hopeless LP's


Ok, now a question about maintaining one's collection.

4 day weekend this weekend, so the wife and I, as a diversion, are going to start to go through our large and varied collection of LP's (garage sale, thrift store, mostly) and pare it down to records actually worth keeping.

Assuming a clean record (we have a nitty gritty) and a properly set up TT, but NOT the "finest" stylus in the world (a Sumiko Black Pearl, which has an elliptical stylus), can it be safely assumed that if a well-cleaned, de-staticized, gruv-glided, etc. record is being played and still either distorts or crackles, or sounds like someone shaved off the high frequencies, that is is, alas, a goner and should be put out for trash?

I'd hate to throw away my found vinyl (some of it very nice performances, mostly the classical stuff) only to find out later that if I had a different TT or cart set-up, in fact the gross and obvious distortion I am hearing now would not be audible.

Thanks again, as always

pcanis
pcanis
I can assure you that if you find these well-cleaned LP less than desirable while playing on your current system, chances for them to sound much better is next to none on a state-of-the-art system. However, if you collect for the sake of performances and artists, then the sound shouldn't matter as much. A lot of eBayer would pay over $2000 for a clean copy of Joanna Martzy in mono while most audiophiles would probably consider the recording low-fi since it suffers from poor high and low frequency extension. You should always identify what draws you into this hobby -- the music itself or the vehicle that takes you there.
percy faith, mitch miller, andy williams, foghat, molly hatchet, barry manilow, chicago, and all the firestone christmas vol's, should deminish the work load without fear of wishing you'd have not disguarded prematurely. hesitate to include john denver,but the john surplus is enough for everyone in the country to own at least two copies.
if in doubt pigeon-hole until later.
i have several lp's that appear to have been sand blasted but play thru without any assistance. won't part with unless i upgrade the copy. kurt
Rdr4b is right on the mark in each sentence of his post. The signal processing mentioned in my previous post is a band-aid and not a cure for a couple of sonic ailments.
I remember that years ago (70's), when radio used vinyl, we used to use a devise called a Burwin Noise Reducer that did a good job of reducing ticks and pops. Don't know where to start looking for one...maybe "Antique Electronic Supplies" in Arizona could help. Tel. 480-820-4643 or www.tubesandmore.com website. Happy Tunes!
I have bought thousands of used LPs and , it sounds to me like you have other problems! you will encounter LPs that are worn out or hav ebeen played on a system that has ruined them but this happens not that often, at least to me. I have a rather expensive LP play back system but I have experience with all levels of LP play back and it sure sounds to me like you problems are in the arm , cartridge, or phono section. Befor you toss the LPs I would do some serious dective work on that chain.