Charles Turner Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Does anyone have any secrets to share on cleaning older jazz and classical lps from the 50s and 60s? I use a Nitty Gritty machine and solution made from the VPI concentrate and it works fine on lps from the 70s forward. I usually remove the lp about half way through the wet cycle, scrup it with a Nitty Gritty nylon brush on a clean sheet of glass, then vacuum. Although the older lps look clean and "sound clean" they still have mild to moderate surface noise. Will higher end fluids such as Record Research Labs help or is it just the fact these lps are older and did not have the benefit of being played initially on higher quality turntables? thanks 1976 Cornwalls ALK crossovers Stax Lambda Signature earspeakers SRM T1 tube driver Rega P25 turntable Benz Micro H2 cartridge McIntosh MC225 amplifier McIntosh C15 McIntosh MR71 tuner DIY 89259 cross-connect speaker cable DIY Superlatives interconnects Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analogman Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Mild to moderate surface noise=Analog LP playback! Listen to all the MUSIC that these treasures possess! If "surface noise" is an irritant try finding your favorite titles on "Digitally Remastered For Superior Sound"CD reissues. I am not trying to be a wise ***. Analogman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analogman Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Charles, Read your profile;YOU already know what I just said! (You're 50 years old) Enjoy the Music! Analogman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazman Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 Charles, Try the cleaner from the Disc Doctor and the brushes that he sells. They reach a little deeper into the grooves. I would also not place the records on glass surfaces for the adiitional cleaning. After cleaning and drying them, use a carbon fiber brush or Zerostat gun to remove the remaining static from the vinyl. Klipsch out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Turner Posted February 23, 2004 Author Share Posted February 23, 2004 Gez...I didn't know my age was in my profile nor did I know anyone ever looked at that. It's gone now! BTW, in Dallas we state age in base 8, not base 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 I grew up on vinyl. I'm not a fan now. In the early '70s I was able to remove some particulates by washing the disks with water, small amount of detergent, and soft hand held brushes. It was a big help. These were the days before professional kits. Tracking brushes were the new thing. Some damage just couldn't be reversed. My thought at the time, and now, was that the stylus caused tremendous stress on the vinyl. It would grind in any dust rather than plough it out. Someone must have done a calculation on the pounds per square inch caused by even two ounces of force on the very small contact area. I wonder whether the walls of the groove were indeed turned into veritable sandpaper by the the process of playing dusty vinyl. Some styllus sellers would display microphotographs of worn stylus made of steel, saphire, and (to a lesser extent) diamond. Obviously vinyl itself could not cause such wear. So I conclude, strictly by this, that the groove walls had been imbedded by foreign particulates. My guess is that they can not be washed out. But again, this is just my thought without too much experience. OTOH, I've not seen anyone claim they can cure the noise issue. Gil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted February 23, 2004 Share Posted February 23, 2004 A Zerostat gun may help with those pesky pops and clicks. Also, do a final cleaning with distilled water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomac Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Gary, where does one get A Zerostat gun and how much are they? BTW, you have a PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
middlecreekguy Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 I`ll answer that for ya Boomac. You can pick one of those guns up at Redtrumpet.com for about $69.00. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomac Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Many thanks MCG. Every time I click the word forum it seems to cost money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 ---------------- On 2/24/2004 9:38:34 AM boomac wrote: Many thanks MCG. Every time I click the word forum it seems to cost money! ---------------- LOL. Me too. I got mine on ebay for about $50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
analogman Posted February 24, 2004 Share Posted February 24, 2004 Charles Turner, I own roughly 2,000 lps. I play (and buy) titles on vinyl whenever possible. I have more than my share of used discs picked up along the way from thrifts etc. Over the years I have had mixed results salvaging these orphans. YOU ARE EXACTLY CORRECT in thinking that many older titles have been subjected to the "Grind-O-Matics" of their day and NOTHING can be done in the way of cleaning to reverse the mechanical damage these discs have suffered (engraving). Also,much of the vinyl formulations used in the 50s and 60s were noisy by nature.Millions of dollars have changed hands taken by people who have "solutions" claimed to reduce or even eliminate these MECHANICAL problems.Your routine sounds good to me and your cleaning machine is a good one as well.As far as cleaning records is concerned it's like barbecue,everyone who makes it is an expert and knows best.I tried many of the "store bought" solutions and eventually settled on my own home brew.Numerous recipes are out there and are certainly worth trying until you find one you like.Although some would like you to think so,cleaning records ain't like practicing medicine.Just my two cents worth.Have a good day! Analogman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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