collection, but there were all sorts of other goodies in other genres for our next visit. We mentioned to Dave that we were excited to find some of the albums on our short list. He asked to take a peek at the list and went digging under the stacks to try and unearth even more -- which he did. As a result, we got a great pressing of The Concert for Bangladesh. Score! read more

The few times I have been here I have managed to leave with some nice items, having not spent too much money. He has good prices and a nice selection of jazz, and a fine fellow indeed. read more

Very reasonably priced. Not as big as Amoeba or Rasputins of course but nice to support a local business. Very well organized, good selection. Quality over quantity. Personable staff. Boxes on the floor were 3 for 5. Buys albums as well. All the albums we bought were in impeccable condition. read more

I was in the Bay area for a week doing a lot of record hunting. And Dave's was my last stop. Good thing too because I found a grail, Dramarama's "Cinéma Vérité". Very cool. Amoeba and Rasputin are obviously mind-boggling in their size but there's nothing like the personality of the local shop. What makes Dave's a much more enjoyable experience is, well, Dave. Good conversation about music. read more

Now that I'm back at the area I have been dropping by Dave's every other week or so. It's incredible how the recent arrival bin is always renewed and the great deals that I find there. Not a large store, simply a great record shop! read more

This shop is incredible. They have tons of great albums at amazing prices. I can't wait to introduce this store to my husband. He may never leave. read more

My review is as a seller and Dave as the buyer. We were your typical boomers cleaning out the house after the kids had gone and had a small collection of 150 vinyl LPs from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. No way I wanted to go the eBay/Craigslist route trying to make a few bucks off albums for which I honestly had no idea whether they had value or were worthless. We just wanted them to find a good home and didn't want them to end up in the landfill. A Google search turned up Dave's, I emailed him, he responded quickly, and said "bring them over". I drove over there, he was friendly and seemed honest, he gave the albums a expert assessment, and offered what I considered to be a very fair price. I hope he makes money on these records. read more

Nice mix of recordings and albums from a wide range of genres; 70s & 80s popular groups; obscure jazz and classical records; and various others. Located on the East Bay's main drag of San Pablo Ave. you can buy and sell vinyl in an intimate, friendly atmosphere. read more

I like Dave's Record Shop mainly because Dave runs it! Nice little shop with good selection and I Dave is straightforward and knowledgeable about both selling and buying LPs. Yes it's a limited market but at least you get good treatment there versus the big shops in campus area. Highly recommended. read more

What's not to like? I've gotten great records at great prices over the years. He's not a gouger and almost always has something I've been looking for. Cool vibes. Great location. Dude is knowledgeable and very laid back. I never leave there without at least 5 records under my arm. read more

If your a producer like me lookin for chops, this is the record shop for you (stop wasting your time and money at Rasputin and Ameba). Great dollar bin selection(5 dollar records for a 1$) lots of fair priced soul, funk and jazz records, plus dave the owner always gives me a PBR while a digg and he knows a lot about music so chopping it up with him is cool too. Bottom line if your looking for vinyl in berkeley come to this shop you will not be disappointed. read more

There are many fine record shops in the Bay Area, but this one definitely got the most money out of me. Great titles in great shape, good prices, and the owner was always super nice. Having moved away, I miss this place almost as much as I miss the Ashby flea market. read more

Really cool record shop and the owner is super nice. Doesn't act like he knows everything and plays cool music while you're shopping. Has a listening station which is always helpful for the seekers of the unknown. Records are decently priced and has the new arrivals section always packed with new goodies. If you're in the area, be sure to check the place out! read more

We stumbled upon this shop on our trip through Berkeley. The reviews I read said that he had an abundance of vintage Indie and Punk, but that wasn't the case. He actually didn't have a lot of what I was looking for at all. However, his prices were well below what I would call average/reasonable, the stock was well organized, and most records were in great condition. It was refreshing to go to a record shop in which the owner is personable and not only doesn't try to gouge the customer, but really has some great buys! Thanks for restoring my faith in the traditional, and most fun way, of record shopping! read more

Dave was very accommodating, even though he had another person to deal with bringing in a record collection. He explained that he didn't take much classical music because of his smallish space, and because there isn't much demand for it. Still, he took about eight records and was extremely nice to deal with. read more

Great store with an incredible selection of records. Highly recommend just dropping by to say hi and pick up some good vibes. Everything a local store should be. read more

Dave's shop is cool. We are in town visiting from Pennsylvania. Looking for vintage 45 rpm records we stopped at a few shops in the bay area. This one was a good one for us. Dave's 45's are organized and I was really glad to see 2 boxes of Jazz/Instrumentals. Nice quality stuff. Dave is a nice guy too. Wish we could of stayed longer. Next time. read more

I just worked with Alan to sell part of my record collection, what a pleasant experience! It's clear these guys love music and go to great lengths to help customers enjoy browsing and shopping. My old classic rock albums have found a good, temporary home before someone else adds them to their collection. read more

Great every changing stock. Lots of finds plus good recommendations from the owner. Highly recommended.

This is all bad. After several years of DJing I stopped buying vinyl due to the cost, physical space, and digital options. However, I caught the bug to dig and Dave's was on my list. I will be a regular, despite my pocketbook telling me otherwise and the shrinking walking space in my apartment. There's a good selection and some great deals to be had. I got that old giddy feeling as I stumbled across gems in styles as diverse as soca and hip hop. I ended up with about 1/3 of a crate for $60 and all of the items were winners, at good prices. He also has some stuff for collectors, which I didn't pay much attention to as I was looking for stuff to play. It's a smaller shop so has that intimate feel with Dave more than wiling to engage in conversation and since this is the type of store to attract those who are a little more into music than the average person it's easy to find other music geeks. So, why only four stars? The selection can be limited, due to the size of the store. I enjoy electronic music as well and the selection was very limited. Considering that nearly everything here is used, that's out of Dave's control, yet the limited selection should be noted. Having said that, there are some true gems here and I highly recommend this store for music lovers. I shall be back! read more