Vinyl headache from hell!!!

I've updated in an earlier post and on my system page my findings on these issues. The cartridge loading selector knob on one of my phono stage would intermittently cause static-like noises. Add in a number of bad pressings on a previous order, and static on a newly retipped cartridge are the cause of all my frustration. So a few different things happening at the same time. I appreciate everyone who has shared advices here and the few who has sent me messages, I can see better days coming!

Although it sounds as if your alignment is off, I am guessing that you have checked this,  vertically, horizontally, and side to side-front to back, whatever that is called. I once had an issue with a binding wire in the anti-skate mechanism.   The owner's manual for my pal's Grace branded Rega 3, Grace 707, and Grace F-9 system has an interesting comment on anti-skating:  Watch the stylus and see if it bend either way a bit when playing a record.  Adjust anti-skate to stop this.

I must be losing my mind. Scar, you say you heard the same static-like distortions on the same LPs at your friends house using his completely different system as what you are hearing on your own system. For me, this would exonerate your turntable/ tonearm /cartridge from being the source of the problem. Seems like your problem is with your LPs. So I wonder why the discussion about what equipment you should buy is ongoing.

I experienced this same thing within the last couple of weeks. We live in AZ and the HVAC unit for the master bedroom and the library/main listening room had not been turned on all winter because we like to "sleep cold" and I'm comfortable in the listening room with a sweatshirt if needed. Unknown to me my wife had turned the thermostat to 68 to just take the chill off. This coincided exactly with the phenomenon you're describing.

All of a sudden the air was much drier and static was much more present. It took a couple of days for me to figure out the connection. As with what you describe the static would build up and be noticeable in the middle of the record. Part of what I discovered was that if I lifted the stylus and cleaned it the effect seemed to be far less. Probably this took the static off the system. I simply rehumidified the library/main listening room and the phenomenon like what you described completely disappeared and all was back to normal. 

I don't know where you live but if something like that has gone on in terms your living situation leading to having much dryer rooms and therefore more static it might be a solution for you. Hope this helps.

Happy listening!

unless this problem is happening with all your lp's i don't see how it can be a cartridge alignment/ tracking force issue or static. i have some lp's (and 45's) that exhibit the same problem-it is in the vinyl. as to new lp's, i have found most of the new lp's ("remastered, heavy vinyl") are worse sounding than the original(old) version i have.