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Are scratch LPs part of the game ?

Hi guys,

I noticed that some of my new LPs after a few weeks of playing gets some fine and medium scratches.
I'm very careful when removing them in and out of their plastic/paper sleeves.
despite of them i can see some scratches on the LP surface.
Is there a technique in handling these so that there will be no scratches at all ?
Although the scratches are not deep enough for the needle to jump or skip. It just irritating.
Is this part of the game or is there proper method of handling them ?
I also feel sometimes on brand new sealed LPs that when you remove an LP back from the sleeve that there is some sort of friction between the LP and sleeve-possibly some scratches happening. Again, is this something that can be done to minimize the scratches or this is part of law of physics (Friction) ?
Hoping some enlightenment.

Cheers-Noli
nolitan
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,969 posts
 
The answer is yes, its part of the game.

Records are delicate. Careful handling is the best preventive medicine.

Can you hear the scratches? Not all scratches are audible. Also sometime linear dirt smudgies and such resemble scratches but are not. These might be audible as well but proper cleaning will generally get rid of these.
nolitan OP
865 posts
 
Hello Mapman,

Sometimes i can hear them but again it can be because of the LPs being dirty.
How often do you guys replace the inner sleeves ??
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,969 posts
 
"How often do you guys replace the inner sleeves ??"

Seldom unless damaged or defective. I do not find most sleeves to be a problem if you handle the records and sleeves carefully.

Sometimes I will replace cheap paper inner sleeves with better quality lined sleeves for titles that might have higher value to collectors. i always add a sleeve of some sort to used titles I pick up if they are missing one.
daverz
487 posts
 
Are these just surface scratches, or are you hearing them during play?

The records really should be OK unless you fumble them badly. Just don't handle them after imbibing too much alcohol or caffeine.

I do replace all inner sleeves with Sleeve City sleeves after the first cleaning.
davt's avatar
davt
505 posts
 
No, it is not always part of the game. On old LP's that I buy used I will have scratches but they are not inevitable on LP's that don't have scratchs when I get them. I have lp's that I have had for years and played dozens of times and no scratches. I use a cleaning machine, I always use new sleeves, even on new LP's, I never touch the record surface with my hands, I use a carbon brush before each playing and I keep my turntable mat clean. If I have audible scratches on new LP's that are noticable I usually exchange it for a new one.
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