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Is the Last Record Preservative system a worthwhile investment?

I take great care in my record collection.
1. I have a manual record vacuum cleaning machine. I also use an enzyme cleaner on a few really dirty ones.
2. I replace all paper sleeves with plastic ones.
3. I use groove glide on only the records in really bad shape. Around 1 percent.
4. I use a record jacket to protect the covers.
5. I meticulously keep the stylus clean.
6. Use a brush everytime I play a record.
  My question being is; will the Last system actually improve the sonics even after all the care I put in to my collection?
How much time is involved treating a record? How much per record does it cost if I buy the larger treatment kits? Id like to hear your experiences with this product. I have close to 3000 records. My analogy is like a great movie that I have never seen. Wow you just now saw that? Will I have an aha moment using the Last system like oh wow, I should have seen that movie years ago. Lol
128x128blueranger
twoch
429 posts
 
Don't worry about it.   You should get bomb with a 1000 ideas.   Stick with what your are doing 
Forget about it. You will end up in a hospital tied
Down 
orthomead
146 posts
 
According to the website, Last has been available since 1979 and I could find no negative reviews or comments posted on line after hours of searching.  All reports were similar in that the sonic signature was not degraded with use and albums treated maintained decades long quiet play.  I have been using it for about 5 years.  I have found no short term adverse affects.  I clean all records first ultrasonically and then reclean and rinse x 2 with ultraclean water and vacuum dry with my VPI, then apply the LAST.  On the LAST website, Walter does discuss a "hairball on the stylus" that he felt after microscopic inspection was the mold release agent leaching from the vinyl which diminishes after several plays.  He also recommends reapplication if ultrasonic cleaning is done after the product is applied.
gammonit_2000
83 posts
 
Using the LAST All Purpose Cleaner with their brushes, along with the preservative and the StyLAST.  The difference in sound quality with a good cleaning and the preservative is extremely noticeable.  I have 60 year old records and some highly worn records from the 70s that it brought back to life.  I listened before and after each time.  It really quiets the background noise down.
blueranger's avatar
blueranger OP
719 posts
 
I got some as a present. Do you apply it while the record is on your vacuum machine or lay it flat on your record jacket? Thanks?
2channel8
759 posts
 
I find it easier to apply by holding the brush on the grooves and spinning the record slowly with my other hand, so if your RCM can do that, it's fine (after the LP is clean and dry); if not, the stuff will not drip off the brush, so it's safe to do on your turntable.
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