UPDATE: Head over to Turntable Radio to check our Vinyl Carvers competition that gives you the chance to win your own free scratch plate!

Now here's a bit of interesting news for all you out there who are looking at getting your own custom vinyls pressed.
A UK based company, Vinyl Carvers, have just got in touch to let us know of their new 'everlasting dubplate' service, which should very much be of interest to quite a lot of you.

While not an entirely new process where Vinyl Carvers will be interestin for a lot of scratch DJs and producers is in their service, experience and what they offer...

You know how it is, you're a budding or up and coming scratch DJ, musician, producer and you're just aching to be able to press a few custom vinyls for yourself to use live, in battles, in your compositions or even just for personal practice. But getting acetate dubs isn't an option and most pressing plants won't consider one-off pressings or very small runs. In step Vinyl Carvers, who offer one-off pressings and short runs for a very competitive price.
Their one-off or short run pressings are not acetates (like a lot of dubplates you can get today) which will only last for a limited amount of plays. They are all vinyl, so they'll last the same as most records you'd buy. Custom records have always been fairly expensive and the reserved ground of DJs with enough money to get a run of records pressed to use in battles or at shows and then sell. With the everlasting dubplates you can just press a couple of records for your own use and not break the bank or the spirit. And with the rise in recent years of tour vinyl and scratch records such a service is definitely not to be overlooked.
Here's a run down of what Vinyl Carvers offer:
- One-off or short runs of vinyl quality dubplates (no acetates)
- Lasting quality and engineered for scratching
- Easy process and quick service. You can upload your material straight to their servers from your studio when you place an order and receive the vinyl within a few days (may take longer for overseas)
- Clear records, perfect for marking underneath and for use in battles, live shows etc...
- Mastering engineer with over 15 years of experience, to help get your record to sound perfect and the way you want it
- Locked grooves technology
- Create your own record

Let's talk money as well, after all custom vinyls can be an expensive business. The guys offer 7", 10" and 12" plates. If we take the 12" plate as an example for a scratch record it would cost you £50 for a two sided 12" with mastering, £40 for a one sided 12" with mastering, £40 for a two sided 12" without mastering and £30 for a one sided 12" without mastering. All these prices include VAT and are for either clear or black vinyl. And all you've got left to pay after that is the shipping costs. Which you can calculate on their site. You can also check the site for info about how many minutes you can fit on one side and the side effects of a higher amount (lower quality sound for example), as well as the custom prices for locked groove plates. For more info on all the other prices, check vinylcarvers.com. The bottom of that page contains direct links to their scratch and locked grooves plate offers.

So there you have it, if you've been considering getting your own records pressed for a while, then why not give the Vinyl Carvers a call and see for yourself what they can do. While they are based in the UK, they do take international orders, so for people outside the UK who may not have easy access to such facilities it could also be worth giving them a call. Their service is also ideal if you've been thinking about making your own break records and want to maybe test a copy or two before getting on with it. They also offer one-off EP and LP pressings, but you have to check that directly with them.
Visit their site, vinylcarvers.com, for all other info, their other services and a short history on their background. These guys do know their business and have a deep knowledge of record making, mastering and engineering.