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SUPER Staticy Record???

So, I got a shipment from overseas of some new vinyl.  The first LP I pulled out of its sleeve literally had to be PULLED out of the sleeve there was so much static.  I spin washed/vacuumed it and then hit it with a carbon brush when I put it on the TT.  When I put the needle down it sounded like it was pressed through a layer of gauze.  I was pissed.  Shitty pressing from a small "audiophile" label - I surmised.  Its a double LP and I didn't bother to try out the second record.  I got three other albums from this label so I'm now expecting the worst and not a happy camper.

So today I pulled out the second record - which was also pretty staticy - spun washed it, carbon brushed it and it sounded fine... really good actually.  

Then I pulled the first LP out of the sleeve today to double check my ears (it slid out smoothly this time).  I put it on the TT; hit it with the brush; dropped the needle; and... viola - it sounds fine (more than fine, it sounds great).

Query: a vinyl be SO staticy that brushing, washing, vacuuming and brushing again doesn't get rid of the static?  Why did it sound so bad before I put it back in its sleeve last night and sound fine today?  When I say "so bad", I mean it sounded like every groove was full of grainy distortion to the point where it was virtually unlistenable. 
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mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
A spin clean wets both sides. Water would have totally discharged the record. But, rubbing any item high up in the triboelectric series against the record vigorously will re establish the charge. Even with careful drying the record might continue to hold some moisture in the grooves for a while. Summadoggie , do an experiment for us. Clean a record, dry it and place it on the turntable immediately. Does it play correctly or are you hearing the same thing you heard the other night?
Another thing. Charged records will play just perhaps with an occasional tic. What the OP describes sounds worse.
lewm
13,130 posts
 
Antinn, I take your point about “wetting”, but my point was that it takes a fraction of a second to charge up an LP even after it might have been discharged by wetting, and sumadoggie might be inadvertently doing something conducive to charging AFTER wetting. He’s certainly not playing the LPs in the wetted state. His carpet and bare feet might be ill advised but then he does say he uses an anti-stat brush. Sumadoggie, can you say more about the brush?
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,615 posts
 
Items shipped via common carrier pick up electrical charges from the sorting machines, scanners and conveyor belts.

I've noticed this most with vacuum tubes (especially large power tubes) that attract dust like a magnet when unpacked.

Usually powering them on/off 2-3 times with a waiting time/period between episodes rids them of the static charge.

For the few LP's I've received (shipped) I just used a Zerostat.

DeKay
sumadoggie's avatar
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sumadoggie OP
62 posts
 
I use an Audioquest carbonfiber brush. (The gold and black one ’cuz it looks posh).

Use the Record Doctor to clean: drops across one side; bush around prob four times +/-; flip and vacuum around about 5x.

Honestly, I was shocked (haha) when I tried to get the vinyl out of the sleeve the first time. The second in the 2 LP set was the same. I opened up the others the following day and they were likewise pretty sticky with static, but not as bad as the first LP the first evening.

The record had been inside a few hours after delivery before I put it on the TT, so it was up to temperature (if that’s a factor).
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Buy Furutech Destat 3 ASAP!!!
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