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Nitty Gritty Mini-Pro 2

gillsev

gillsev

Well-Known Member
Should I really spend $1179 on a record cleaning machine?

http://www.nittygrittyinc.com/minipro.htm

I heard this is the ultimate cleaning machine (you get what you pay for).

Right now, I'm just using the Discwasher D3 solution with the brush that came with it. It's okay, but it doesn't really remove the crud that's imbedded in the grooves of old records. I am really looking for a machine that could remove them completely. I heard the Nitty Gritty could do that job.

Comments?
 
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Personal opinion here, from the VPI 16.5 up you get good clean LPs. (Edit: Yes, the 16.5 needs a fan IMHO, and that makes it equivalent to the higher VIP machines for durability.) The higher priced machines often make it easier. One even cleans both sides at the same time. I wonder how wet the underside gets but I don't really know that it isn't effective.

Often a higher priced machine will dispense fluid, the two higher priced VIP machines do. This is handy but I use a wash and rinse so it still doesn't meet my needs.

Is $1700 too much? No matter what anyone says that is really up to you.

Now that I looked at the link I would have a problem with spending $1700 for this model. The vacuum is lower than my VPI machine and it vacuums both sides at the same time.
 
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For myself, and many other demanding users,

Loricraft or Keith Monks is best in cleaning machines!
Nitty Gritty is next best!
VPI is fine but not suited for heavy use!
 
And I'll put in my opinion that I disagree with Kent!

VPI 17 series will take all the heavy use you can give it...the simple addition of a muffin fan in a 16.5 will let you run it as much as you want, although I haven't felt the need in a decade of owning mine....

I don't like Nitty Gritty's as there is no dedicated turntable to scrub the record on and their suction isn't quite as good as the VPI's...I don't scrub hard, but having the turntable supporting the record really does make it easy to do a multiple step cleaning regimen if you want..i.e., enzyme, surfactant, rinse, etc...plus, I have used the NG machines and demonstrated them at shows and for customers, but I chose the VPI over any of the NG machines...

The Clearaudio is the best VPI type I've found...but it's expensive....

Very little experience with the Loricraft/Keith Monks kind but just not my cup of tea, so to speak...

You will probably get as many opinions as the number of people there are on this board...

But, any decent cleaning method is way better than the Discwasher, I used mine once since getting my VPI and it made the record sound worse...I had to go and clean the record all over again, and even then I'm not sure that I got it to sound as good as I did before the DW use...

So for me it would be VPI first, Clearaudio second,Nitty Gritty third, etc...

Clean 'em and use a carbon fiber brush before each play and you're good to go...

.
 
I don't hate the VPI at all, it's just not suited for heavy use at one go. And it's noisy. I need heavy duty and quieter motor, Loricraft gives me that and so does Keith Monks. For a less expensive cleaning machine for home use, VPI is great. I still use one occasionally. Mr. Weinsfeld has superb customer service and has always treated me well at VPI when I needed anything. I still recommend a good VPI for most needs without reservation. But I do need something which can withstand commercial use.
 
The DiscWasher is out of the dark ages of analog and any of the new RCMs (Nitty Gritty/VPI etc) is light years ahead in performance and convenience. I'd end up in the dog house if I brought dirty records into the kitchen to clean in the sink so I started with a Record Doctor manual RCM (Nitty Gritty). As a couple other AKers have said it's more difficult to clean the LP when it's not supported by a platter. Next stop was a VPI 16.5 RCM that I'v had for a number years and I'm quite pleased with the performance and results. LPs are cleaned to perfection useing commerial record cleaning fluids (AIVS). Toyed with the idea of upgrading to the VPI 17 with fan but so far I have had no problems with my VPI16.5 overheating even after cleaning a dozen or so LPs non stop with a five step fluid process. THe VPI 16.5 is the best bang for the buck and if you ever decide to move up to the 17 you will get most of your money back on resale.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
I don't hate the VPI at all, it's just not suited for heavy use at one go. And it's noisy. I need heavy duty and quieter motor, Loricraft gives me that and so does Keith Monks. For a less expensive cleaning machine for home use, VPI is great. I still use one occasionally. Mr. Weinsfeld has superb customer service and has always treated me well at VPI when I needed anything. I still recommend a good VPI for most needs without reservation. But I do need something which can withstand commercial use.
Click to expand...

I'll agree with what's already been said, and what you have said here Kent.
The VPI 16.5 was not ideally designed for commercial use, but will hold up well for many years for home use with common sense care. As has been mentioned, the simple addition of a cooling fan will enable the machine to run around the clock, 24/7 if need be.

Mine with the fan mod never even gets lukewarm, let alone hot anymore since the modification. And all RCM's, no matter the cost, do, and will need money spent eventually for maintainence costs.

For what the VPI 16.5 costs, and what the original poster considered spending, that sure leaves a whole lot of money left over for literal multiple year supplies of the very best cleaning fluids-pure rinse waters, brushes, record sleeves, even more vinyl, etc etc. Mark
 
Say what UdoS?

Anyway, thanks for kicking the topic, I didn't know about the existence of Nitty Gritty cleaners until just now.
 
gillsev said:
Should I really spend $1179 on a record cleaning machine? . . . Right now, I'm just using the Discwasher D3 solution with the brush that came with it. It's okay, but it doesn't really remove the crud that's imbedded in the grooves of old records. I am really looking for a machine that could remove them completely. I heard the Nitty Gritty could do that job.

Comments?
Click to expand...

I've been perfectly happy with my Nitty Gritty Model 1.0, the inexpensive, all-manual machine. This is the model my dealer uses and recommends. The record is well supported at the vacuum slot, and I have no trouble scrubbing the record at that point while rotating the record with the manual turner that fits over the spindle. With its fluid applicator pump and ability to scrub and vacuum both sides at the same time, the Mini-Pro might make the job faster and easier, but it doesn't necessarily clean any better. As the Nitty Gritty FAQ at KAB states, "All models will clean your records to the same degree. The advantages between models are convenience features."

If you like the idea of using a pump to apply fluids and having a motorized capstan to turn the record, another model you might consider is the 2.5Fi-XP. If has two fluid reservoirs so you can keep the standard Pure 2 cleaner loaded up for regular cleaning as well as having the more powerful PUREenzyme+ fluid on hand to "deep-clean even the nastiest of used records." A Pure 2 rinse is recommended, so the dual-reservoir model might prove the most convenient. It's also less money at $899.
 
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My VPI has the fan modification. And it does not run hot anymore. I like the results I get with it. Now, all I need for home use is a quieter motor. Boy, we'll really go to town on hot-rodding it. Thanks from all AK members who recommended the fan addition.
 
does all that cleaning fluid ever affect the LP's labels on the center of the record? Especially if they get completely immersed I'd be concerned about the paper from the label peeling off.
 
Factorplayer it's a little bit of trial and error re the amount of fluid to apply, it doesn't require a lot of fluid once you get the hang of it and I'v never had any damaged labels even when I was over generous with the fluids first starting out with my VPI 16.5.
 
If you want to "get back" those old LPs you beat up while you were a 1960s vintage teen, or empty out the garage sales and thrift stores, raid your piggy bank, run right out and get a Nitty Gritty. Nothing will fix a gouge, but if the skips are caused by crud, you may rejuvenate the LP. I can now play LPs that I thought were beyond help. This is not even taking into account how great it is to play clean albums on your expensive turntable. I have the Mini Pro 1, and I could not be happier. Best $1100 i've spent on audio. Think of it. $1100 divided into 500 LPs is $2.20 per LP that now sounds good.
 
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gillsev said:
Should I really spend $1179 on a record cleaning machine?

http://www.nittygrittyinc.com/minipro.htm

I heard this is the ultimate cleaning machine (you get what you pay for).

Right now, I'm just using the Discwasher D3 solution with the brush that came with it. It's okay, but it doesn't really remove the crud that's imbedded in the grooves of old records. I am really looking for a machine that could remove them completely. I heard the Nitty Gritty could do that job.

Comments?
Click to expand...

Get the chjeapest one the have. They all clean the same. The only difference is one is automatic and the other is manually (plus I think you can do a better job with the manual one personally)
 
KentTeffeteller said:
For myself, and many other demanding users,

Loricraft or Keith Monks is best in cleaning machines!
Nitty Gritty is next best!
VPI is fine but not suited for heavy use!
Click to expand...

I have a Nitty Gritty and it's terrible for heavy duty use. I've heard the Okie Nokie (I think that's what it is called) is best for heavy duty use, so that is what my next record vac will be.
 
Yeah, my Okki Nokki will outlast me when it comes to cleaning records. I get tired after 15 or so. I use the AIVS solutions as well.
 
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