Record-playing Rituals?

Though I use an ultrasonic machine to clean the stylus now, I previously used the striker on a matchbook cover. I was shown this trick by a real Linnie who used a seriously modded Citation II driving Linn Isobariks. An amazing sound as I recall. Worked pretty damned well and I still use it from time to time.

What is with the Linn bashing?. I've compared mine to many tables from VPI and I still own the Linn. Not to say that it is perfect but the music came through more realistically for me. Set-up is critical and time consuming but when done right it removes most of the complaints I've read here.

What Linn bashing ? Are you high ?

I don't think so!

Over here records are played only to record onto reel to reel tape. The LP's are played wet with isopropyl alcohol using a 1/2" wide flat brush to distribute the alcohol. The alcohol seems to lubricate the stylus while eliminating all but the most egregious of hurdles in the groove. Be certain to not apply too much alcohol toward the outside edge of the LP as that can be a mighty mess. A custom machined brass record clamp is used as well. This 'ritual' is tedious and is not being recommended but the result is a CD-quiet very high-quality copy of an LP.

Cody