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Post by Priapulus on Nov 17, 2014 20:05:12 GMT -5
I tried to play a newly acquired LP from the local Goodwill; "Switched on Bach" by the pre-snipped Walter Carlos, bought for a dollar. The record looked like in perfect condition, but sounded terrible and got worse the longer I played it. It sounded like a big wad of lint under the needle; fuzzy, crackling distortion. I cleaned the needle with a brush, and still it distorted. Tried a different record, still distorted; so I guessed I'd lost the diamond. But the needle was almost new.
So I checked the needle under a microscope. The stone was intact, but it looked like a gob of tar was stuck on it, as well as some tiny hairs. I carefully cleaned the needle and it played fine. Tried playing "Switched on Bach" and it distorted and the needle tarred up again. Looking at the album, it was a glossy sheen to it, but isn't oily if wiped with a cloth. A Columbia Album, so I doubt if it is substrate deterioration. Some kind of record treatment, gone wrong? Contamination, someone spilt something on the record? Ideas anyone?
I'm going to clean the album in the sink with dish soap and water (don't want to risk contaminating the Discwasher). If that doesn't fix it, it's going to gone like Walter's dingdong....
Sincerely /b |
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Post by garbulky on Nov 17, 2014 20:33:55 GMT -5
Uh...or....you could toss it in the trash where it belongs and not get it anywhere near your stylus!!!
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Post by Priapulus on Nov 17, 2014 21:23:31 GMT -5
Uh...or....you could toss it in the trash where it belongs and not get it anywhere near your stylus!!! That would be prudent; though I'd really like to figure out what is going on. If I hadn't investigated, I'd have discarded a good needle and kept the bad record. That's why I brought it up here. /b
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novisnick
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Post by novisnick on Nov 17, 2014 21:27:53 GMT -5
I'd check and see if the good will guys did something to it to make it look nice so someone would buy it. I know this sounds nasty,,,,,but ha never know?  ?? |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Nov 17, 2014 22:04:53 GMT -5
You mentioned record treatment, I remember 'Ball' (yeah, the jar people) had a record treatment that was supported to reduce noise and especially friction. People tried it in the mid 70's (a bit after 'Switched on Bach'), I sort of remember some people complaining that it caused a buildup. Maybe after this much time it could cause what you describe.
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Post by chaosrv on Nov 17, 2014 22:21:47 GMT -5
I'd check and see if the good will guys did something to it to make it look nice so someone would buy it. I know this sounds nasty,,,,,but ha never know? ?? I don't think that is likely as it only sold for $1. If they did anything to the record they'd be in the hole. |
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novisnick
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Post by novisnick on Nov 17, 2014 22:25:06 GMT -5
I'd check and see if the good will guys did something to it to make it look nice so someone would buy it. I know this sounds nasty,,,,,but ha never know? ?? I don't think that is likely as it only sold for $1. If they did anything to the record they'd be in the hole. True! But there are some crazies out there,,,,,,,they let me out,,,,,he,,,,he,,,,he,,,,,, 8) |
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Post by chaosrv on Nov 17, 2014 22:32:04 GMT -5
I don't think that is likely as it only sold for $1. If they did anything to the record they'd be in the hole. True! But there are some crazies out there,,,,,,,they let me out,,,,,he,,,,he,,,,he,,,,,, 8) I certainly can't argue with that logic.  |
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Post by frenchyfranky on Nov 18, 2014 13:08:07 GMT -5
Put this vinyl in garbage, it has cost you a dollar. A damaged needle is a way lot more.
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Post by lionear on Nov 18, 2014 13:52:55 GMT -5
I'd urge against using dish soap or any other soap on records. I think household soap leaves a residue, and has colors and fragrance added to it, as well as something that makes glass sparckle. In addition, because of the surface tension of the water, it's possible that the water doesn't reach the innermost parts of the grooves.
It's better to use Kodak PhotoFlo (from a store that sells film developing chemicals) and dilute it (1 part PhotoFlo to 200 parts distilled water). And then rinse well with distilled water alone. The dilution level is what's recommended for photography - and that's what I've gone with.
(I got this from the Library of Congress. They don't mention PhotoFlo by name, but PhotoFlo is made from the chemical that the Library cites.)
I've tried cleaning with alcohol but I was not impressed - probably because of the surface tension issue.
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Nov 18, 2014 16:36:15 GMT -5
I have a friend in Europe who cleans all his used LP's with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. They all sound amazing. I would never have thought of using that to clean dirty old LP's.
Mark
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Post by milsap195 on Nov 18, 2014 18:50:24 GMT -5
I have a friend in Europe who cleans all his used LP's with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. They all sound amazing. I would never have thought of using that to clean dirty old LP's. Mark Does he use anything with it or just the dry sponge? |
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Post by Porscheguy on Nov 18, 2014 19:46:11 GMT -5
You might try CDs instead of LP's. Vinyl is a 100 year old format that's time has come and gone - and is "flawed media" by it's very design.  |
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novisnick
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Post by novisnick on Nov 18, 2014 19:52:20 GMT -5
You might try CDs instead of LP's. Vinyl is a 100 year old format that's time has come and gone - and is "flawed media" by it's very design.  Land that's all I've got to say about that!! |
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Post by Priapulus on Nov 18, 2014 19:54:40 GMT -5
You might try CDs instead of LP's. Vinyl is a 100 year old format that has come and gone and is a flawed media by it's very design.
Someone gave me a CD once for Christmas, but I couldn't get the needle to stay on the disk; I think the grooves are too small. Someone tried to give me a bullschize story about needing a laser guided cartridge to play them, but I knew he was just jerking me around. I'll stick with something that works.
Sincerely /b
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Nov 18, 2014 21:49:37 GMT -5
I have a friend in Europe who cleans all his used LP's with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. They all sound amazing. I would never have thought of using that to clean dirty old LP's. Mark Does he use anything with it or just the dry sponge? I will have to check, but I believe it is just the dry sponge. Mark |
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Post by Jim on Nov 18, 2014 22:09:16 GMT -5
Does he use anything with it or just the dry sponge? I will have to check, but I believe it is just the dry sponge. Mark That's interesting. I would have thought that the abrasiveness would have caused fine scratches. Of course the key is probably gentle pressure. |
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Post by vharpip on Nov 18, 2014 23:34:31 GMT -5
Use the magic erasure with distilled water and mild cleaning solution, either commercial or homemade. Think about it if a diamond does no harm it certainly can't.
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Post by lionear on Nov 19, 2014 15:14:09 GMT -5
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Post by Priapulus on Nov 20, 2014 15:05:46 GMT -5
Well, I washed the disc in the sink, with warm water and Palmolive dish soap. Drained it in the dishrack; when dry I gave it a try. It played perfectly and afterwards the needle was also clean. So I suspect someone accidently spilt a drop of oil, or other contaminate on the surface.
I originally suspected some kind of disk rejuvenator treatment gone bad, but I guess it was just that someone got careless. Love that record, got me (as a teen) hooked on Bach.
Sincerely
/b
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