Vinyl pops and clicks: Can they be eliminated??


I have a Mobile Fidelity issue of "Close to the Edge" by Yes. The LP is at least 20 years old or more. Always help up well until today. There is now a skip that repeats over and over. Other pops and clicks don't interrrupt the flow of music like this one. I checked several things: cartridge, tracking, stylus, and also damped cleaned the LP, but it continued to skip repeat in that one place. It may be time to retire this piece of vinyl, but if I could inexpensively repair or correct that skip, it would be great. However,I intend to replace this album with the Japanese SHM-CD import when the reissue is available again. All advice welcome
sunnyjim
Dan ed, In my response to DD, I used the term "negligent in record care" Though, it may have been a poor choice of words, I was attempting to explain to DD my impression of his assessment. I have approximately 65 LPS; Most were bought new; some bought as used. The MoFi in question was a gift from that company to audio salesmen who shops offered their products---this was approx 1984. The "repeat skip" problem was to me a curious anomaly which I thought worthy of discussion on Audiogon. Within that context,I offered the general question of eliminating pops and clicks. The repeat-skip problem is only on "Close to the Edge" NOT the other LPS in my modest collection. As indicated in the 2008 "thread" I had just gotten back into vinyl by purchasing a Rega P3-24. I was without a table for at least 18 months, and so did not play any records. After the Rega purchase I bought the Premier spray cleaner from Music Direct and it worked OK; I also used a Hunt Brush cleaner. After I took ill, nothing was played until October 2009. The Premier spray can languished on the shelf and also the spray cap was blocked.... I always took good care of my records. However, the Yes album cited was played at possibly 100 times, with 4 different cartridges and 3 different tables over 26 years. Some of my other LPS have some pops and surface noise, but as Theo responded, it is the "nature of the vinyl beast" BTW, I have MoFi LPS of Jethro Tull's" Aqualung" and Bowie's "Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust" which were also part of the MoFI's generosity, and that still sound excellent with seemingly quiet surfaces. I hope this clarifes your question. I hope the membership does not lapse into deconstructing posts, spooking each other to look over their shoulder That is neither fun nor courteous. Thanks, Jim
Fair enough, Jim, but I still think it possible to have started this thread with a little better premise. It sounds like you are no stranger to audio, was vinyl always been your main source or was it just another source? I ask because for one who does have some background you don't seem that experienced with vinyl. Sorry if my impression is wrong.

BTW, I love Close to the Edge but prefer the Atlantic to the MoFi. FWIW

Give Palasr's advice a try. You just might be able to salvage it.
Jim emailed me off-list and described his record care practices, pretty much what he posted in response to Dan_Ed plus a few more details.

As I suspected, those practices are inadequate and may indeed have allowed this record to develop a skip. In addition to cautiously seconding Palasr's suggestion, I gave Jim additional information and several suggestions that may help solve the problem.

Like it or not, a record which begins skipping is evidence of inadequate care. This is particularly likely when a person's previous posts suggest little or no experience with effective care. Stating this fact and seeking further information is neither "slapping" them nor "imagining" anything nor "rampaging". It's called problem solving.

Comments that offer no useable content while criticizing others which do are gratuitous. Feel-good chat will not stop record skipping. Concrete technical suggestions like those I sent Jim may.
Well, you can disown the bristling tone of your posts in this thread if you wish but the poster felt unnecessarily chastised and at least two readers thought it was out of line. You're a knowledgeable guy and contribute a lot to this forum. Thank you. But that fact doesn't mean you shouldn't be called on it when you're unnecessarily harsh to someone who reaches out in good faith. Similarly, you should know that voices asking for politeness do indeed offer usable content to a conversation, though perhaps at a pitch occasionally outside of the range of your hearing.
Skipping on a record is not always because of inadequate care. There can be setup and alignment problems, incompatibilities between the cartridge and arm, floor and room resonance issues etc. Once a groove is damaged, it will repeat itself.