Stylus Cleaners?

I've also used LP#9 and Stylast. Both with good results. Stylast is proported to be a preservative reducing the friction when playing an album. It can give a build up, so how it is applied is very important. I don't use the Last brush, but rather the brush in the stylast VERY carefully. The other thing I do on occasion is clean the stylus tip with lens paper. You have to be careful not to grab the tip with the fibers, but it is very effective at cleaning the tip. I'ld be curious if anyone else has used this lens paper trick--if you try it just be careful--it can give very good results.

A do-it-yourself approach to stylus cleaning involves making a cleaner brush from a small artist's paint brush. Hold the brush firmly, and use a razor blade to cut across the middle of the brush at a 45-degree angle. You can use this brush with the cleaning fluid of your choice -- the brush is the key, and it is much kinder to the stylus than most of the commercial versions. With regard to Stylast stylus cleaner: I used it for several years and stopped using it, because I believe it migrates up the cantilever and causes the suspension to break down. I do, however, highly recommend LAST record preservative -- it not only preserves the vinyl LP surface, but I am convinced, based on use, that it also has positive effects on the stylus tip.

Thanks for the responses. I've been using Last and am getting to the end of the bottle. It seems to work well enough, but I'll never been overly impressed. I'll probably give LP #9 a try this time.

Sdcampbell, I too use the LAST record preservative, and have for many years now. I find that if after LAST is applied, if you rewash the LP, there are contaminates that are dislodged by the action of the preservative. The final wash removes them, but the work the LAST does, remains on the LP. I also agree with you that there is a positive effect on the stylus. The friction seems to be reduced, as the distortion is lowered and the top end resolution is improved. I use both of the Record Research LP cleaners as, they are the manufacturer of the LP#9 stylus cleaner .