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What do you do b4 playing an LP

C

cutter311

New Member
I see lots of pics & youtube clips of folks w/ these amazing TT's, playing music I forgot was out there (or didn't know in the 1st place), invariably they have a cleaning kit of some sort sitting close by...

(i hesitate to say this, but here goes...) I've only had my rig for 2 weeks and for whatever reason I hit each album w/ an unused swifter pad to get dust off...the really fuzzy light ones...seems much stoopider when i type it out (been busy w/ work & coaching kids soccer team...haven't gotten a proper set up yet)

so the question is: do you clean each vinyl record pre or post play & what do you use?

is what you use different depending on how dirty the vinly is?
 
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Typically most use a carbon fiber brush, as sold by turntable basics and others. Swiffer pad is a good idea, with the static cling.

If your albums are really dirty, you should give them a wash before playing. It'll be a longer, more enjoyable life for your stylus (needle) and albums. Many threads on washing, from kitchen sink and paintbrush to fairly elaborate machines.

Happy listening.
 
With new records, I simply use a carbon fiber brush before play, with thrift or used records i run them through the spin clean first, and then carbon fiber brush before each play .


John
 
I use a Spin Clean to clean records and a Discwasher with 2 drops of pure distilled water before play if necessary.

I dislike carbon fiber brushes. Bristles were often found in the Spin Clean.
 
I cleaned all my used the kitchen sink/paint brush way, and use a Discwasher brush before each play for all. However, since getting a cat and realizing how directional their tongue surfaces are and how great a job they do on cleaning themselves, I have tried to find a way to teach him to lick my vinyl clean. So far the experiment has been unsuccessful - it seems he has no taste for it, thus we remain in Phase One of this project. Phase Two was to be training to follow the grooves radially, but at this point I am becoming very discouraged with my plans - I believe he may be as well. Enthusiasm has pretty much ebbed for us both.
 
I take it out of the sleeve and put it on the turntable first, then use the carbon fiber brush.
 
I clean every record (new or used) on my VPI 16.5 vacuum assisted RCM before they ever get played. They all then get put into a brand new poly-lined white paper inner sleeve. When the record is on the turntable, I use a dry carbon fiber brush before each play. Each record only needs to be cleaned on the RCM once, unles I drop it or spill something on it. This has only happened a couple of times.
 
On-turntable record cleaning

There was a recent thread on this you might find useful:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=431687

It helps to think of two distinct processes - on-turntable cleaning, for well-maintained, not very dirty records; and off-turntable, for dirty records, like thrift-store and garage sale finds, periodic cleaning of oft used records, and even for new vinyl. For the latter there are a couple of classes of routines, from expensive RCM's (record cleaning machines), to soap and water in the sink. You can get various devices to keep labels from getting wet.
 
Depends on the time of day--in the early hours, when running my Nitty Gritty would rouse the neighbors in my apartment, I just take the record out of its jacket and play it (very softly, or with headphones). Later in the day, I take the minute or so needed to clean it on the Nitty Gritty before playing. I don't do any on-turntable cleaning unless I happen to be using an M97xE with the brush down.
 
jrtrent said:
Depends on the time of day--in the early hours, when running my Nitty Gritty would rouse the neighbors in my apartment, I just take the record out of its jacket and play it (very softly, or with headphones). Later in the day, I take the minute or so needed to clean it on the Nitty Gritty before playing. I don't do any on-turntable cleaning unless I happen to be using an M97xE with the brush down.
Click to expand...
Are you saying that the M97xE brush is the cleaner, or do you clean on platter of you're using that stylus?
 
Just get the audio technica wet brush kit for $15. It should hold you over. I think it's great.
 
Good responses here...and good ideas. I was wondering because I have pulled a few brand new LP's from their sleeves that were not pristine (as I was expecting). They could have used something a little more robust than my swifter...and then I've gotten some used ones from friends that are nasty...not scratched or damaged per se, just filthy...

I'd like to make sure going forward, that I keep the vinyl in good shape...I imagine it helps w/ the longevity of the stylus as well.
 
jviss said:
There was a recent thread on this you might find useful:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=431687

It helps to think of two distinct processes - on-turntable cleaning, for well-maintained, not very dirty records; and off-turntable, for dirty records, like thrift-store and garage sale finds, periodic cleaning of oft used records, and even for new vinyl. For the latter there are a couple of classes of routines, from expensive RCM's (record cleaning machines), to soap and water in the sink. You can get various devices to keep labels from getting wet.
Click to expand...

My apologies for double posting...I went through a couple of pages of the TT forum (reading and looking for this topic), I must have missed it...
 
It's a ritual, no doubt. A thrift store record nearly always needs a good cleaning (some very rare exceptions, i.e. classical that was not spun often). Even new vinyl can use a good cleaning. I don't have a static brush, but I should get one.

1.) Evening sessions I pour a tall glass of dad-in-law's home made wine.:yes: Or a beer, I'm not that way.
2.) For thrift store vinyl I use my D4 discwasher kit and home brew solution. I have a nice, operational Sansui TT specifically set up for just cleaning records.
3.) Next the record gets the "royal treatment" so to speak on the Okki Nokki RCM. It's for the Super Duper wash, clean & vacuum.
4.) I have a stylus(needle) brush as well, and before "every spin" I brush away the dust from the stylus. It seems no matter how clean I keep my records I still have to take this step. Or maybe it's just a bad habit.:D
5.) Depending upon which system I have up and running, the record finally reaches the chosen TT where I will use an original D3 Discwasher D1 brush for a final wipe & dry.

For new vinyl I mostly brush with the D3 D1 brush, unless it needs a cleaning.

Seems like a lot of work but the whole process takes less than 5 minutes, and is well worth it. Because when the stylus lands softly into that clean groove and there's literally no snaps, crackes & pops, well, revealing all the beauty that record has to offer is what it's all about. IMHO.:music:

S.J.
 
- light incense
- sacrifice a chicken
- turn counterclockwise three times

when I think about it it's almost become a ritual
 
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