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Vinyl foibles

I'd like to make this a space to ask questions about vinyl problems you're having trouble solving. I have a lot of questions, but I think it's better if we ask one at a time, or else I think we could have long lists.

Here is my first question. I have a Degritter album washer. I think it works great. I wash all my albums once, but not before I play them again and again.  Somehow, though, and this includes new albums no one else has ever touched, they pick up ticks and what sounds like scratches. I rewash the album and it sounds like new again. I only touch albums by their edges. How do inner bands become so dirty that sometimes a smudge can last a minute or more?  I've been playing vinyl albums for more years than many of you have lived, and I have learned to be very careful with vinyl. Are there vinyl gremlins haunting my album shelves?

audio-b-dog
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,703 posts
 

lot to unpack there…

I have both a Degritter and a KL and a hopefully endless supply of MoFi archival grade inner sleeves. But face it… while rust never sleeps dirt rules the visible world on down to the microscopic, Get a black light and you might get a sense. Also I’ve sited both US machines in closets as the fan drying systems create other issues….

best to you in music

billstevenson
1,183 posts
 

I have albums in my collection that I bought with paper route money circa 1960.  LOL, and that was after several years of experience playing my grandmother's 78s on her windup Victrola.  How old do we have to be to qualify around here?  Anyway, manufacturing records is a dirty process.  So, my first advice for you is to put your new records in your Degritter before their first play.  Next, clean off your turntable platter probably daily.  I usually use a microfiber cloth to do that.  Next, check the air filter on your hvac system, it probably would benefit you to replace it more often.  I change my filter every 3 months and I don't live in a dusty environment.  Next, take a hard look at your dust jackets.  Are they paper?  If so throw them away and get some good ones.  I have preferred Sleeve City Disckeepers for years, but MoFi and others make good ones too.  Finally, every time you put a record on the turntable do two things before dropping the needle:  Give the record a swipe with a good record brush to remove any dust and, take a soft brush to clean the stylus with a gentle back to front motion to remove any dirt that might be on it.  I use Stylast for that, but a small artist's paint brush works fine. Do these two things for every side of every record.   

noromance's avatar
noromance
10,473 posts
 

What they said. Also ensure the humidity is not less than 50% as static builds up and can attract dust and also cause pops on the phono input.

rsf507
2,577 posts
 

On WBF (Whats Best Forum) theres been lots of discussions regarding the use of static eliminators. There are 2 Japanese companies that produce them specifically for audio, DS Audio and CS Port. They are pricey but they do work. 

larsman's avatar
larsman
3,146 posts
 

I've had a DeGritter for years that I use on my records - I just buy new ones and run them through there once - and I've noticed the same thing; they play perfect the first time, but not often, but sometimes subsequent plays will have a small tic or two, but I've not experienced what sound like scratches. 

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