Phono Select Records

Stopped by to check out what they have. Found several good deals. Also, they have really good quality vinyl. I’ll be back!

Good prices, excellent merchandise, great ambience, always accurate background music and the coolest people behind the counter — not snobs —. 100% fun and inexpensive record shop in miles and miles.

I have been collecting vinyl for 3 – 5 years, and I have a pretty extensive and varied collection. Dal Basi, owner and CEO of Phono Select Records, has the best vinyl shop in Sacramento. His amazing selection of vinyl, cassettes, VHS’, and fan zines is completely outstanding. You can find anything from Donna Summer, to The Cramps, to everything in between. If you’re ever in the Sacramento area, and need to get your vinyl fix, please check out Dal at Phono Select. You won’t be disappointed!

I love Phono Select. They have just about everything you would ever want and if they don’t have it they can and will get it for you quick. Even the dollar record bin is full of great selections that are in fantastic condition. Plus if you mention TUBE. Magazine the owner will give you a little discount. Go. Go. Go. Keep our local record store alive. Let all the days be record store day!

Awesome record shop, even more awesome dude who owns and runs it!
This was my first visit to this new location and to be honest there wasn’t much curb appeal. But once inside I could immediately tell how much the owner loves and appreciates music and records.
He has great imports of new records you won’t find anywhere else in town.
He has a vast selection of punk rock records you won’t find anywhere else in several towns.
EVERYTHING is meticulously organized and priced to sell.
This will definitely be on my record store circuit from now on.

I come in here with my vinyl junkie boyfriend almost weekly. We love the selection of punk music Dal carries not only on vinyl but on cassette as well and it’s nice that he advertises their new merch on Instagram (last purchased several Bad Brains tapes and an obscure Beastie Boys record.) There are a lot of albums here that you cannot find at places like Dimple Records, but some are a lot more expensive here too (when I’ve compared prices online at Discogs or at other places like Amoeba). Bottom line: pretty sweet place if you like the specific genre of music carried here. Well organized and worth the trip every time.

Just left Phono Select and was blown away with what they had. Lots of rare, new, used records that I thought I wouldn’t find. The owner was super knowledgeable and helpful. Definitely coming back to this place.

In another life I owned a record store. Maybe in another life I was Dal Basi who runs Phono Select. At a time when the Amazon gods have killed REAL record stores Dal runs his shop and serves the community selling records. CDs and even (gasp) cassettes. Also by hosting rad community events.
When I ran the Met he was also known as a top notch mentor for Metsters. I’m sure he still is. Long may he and Phono Select run.

Simple or obscure, with helpful and intuitive little blurbs on tons of records, you can’t buy records from anyone who cares more about your Record Store experience.

Pretty deep selection of metal albums. Could be bigger but you’ve gotta start somewhere.

I didn’t get a chance to visit their former location in midtown, so this was my first experience at Phono Select. Definitely reminds me of an earlier time when record stores were a place that people would congregate and talk about music, shows, etc. And as a former record store clerk, I’m really picky about where I buy. I usually have specific things that I’m looking for or at least hope to find. Just came to browse the vinyl section so can’t really speak for their CDs or tapes, but everything was categorized well. I really love how each album has a brief description written on it. I did actually buy one record on a whim that was described as a «UK indie rock band with sound similar to Gene Loves Jezebel and The Cult» (haven’t listened to it yet)! The owner is very helpful and you can tell that he takes a lot of pride in this place. I found the prices reasonable (especially as a Bay Area resident where the cost of vinyl is skyrocketing). Left with some Bacharach, Jay-​Z and Bad Brains. I saw a good amount of 45s but didn’t have time to go through them all. Next time. I’ll definitely be back!

This place rules. Dal is super nice and knowledgeable, and always has something to say about the records I buy. I’ve taken a few of his recommendations, and they’re always spot on. I could go on about the great selection and better-​than-​fair pricing, but one of my favorite things about Phono is how comfortable it is to shop! All the shelving is at perfect browsing height, no uncomfortable bending or squatting, and no records packed in so tight you can’t flip through them! Seems like a no-​brainer but there’s too many record stores that aren’t set up as well. Thanks Phono!

Super kind and caring, inspiring and compassionate human being. I liked the music and the setting but I like the owner even better. If you want a piece of art for your ears and your soul… shop here and bypass pecking away at your computer keys and ordering online from a stranger you will never meet… get something special from someone special instead. What a damn nice guy Dal is!

I finally caught this place open one day and had to stop in. It’s actually located right away the corner from my office and I kept seeing the sign out and was curious to stop in. The record selection is quite extensive, the staff/​owner was very friendly. They don’t really have normal hours, but they have a fb page and post information on there and you can also call and check to see if they have the record you need before going.

New location, same great selection and owner.
Sadly they are open only one day a month from this new wearhouse location.
Hopefully that will change soon.

Please, Please, Please re-​open!

Just started going here after movingo a block away. I have heard about how great this place was. The rumors are true.
Great selections of music, zines, books, & other great stuff (Black Flag & Descendents Coffee Cups). I highly suggest checking out the posters/​prints. Tons of those.
They also do Mixtape Swaps, & many other rad things/​sales as well. Staff is super cool, & full of knowledge. Get your butt down there, & spend some $!

One heck of a record store. This is not for the casual appreciator looking for $ 2, beat up reissues of old Billy Joel albums. This is a haven for the record-​loving music connoisseur, a place to go for quality, variety and knowledge.
The first thing that struck me about Phono Select was how clean and organized it is. Usually a record store is a chaotic mix of disorganized racks, posters and memorabilia. Here, you’ll find a small but incredibly organized selection of quality vinyl from quality artists of all generations. There is a great display of more valuable records behind the register on the wall. The employees are curt and dry, but they obviously appreciate a fellow music lover and love what they do.
Because this is such a specialty store, the selection is top quality and therefore a little limited. But if you want a record by your favorite artist in great shape, there is no better place to go.

I figure that having Phono Select three blocks from the office has saved me about 1500 miles of driving to and from Amoeba Records in order to pick up the newest titles on In the Red and Siltbreeze (for about $ 5 less than Dimple (*IF* Dimple will get it))…plus whatever unexpected surprise I find in the new arrivals section.
Any record store carrying new releases likes to say «We can order anything», but I think they mostly just say that ‘cos they feel like they hafta, and I’m sure they’d prefer that no one ask for a special order. But Phono Select goes way above and beyond such trite record store lip-​service. When you are a reliable repeat customer there, they actually ask what else you’d like to see there, and they go get it for you even if you don’t promise to buy it.
Few other stores around here have ever had the guts to go get some of the titles they carry. Not only do these guys know good music and even NEW music… They trust that someone among Sacramento record geeks will actually buy it. There’s no «this is too cool for Sacto» excuse. Finally… a record store that believes in you, Sacto!

I’m biased.
Well, in truth, we all are. Some people are scared to admit it. Some are too arrogant to see it. And many don’t realize that their biases are emitted at the most inopportune times.
Here is my ode to the 12 step program. I am biased because I’m picky and my standards are too f***ing high. There, I said it.
When it comes to vinyl, I am not biased. Rather, open to ideas and recommendations. Why? Because I don’t know jackshit about records. Sure I listened to them when I was studying classical music: Glenn Gould, Horowitz, Ashkenazy… Modern and jazz? Not really. It is because I have my likes and dislikes. Sure, I enjoy Champagne music or what the ex pointed out as Vanilla music. I collected a bunch of Guy Lombardo vinyl and he even gave donated me a couple to get them off his shelf. Although, I have not started a Lawrence Welk section. No Percy Faith. No Mario Lanza.
Yet.
What makes me happy about this cute modern store, is the availability of music in various forms geared towards the unique and innately encompassing. The boys behind the concept have given this interesting space a new name and a new reason to meander over after snacking at Rick’s Dessert Diner or Sugar Plum Vegan.
CDs and Vinyl take up the key points of this simple box layout, with interesting tabs set aside for Hardcore, Hicksville, Hillbilly, and of course, my favorite, Jazz cats. The stretch of vinyl was a welcome sight and well presented. In the end, I purchased two (only because the previous days had already added a good 25 pieces to my small yet growing collection):
Cruising With Cab, Cab Calloway Lp and a Rusty Dedrick Salute to Bunny Berrigan. I was also toying with a Benny Goodman record, but recalled having just picked one up at a thrift store. Newer Count Basie collections, but I had just picked up four the other day. Temptation! The prices for both of these were significantly lower than say eBay and other vinyl sites. And, of course, no shipping charges here.
Great staff, awesome space, a good selection with potential that I hope they expand… and did I mention I was biased? Only because I have several friends who were integral components and I wish the best for them, as any firm believer should and would.