Alright folks, gather ’round! Today I’m diving into a topic that’s been bugging me for a while: are gold records really gold? I mean, we see ’em hanging in restaurants, museums, and, let’s be honest, probably in some dentist’s office somewhere. But are they the real deal?
So, first thing I did was hit up the internet. I figured someone, somewhere, must have done the research. Turns out, surprise surprise, they ain’t solid gold. What a shocker, right? Like, if every record that went gold was made of actual gold, the RIAA would be bankrupt faster than you can say “Baby Shark.”
But knowing they weren’t pure gold wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to know how they were made. So, I dug a little deeper. Here’s where it gets interesting. I found out that the “gold” part is usually just a thin layer of gold-colored metallic paint, or maybe some gold leaf if they’re feeling fancy. The actual disc underneath? Usually vinyl or some other cheaper material.
Okay, paint and vinyl… still not satisfied. I needed to see this for myself. So, I went on a hunt. I figured I could find a beat-up, maybe damaged, gold record at a flea market or a used record store. Strike one and two. No luck. Apparently, even fake gold records are considered too cool to throw away.
Plan B: Make my own! I went to a craft store and grabbed a cheap vinyl record, some gold spray paint, and a frame. Now, I’m no artist, but I figured I could fake it ’til I make it. I masked off the center label, laid down a few coats of gold paint, and waited for it to dry.
Once it was dry, I slapped it in the frame, and boom! A DIY “gold” record. Looks pretty legit, if I do say so myself. And the whole thing cost me less than $20. Way cheaper than buying a real one, that’s for sure.
Here’s the breakdown of the process:
- Step 1: Scoured the internet for info on gold record composition.
- Step 2: Searched for a real gold record to inspect (failed miserably).
- Step 3: Bought a cheap vinyl record and gold spray paint.
- Step 4: Sprayed the record gold (multiple coats, gotta get that shine!).
- Step 5: Framed the masterpiece.
So, there you have it. Gold records aren’t really gold. They’re more like gold-colored trophies. But hey, they still look cool, and now I’ve got my own to hang on the wall. Maybe I’ll even start selling ’em… just kidding! (mostly).