DesertTwang
Active Member
This has me puzzled: The other day, I found a record at a thrift store that I was very excited about: Kitaro's Silk Road II. Played it last night and it was pure heaven, except for a skipping groove right in the first 20 seconds of the first track. This was after I had washed the record with the SpinClean. The vinyl overall looks pretty good, has lost its sheen, and accumulated some scuffs and marks, but nothing that looks serious, maybe a low VG+.
Played it again, and it skipped again, at the same spot. Examined the vinyl around the circumference but couldn't find anything. So I payed attention to the exact location where the skip occurred and examined more closely, under strong light. Finally spotted a teeny-tiny pit(?), barely visible to the naked eye. So small I couldn't even tell whether it was a defect or dirt. Took to the spot first with vinyl cleaning fluid, then with lighter fluid, rubbing carefully with a microfiber cloth. Didn't do anything. Needle would still skip a groove at that spot.
Then, this morning, I put the record on again and again, it played through the spot just fine. Restarted it, and it played through the spot without hitch.
Isn't this weird? Why would the stylus skip at first, but then run through a trouble spot fine, with the only difference being a night's rest in between?
Played it again, and it skipped again, at the same spot. Examined the vinyl around the circumference but couldn't find anything. So I payed attention to the exact location where the skip occurred and examined more closely, under strong light. Finally spotted a teeny-tiny pit(?), barely visible to the naked eye. So small I couldn't even tell whether it was a defect or dirt. Took to the spot first with vinyl cleaning fluid, then with lighter fluid, rubbing carefully with a microfiber cloth. Didn't do anything. Needle would still skip a groove at that spot.
Then, this morning, I put the record on again and again, it played through the spot just fine. Restarted it, and it played through the spot without hitch.
Isn't this weird? Why would the stylus skip at first, but then run through a trouble spot fine, with the only difference being a night's rest in between?