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LP Cleaning Question

I am fairly new to the analog game, but am enjoying every minute of it. I have a VPI Aries TT, Shelter 901 cartridge and a VPI 16.5 record cleaner. My problem is record cleaning. For example, I purchased a brand new re-issue of Coltrane "Live at Birdland". It sounded great right away but over time (10 plays), it began to crackle and pop a little. I put it on the cleaning machine, squirted some VPI cleaning fluid on the record, brushed the record, and then vacuumed it dry. The record looked great, but still crackle and pops during playback.

My question is, am I doing something wrong in my cleaning procedure? I have not cleaned/treated the stylus at all. Could this be the source of the noise?

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Bob
bobkirs
goliverjr
102 posts
 
Get a good dry record cleaning brush and use before and after playing a side. Hunt EDA Mk.6 is good IMO. Disc Doctor Stylus Cleaner comes with a brush to clean the stylus. Seems little for the price but only needs a couple drops per use. Anti-static record sleeves also will help. Are you going to get into used records? If so, an Orbitrac, some good record cleaner(ie. Disc Dr., no alcohol, please)to use with soft cotton squares prior to the Orbitrac and then the 16.5 would be good. The Hunt brush will then keep them clean for a long time if used regularly.
sc53
720 posts
 
You may be hearing static rather than any dust etc. on your LP or stylus. That Zerostat anti-static gun really works! You can get it at Music Direct at www.amusicdirect.com. You shoot a side right before you play it, and then shoot the other side when you flip the LP. Nothing actually comes out of the gun but invisible ions! It sounds like a rip-off but it works great. I had one for years in the 70's and 80's when all I played were LPs, but now it's lost. Recently revived, however, and available at a few of the vinyl web outlets.
abstract7
541 posts
 
Static can be a big problem. It can attract dust particles and then the stylus will embed them into the vinyl. I clean my records every time I play them (wet). It's kind of a pain--but they stay in great shape.
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