It's a tale as old as time: you get what you pay for. And so when you see an online ad offering cheap records delivered fast, keep in mind that these are likely to be poor-quality vinyl manufactured overseas. Hellbender Vinyl proudly presses records in the USA!

Part of the reason that you may be able to find cheaper vinyl record pressing options from other manufacturers is because we never use a DMM (direct metal mastering) process to create your stampers. While the cost is less expensive for records created using DMM, they are often criticized for lacking the "warmth" that music fans expect from vinyl audio. DMM cuts are also not ideal for records that may be re-pressed many times over the years, because they deteriorate over time. Lacquering is the preferred "old school" method of vinyl enthusiasts!