Hum in the grooves

[Psimonics]

I recently got a Yamaha GT-750, and have found it to be the quietest turntable I've ever owned. So when tonight, I got out my original pressing of John Coltrane, A Love Supreme on Impulse, which I have always thought to be immaculate, I was surprised to hear a humming when I put the needle down. It's in the very outer lead in grooves, audible during tracks and in the lead out grooves right to the very end.

I suppose I hadn't noticed it on my previous deck (a Pro-ject Essential). I don't think it's the Yamaha motor as I played a few random records, including other 60s Impulse pressings - not a hint of hum except from the little from my valve phono stage which is really inaudible until the volume control is way up.

So I'm wondering what it could be. It doesn't seem to be in the recording as it's in the lead in/lead out grooves. Could it be the turntable? That this pressing has particular qualities that transmit noise? I've never heard anything like it before from a vinyl record.

Any thoughts?

 

[62caddy]

If the hum is present with one record only, it's safe to assume the hum found its way somewhere in the chain during the recording process.

I've heard hum on a number of CDs also.

 

[onwardjames]

All it takes is one bad patch cord, and an engineer that's asleep. Don't let it bother ya.

 

[aontko]

Yes, I recently experienced this with ALS on my new TT. It was maybe the third or fourth record that I'd played on the new TT, and I was going nuts trying to figure out what was wrong. I was pulling interconnects, checking ground wires… I tried different records and no hum. Put ALS back on and there it was. Finally did some online research and discovered that this is a common issue with certain versions of this recording. LIke onwardjames said, it suffers from a low-level 60-cycle hum throughout both sides. There was a wire loose in the mastering chain or something.

I probably wouldn't have heard it on my old setup. I was glad that my TT was ok, but bummed that my ALS pressing is flawed.

 

[guest110]

For sure, there was a well-known flaw in one of the second generation master tapes of this album in the first 3 minutes of "Pursuance" that is restricted to the left channel. Many copies were run from this original tape and perhaps this is what you are hearing? Thankfully, a European master was uncovered (in EMIs vault at Abbey Road Studios) that doesn't have this flaw and Van Gelder remastered copies of it are readily available.

 

[Selmerdave]

For sure, there was a well-known flaw in one of the second generation master tapes of this album in the first 3 minutes of "Pursuance" that is restricted to the left channel. Many copies were run from this original tape and perhaps this is what you are hearing? Thankfully, a European master was uncovered (in EMIs vault at Abbey Road Studios) that doesn't have this flaw and Van Gelder remastered copies of it are readily available.

Do you know what pressings this affects? I don't hear anything in my first pressing.

 

[audiojones]

I have an Argent LP with the same issue. As soon as the stylus hits the lead groove there is an annoying hum that remains through the whole album until it picks up at the end, both sides. I assumed it was a problem with the cutting lathe electronics that didn't get caught by QC.

 

[Psimonics]

Thanks for your replies. I actually googled it this morning and discovered that Original Stereo versions mastered by Rudy Van Gelder have hum right the way through. Apparently if you want a decent original you need the mono version or any stereo pressing stamped with 'Bell Sound'. (from Steve Hoffman forums). I need to get searching again...

 

[guest110]

Do you know what pressings this affects? I don't hear anything in my first pressing.

Don't remember, but not the original mono if I remember. I'll have to dig up Ashley Khans book to recall.

Thanks for your replies. I actually googled it this morning and discovered that Original Stereo versions mastered by Rudy Van Gelder have hum right the way through. Apparently if you want a decent original you need the mono version or any stereo pressing stamped with 'Bell Sound'. (from Steve Hoffman forums). I need to get searching again...

The newer RVG remaster is fantastic (from the discovered EMI tape) . Way better than the mono IMHO. Deluxe edition has some great alternative takes. This album made me a serious McCoy Tyner fan.

 

[Selmerdave]

It's an interesting case. It seems many are reporting it, but then others aren't. If it's there on mine it's under the level of the phono. Some others seem to report problem-free early stereos, I wonder if it's an issue with some batches and not others? Those that are reporting it seem to say it's quite prominent. An interesting mystery.

 

[Psimonics]

It's an interesting case. It seems many are reporting it, but then others aren't. If it's there on mine it's under the level of the phono. Some others seem to report problem-free early stereos, I wonder if it's an issue with some batches and not others? Those that are reporting it seem to say it's quite prominent. An interesting mystery.

I don't know what it refers to exactly, but if a first Stereo pressing is stamped 'Bell Sound' then it's hum free. The hum is only present on stereo first pressings stamped RVG. I didn't notice it on my old Pro-ject Essential but I did on the Yamaha GT-750. It really irritates me now!

 

[Selmerdave]

I don't know what it refers to exactly, but if a first Stereo pressing is stamped 'Bell Sound' then it's hum free. The hum is only present on stereo first pressings stamped RVG. I didn't notice it on my old Pro-ject Essential but I did on the Yamaha GT-750. It really irritates me now!

Mine is "VAN GELDER", I don't think Impulse records have RVG (Prestige do) but I could be wrong about that. Either the issue is not with all examples or it is a very low-level hum.

 

[Psimonics]

Mine is "VAN GELDER", I don't think Impulse records have RVG (Prestige do) but I could be wrong about that. Either the issue is not with all examples or it is a very low-level hum.

Yes you're right - stamped "VAN GELDER". With my new TT the hum is very noticible. I'll probably sell it to a used record shop.

 

[tubewade]

I've grown somewhat used to hearing that from time to time. It's actually amazing how many records have hum or some other kind of noise that found its way on to the record alongside the music. Many records, especially 45s, from the 50s and 60s had unusual noises recorded with the music.

 

[spookytooth]

And nine years later.... I've got a reissue that I bought from WalMart that has a persistent "hum" all the way through side one, run in and run out included, but not on side two. It's a weird hum that doesn't quite sound like 60 cycle... more like factory noise? mostly coming from the left channel....

 

[Mr Boochie]

And nine years later.... I've got a reissue that I bought from WalMart that has a persistent "hum" all the way through side one, run in and run out included, but not on side two. It's a weird hum that doesn't quite sound like 60 cycle... more like factory noise? mostly coming from the left channel....

Maybe try washing the bad side. It could possibly be manufacturing residue.

 

[egellings]

I recently got a Yamaha GT-750, and have found it to be the quietest turntable I've ever owned. So when tonight, I got out my original pressing of John Coltrane, A Love Supreme on Impulse, which I have always thought to be immaculate, I was surprised to hear a humming when I put the needle down. It's in the very outer lead in grooves, audible during tracks and in the lead out grooves right to the very end.

I suppose I hadn't noticed it on my previous deck (a Pro-ject Essential). I don't think it's the Yamaha motor as I played a few random records, including other 60s Impulse pressings - not a hint of hum except from the little from my valve phono stage which is really inaudible until the volume control is way up.

So I'm wondering what it could be. It doesn't seem to be in the recording as it's in the lead in/lead out grooves. Could it be the turntable? That this pressing has particular qualities that transmit noise? I've never heard anything like it before from a vinyl record.

Any thoughts?

I have a recording by Henry Mancini, featuring a piano piece with other instruments, and there's a 60Hz hum during the song's play. When the song ends, the hum ends with it, so the hum is in the recording, not the playback equipment.

 

[Mr Boochie]

I have a recording by Henry Mancini, featuring a piano piece with other instruments, and there's a 60Hz hum during the song's play. When the song ends, the hum ends with it, so the hum is in the recording, not the playback equipment.

Pre-Dolby studio-era LPs can be like that — especially when the recordings were at low modulation levels.

Fleetwood Mac's "Then Play On" had terrible hiss in some quieter passages. Even CD remasters had this hiss. The newest Chirs Bellman 2020 remaster finally eliminated most of the background noise.

This LP is worth the cost.