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How long to wear a record out?

I dont know if I made the thread title proper or not, but I am wondering if any of you have a sealed copy and a "play" copy of an album that you bought at the same time from the same shelf. (Meaning these would have likely come off the mold one right after the other.)
The sealed copy was opened up to make a recording after the "play" copy, having been played 1XX times, was thought to be a bit beat up for a recording. When the sealed copy began to play, it was very noticeably better than the "play" copy.

How many plays did it take to wear the thing out?

Recently, a new cartridge with double the force of my old one made me think of this. Shadowfax "shadowdance" is pushing 30 years old and has been played at least 200 times over the years.

Do you have any vinyl pies you just wore out? How long did it take?
gumbydammit
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
A record played with a correctly aligned tonearm and good stylus should outlive you.

I have hundreds, perhaps over a thousand records, from the 60's alone with well over 2000 (some many more) playings that sound pristine today. No clicks, no pops, no noise.

Keep your vinyl clean and your equipment aligned.
saygrr
72 posts
 
AudioFeil is right on. I have been in this hobby for 27 years and all but several of my LPs are fine. Keep the LPs clean and tone arm and cartridge properly aligned including tracking force. The several LPs that I do not consider fine I cannot explain what happened. It was not from playing them. The first thing I do after buying an LP is clean it. I have a Nitty Gritty. I use First then wash it then rince then treat it with Last.
yagbol2
66 posts
 
AudioFeil said it well. A properly aligned cart with the correct tracking force is the the key. The LP should outlive us! As Elizabeth said, play it once on a broken stylus, with improper alignment and VTF be prepared to hear distortion and the end of a clean record.
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