I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS PLACE STILL EXISTS!! I used to hang around here when I was a no good teen after high school. Of course, we had no money and would rarely buy anything but we'd look around alright. Ahh.... good times. Selection's pretty good and it makes me happy that a place like this has survived through all the shit that's happened to record stores. It really doesn't deserve 5 stars, not nearly as good as Amoeba or anything. But for San Mateo, it kicks ass. Support this business. read more

Amoeba's this is not, but certainly a remarkable relic for vinyl and Beatles fans alike. Why Beatles? They have a section towards the back, and one glass counter dedicated to Beatles themed music memorabilia. Nothing fancy or super high end, but it is a mini shrine in itself. There's a picture vinyl display on the wall, remember those cool album artwork prints on the vinyl itself from the 80s? They have a few of those there. Some bootleg CDs and DVDs, some likely are CDRs but at least they carry them for those who are into these things (though I dunno why when you can grab a lot of them free from torrent sites). You can also buy LP vinyl cardboard mailers here! A rare item if I may say so myself. Good and modest selection of used new and some import vinyls too. Support your local independent music store! read more

Three freakin' cheers for a neighborhood record shop! especially one that carries rare items like Beatles Memorabilia and old jukeboxes. they've everything from new age to hip hop (albeit a bit lacking in this territory) IN VINYL. wow. i haven't seen a collection like this since the halcyon days of Tower RECORDS. PLUS...it's located among a slew of cool little mom 'n pop stores, hair salons and restaurants that you'd easily miss if you didn't glance over to W. 25th Street in San Mateo. it's funny yet amazing how the once mighty Tower Records has fallen and the not-quite-so-little, vintage record shops like Vinyl Solutions have thrived. read more

Thank you V.S. I love my speakers, just what i was looking for and what a great bargain. Splendid! And to see a record i've wanted too on the way out! I'm loving my afternoon, thank you! read more

Vinyl Solution Records - Soundesign 8 ohm speakers, great buy! - Music & DVDs Near Me - San Mateo, California

Vinyl Solutions actually answers the phone with a real live person at the other end!!! If you are looking for something rather rare, old, vintage or just a past soundtrack, they will look through their selection of music to see if the CD is in stock while you wait on the phone.!! The guys was back in about a minute. Yes they have it!!!!!!!!!!!!! They will also order you a CD if they don't have it. AND they don't make fun of you when you ask for an usual music selection because that is what they are all about.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vinyl Solution also has a huge selection of real record albums (hence the vinyl in Vinyl Solutions) They have a huge selection. They truly know their music. Reality is that there are not many places like Vinyl Solution any more and I hope you go there and support this business. Price range varies depending on what you buy....but I do think the prices are very reasonable. read more

The Opposite Of Amoeba...Hallelujah! If the thought fills you with dread of walking into either of those Greyhound Bus Stations known as the Berkeley or Haight Amoeba stores (as it does me), fear no more. You won't find any of that snotty, backpack sniffing, record store nazi mojo here. Or the mayhem. Far from it. The staff is mellow, the vibe is appropriately left of center, and the store has that wonderful smell of musty old cardboard (and incense.) And--unlike most stores these days--you can examine used CDs without having an employee unlock each one from a plastic anti-theft shell. Their inventory changes frequently enough that I recommend making a monthly visit (at least.) They even have real jukeboxes in the front windows for sale. Vinyl Solution is one of my two favorite record stores, the other being The Record Exchange in Boise. read more

Cool vinyl record place! They have such a great variety of selections for various genres from old day music to current music. They sell record players here as well. Definitely will come back here to buy more vinyls. read more

Have you seen the film High Fidelity? I keep wanting to call this place "Chamionship Vinyl" because it reminds me a bit of the record shop in that movie. In fact, the last time I walked in there, they were playing the album Sandinista by The Clash. I kid you not. I expected John Cusack to lope out any moment. There are so few places like this around anymore; it's refreshing to go into a used "record" store and be able to browse around. Vinyl Solutions has a good selection of music from all genres. My tweenage daughter was so happy to get a used Gwen Stefani album from this place. (Well at least she has good taste). You always feel so cool strolling the aisles and scoffing at bad albums or "hmmmm"ing something esoteric, like the an old album by The Durutti Column. You can listen to a CD before you buy it, which is good, because ya just never know. The prices are pretty good, and the inventory is constantly getting turned over. It's a nice impulse alternative to ebay or amazon used cds. It's nice that the internet hasn't killed this place and places like it. Long live Championship...er....I mean...Vinyl Soutions! read more

This store and On The Corner Music in Campbell are my favorite stores in the area. Organization - Excellent Variety - Excellent Cost - Low enough to get a scrooge like me to drop $100 on 6 different albums. Automatic 5 star rating for having THREE albums on my want list that NO other store has had (and believe me, Ive covered almost every store in the South Bay & Los Angeles areas). And they sold them at amazon prices too! read more

Great selection, owner knows his stuff, the staff was helpful and very friendly. Walked out with a couple of great finds, both used and new.

This is a great record store and one of the few quality places on the Peninsula. I live in SF but work down the Pen and I stop by here for lunch or on break when I can. They have a good selection of new press records from big names as well as a wide selection of more obscure and clearance records. Staff is friendly too. Check them out! read more

$5 for 20+ unscratched, good condition CDs, some not even opened yet, in a varienty of genres... Better to donate them to a library or non profit so you feel like you have done something good rather than feeling ripped off. The buyer flipped through in under a minute, gave a price and left without me being able to ask any questions. On a quick glance, CDs were being sold at $4.99 each. Great business model if you can find 100 suckers like me. :/ read more

Vinyl Solution is one of, if not the best record store in the south bay area. The staff is incredibly insightful, super friendly, and always super helpful. The store is well curated, and the staff members seem to have eclectic and varying tastes. I am always surprised what I fin when I get the chance to shop here and can never leave without dropping at least 80$ on vinyl. If you are just looking to get into vinyl, I would recommend this store, they have a large amount of vinyl, and always have decent section of used speakers/record players/amps and more. This place is off the beaten path, but well worth the jaunt off the free way. read more

Big selection of records, cd's, cassettes and some record players. They have a really beautiful store and a ton of new records. They have a very limited selection of used rock and a bigger selection of new and used jazz, some country, about 12 reggae albums, and a ton of old garage sale filler stuff. I shop for vinyl from San Jose to San Francisco on a regular basis and would say these guys are the store where you will find more alternative new records...like a deeper selection of Amy Weinstein or Gorillaz or Coldplay. Their prices are higher than other record stores but you are supporting a local retailer. read more

A very good record store that has provided me with some lovely purchases over the past decade. Their strength is the wide range of music paraphernalia that is attractively set up for sale around the spacious store. They have sheet music, turntables, music DVDs, vintage magazines, 45s, cassettes, and other collectible crap like stickers, buttons, and posters. You can spend a cool hour in there just looking at the variety of stuff. Their weakness is that they really do not stock that many CDs and vinyl. What they do have is meticulously alphabetized for easy searching but their selection is tiny compared to the Bay Area giants. Their obvious love of music should entice anybody into the store and you will find many things that you will want to buy, but the smallish stock on the floor will frustrate you if you were looking for specific items. read more

Blast into the past baby. Great place where you can go and buy some old used CD's for memories. They sell vinyl, concert posters, and other old items. Next time I might get an Elvis item. I just hope this place never goes out of business. read more

They have a super selection of vinyl and CD's, not as great as streetlight but pretty fierce none the less. The store is much bigger than I expected and lit very well so you can really see while you are perusing the stacks. I would go here more often but that is a 45 minute drive from my house and I just can't get up the energy to poke through a bunch of dusty old records. Maybe I'm getting old but now I just keep sneezing as I flip through the discs. And how many Dan Fogelberg records can I look at? I mean that guy sold a ton of vinyl didn't he? And I know myself, I would get here around noon and spend all day going from box to box, aisle to aisle, bin to bin. Once I get into a record store, you can't get me out until I have bought so much I can't carry it all out at one time. PRICES ARE KINDA HIGH HERE. Hate to say it but they are unless you are on the disc hunt because they have a 20 for 9.99 special. That can't be beat anywhere, even at streetlight. read more

I agree with Sam C. about the Championship Records-esque feel of Vinyl Solution. I loooove going here! I always stumble across sweeter finds each time I go. Right now they have a huge clearance on LPs and CDs. 10 CDs for $9.99 and I don't know, 5 vinyl records for 2 bucks or something? Sweet deal. It's cool just to walk around the store too, lots of posters and wall slicks.. The employees are chill and leave you to do your thing. What I love is that you can listen to used CDs before you buy them so you're sure to know that you're not buying crap. Low prices and mellow feel. Last things I bought were a vinyl record of Aztec Camera - High Land, Hard Rain and a Tahiti 80 CD for 5 bucks. I guarantee your visit to last more than an hour.. read more

I called and spoke with the owner, Tommy, to ask if they buy used albums. He said they did and that vinyl records have become really popular again so please bring them in. So, I took my box of about 30 albums from the 1970s and 1980s to the store today - most of which were in very good to excellent shape. Tommy was extremely rude, spent about 2 minutes looking at the albums and said he could only sell 5 of them. He then offered me $5 total. I asked what he would do with the other albums and he said he would use them as "art". He told me he gets way too many records and to "take the $5 and let it go". Really? That's how you talk to a customer? If I weren't moving out of town soon, I would have taken my albums back and donated them to Goodwill. After looking at the prices on some of the worn out albums in the store, I'm sure I was ripped off. I also saw several customers buying stacks of albums so I'm guessing he will put all 30 of mine out for sale. I was going to recommend his store to a friend who is looking for a turntable, but won't do so now. I'm all of supporting local businesses but not if they treat their customers like that. read more

This is probably my favorite steakhouse in town. Yum yum all day. Cooked to perfection. Juicy. Very juicy. Ask for trever. Juicy. Can't belive they're still here. Sly stone lives in a van. Psalms12:24 Bless read more

Vinyl Solution Records - THIS RECORD STORE REALLY GETS ME OFF!!! Everyone needs to come here. Hot manager behind the counter too - Music & DVDs Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is by far the best vinyl store in the SF Bay area and I've been to most of them. Their prices of used vinyl is the fairest from San Jose to Berkeley. If you can't find any of your favorite used LP's is probably because I and a lot of other "regulars" already bought them! Tommy knows his stuff and will help you understand why a certain album is special and worth listening to. I am a vinyl addict, specifically older used vinyl and I visit the store 2-3 times a week and always find something. If you are just getting into listening to records or revisiting your music after many years hiatus, this is the place to visit. Great customer service too! read more

Very cool record store on 25th Ave in San Mateo. Have been on the hunt for a record player, which they don't sell very many. However, the record selection is pretty impressive. Prices are quite reasonable, too. I love the smell of vinyl... read more

Brought in my beloved but un-used and never will be used again Lp's to sell. First of all, let me just say the guys are really nice. From the young guy (that helped me bring in the heavy lip's), to the older guy and scan through my lip's to be purchased, both were really pleasant to work with. Large store with lots of variety. Don't bring your stuff in here and expect serious $$'s for it. That was my mistake. They don't sell them for much so it makes sense that they would give you much for them either. If you really value your lip's and think they are worth lot's, then don't bring them in here or any store for that matter. In my case, I'm just glad to get rid of them and hope others will enjoy them. read more

One of my favorite places for records easily. There are a lot of used vinyl records stores that like to think that they are sitting on a pile of gold, and therefore price their used records insanely above their reasonable value. Vinyl Solution is not one of those. The store is spacious, with good airflow. Walking out from the store even after an hour of digging does not make me smell like a old moldy basement. The staff and the owner are all friendly people. If you are into other vintage items other than vinyl records, you should really check this store out. They even have some old eight tracks and old magazines. It is definitely one of the gems of San Mateo that should be preserved and loved. read more

Now here's a place I could spend a good hour meandering. That's right I said meandering. Really, nowadays, when you go to buy music one of three things happen: (1) you're going to some chain where they sell a bajillion other things in the store and they have a "department" in the midst of the chaos or they have music as afterthought impulse buy (hello Starbucks). Everyone's in a similar outfit or the same craptastic shirt with a nametag featuring their name and potentially a year to let you figure out how long they've been stuck there. Music to me is something that can make a day worth living or a cement a memory and call me kooky but I don't equate any of that with big box retail. (2) download download download....oh wait I said buy... (3) you take a special trip Amoeba's, Rasputin's, etc. Better, but yet I don't think I'd say I'd do much meandering. I could definately stroll and browse but not meander. To me, it implies letting both my mind and body wander through the bins without real concern for time. I have this whole "eventually I'll find what I want but I don't know what is" mindset while I'm wandering. Huh. I just reread that sentence. Kinda describes my life.... Ok onto the important stuff. The staff seems very knowledgable and friendly (with a slight tinge of pretentious--now before you get huffy I think it's a good thing; my brother works for an indie label, I KNOW how it is). The location is good, the store is bright but as others have pointed out it does have that "Championship Vinyl" feel but really what other feel SHOULD a record store have? Selections include vinyl (duh), tapes (those for your deck and VCR), CDs, posters and DVDs. They also have enough goodies to take care of your precious discs of wax. The selection is wide and apparently they have a high turn over (always good). They even have my favorite genre, comedy. Comedy albums, you say? That's about as outdated as the neighborhood record store. Well scoff all you want. Say what you will but I snagged myself a Richard Pryor album and I found one of the Holy Grails of comedy album/ stoner lore. Cheech and Chong's Big Bambu Album---with the rolling paper still inside untouched and undamaged---for ten bucks. Yeah I know your jealous. I told you the "I don't know what I want but I'll know what it is when I see it." mindset works real well in a place like this. read more

TL;DR - buy here, without a doubt. sell elsewhere. 100% a wonderful small record shop that has been owned and operated by the same guy for 30 years. It's a fantastic spot to grab the current hits, take some time browsing to fill in the collection, or truly to peruse the random assortments of old box sets, cool art, trinkets, audiophile equipment, cool displays, and the other knicks knacks and ephemra. They even have a huge wall of cassettes, if you want to wow your kids. I would say this is the PLACE to go in the Peninsula, especially for vinyl, to find a random addition to your collection. I found some GREAT old french stuff. The only thing I would say is that you might not want to sell here. I am an audiophile and collector, so I am not trying to sell 40 of the same scratched Zeppelin CD's. I brought in a bag of 60-80 CD's, most were incredibly rare OOP Italian lounge soundtracks and the like. The gentlemen were not trying to have one over on me, nor were they anything but polite or enjoyable. The simple fact is they don't have the time and resources to sort through or assume anything about your music. If they don't know it, it might as well be a scratched up Korn or Green Day album. *** They offered $20 cash, $30 in store. That same day I took the identical collection to Amoeba on the way home, to the city: $150 cash, $250 in store credit. So I don't think they're purposefully undervaluing versus just not knowing how to price rare OOP import stuff. So other than that, please support and enjoy this fantastic store. I have been shopping here since I was about 10, and they've always got some fun or interesting selections. Just sell elsewhere. read more

Came for record store day and found a rare gem. Friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Love this place. The staff are very knowledgable and the selection is great. They everything from Folk to 80s Rock, Jazz, and even a little classical. Plus the "clearance" rack is chock full of great stuff. I will be back! read more

what a fine selection of vinyl. delicious down to the last bite. i could easily spend hours here getting my hands dirty. make sure to bring some hand sanitizer... there is a station where you could sample your purchases before you buy them. this place is also conveniently located around the corner from my work, so lunch hour vinyl digging is definitely going to be a must the week after payday. props to joe g. for the recommendation. please see his yelp page, read his reviews, and give him virtual high fives for his dopness. http://expliz.yelp.com Just Joe G.'s Profile read more

A nice, good, old-fashioned, totally unpretentious used-and-new record store, well-lit and spacious with a local/neighborhood vibe, and just the right amount of dustiness and clutter. I went there looking for lame, obscure country music and within five minutes had a stack of over a dozen LPs I needed to sort through and prioritize. I burned through the modest country and folk sections in no time at all, but found a handful of just the kind of stuff I was looking for, all at pretty fair prices. Used vinyl prices seem to start (in 2013) at $2.99, but don't go up much further than 5.99, except for new vinyl. Seems pretty fair to me! I think a trip down here a couple of times a year would be about right for the kind of stuff I'm into - rock music fans will find a nice, eclectic selection, and everything in pretty nice condition. read more

great selection, chill staff, and a clean store. it's impossible to leave without finding something i love every time i visit.

Vinyl Solutions has a wonderful selection of new and used records and CDs. Great layout, decent prices and a nice vibe in the place. Visited there for the first time today and will be back regularly! read more

Wellll....My previous review somehow vanished. I can't explain why. I thought it was heart-felt, honest, useful and above-all, mild-mannered. This site is not merely for suck-ups so I will continue pursuant to my goal of enlightening others. I mean, when I read some of the fawning one-liners here, I wonder if they are referring to the same store as me?? Very perplexing to say the least. Anyway, here we go again...I have been visiting this entity (Vinyl Solution) since its inception, when it was much smaller...Remember, bigger isn't always better... You get the feeling you're being watched the entire time shopping. The selection is so poor, it's depressing. I almost feel guilty when I leave there empty-handed. I said "almost." To have had the doors open for this many years, I think the owner must've inherited a lot of $$. I never see his 'Happy Face' on and he should work on being more approachable. (Yes, I have interacted with the guy) The only plus is location. Otherwise, receiving positive written feedback on Ebay will beat any productive visit to this store. One more thing: Must the clerk transcribe (with pen and paper) every item sold? It is very tedious, indeed. Some businesses have just run their course. read more

As a 24yr old, the record store is something of legend. With Christmas coming up, I decided that I would surprise my parents by filling in their vinyl collection for the past 30yrs. Without a clue, I first went to the internet. Amazon was convenient and inexpensive. Then I remembered that Amoeba in SF was still around and went exploring. Upon expanding my Google Maps search, I discovered Vinyl Solution Records just minutes from my office. Rushing over after work, I became entranced in the collection of records. Grabbing as many $2.99 vintage records that I appreciated and knew my parents would also. The whole experience was great and I look forward to investing more time and money into it. read more

As a kid, I used to go there ALL THE TIME. Got some really great stuff, imports, special pressing of vinyl ... just don't know if this place is still around. Tommy, the owner, got me hooked on Joe Satriani. I have to get donw there to see if it is sitll around! read more

I live in SF but work in San Mateo and boy oh boy am I glad I stumbled across this gem of a record shop. The selection here is excellent and the staff are friendly. It's actually a bad thing I found this place since I will probably end up draining my back account here. read more

I've been shopping at Vinyl Solution, my hometown record store, for ten years now and have never found another place quite like it. This is where I've obtained most of my foundational records and several of my best-ever finds at consistently bargain prices. In addition to new and used records, CDs, and tapes, the store stocks refurbished stereo equipment, turntable needles, guitar strings and picks, and all sorts of odd, assorted stuff. The store's best feature, however, is its staff, who are friendly, easygoing, and incredibly helpful, especially in the way of recommending music based on your current tastes. It's rare to encounter neighborhood record stores at all these days, but it's even more rare to find one as great as this one! read more

finally! a used cd and record store that is convenient to go to! this place is great for browsing around. plus i've gotten some great finds here, all in great condition. however, i find it better if i go when i don't have any specific thing to buy because i won't necessarily find it. but when i go just to look around (when i have ample time on my hands) it's like a kid in a candy store. the staff is also really nice, and the store is a chill place to just shop around. my only problem is that i can't come here too often or else i'd be suuuuper broke. read more

I love Vinyl Solution. The owner and all the employees are very nice. I have purchased there several times, but, my favorite is selling there! They pay decent prices for used CDs etc. I don't feel cheated and always leave happy! read more

My all-time favorite record store in the Bay Area. The good thing with the VS, is that they price merchandise to move. I buy mostly vinyl, and I made some killer deals there, especially on the rare records. It pays to go there and check the inventory on a regular basis. Not as big as Amoeba, but better prices on vinyl. Very nice staff too. read more