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higher end jazz vinyl: where to turn?

I'm a lifelong jazz listener but only new to entry-level hifi, as presently marketed--by which I mean Rega p3-24 turntable, Linn Classik amp, Vienna Acoutics Mozart Grand Speakers, and a lot of heart.

Anyway I have a choice set of old ECM records, Miles Davis records, and so forth, that I bought in the early 1980s. Most of them have some noise and crackle now and again--which I largely discount as the distinguished marks of age and memory. Nonetheless a clean sweet classic jazz LP played at substantial volume, even through a low midfi system like mine, is a beautiful thing. Beauty is a rare thing, I read somewhere. And it makes me wonder about upgrading the vinyl.

So here are questions:
1. Are these $50 classic content and such rereleases of Blue Notes really so good? Including worth the effort of getting up and turning the 45 over in middle of a strong Coltrane solo-a double indignity, to a genius and to the lazy.

2. What to say of all these 180g and 200g re-releases at higher prices versus the $10-20 unopened recent copy meant for mass market (or as massy as the jazz list allowed/allows)?

3. I'm using Disc Doctor record cleaners on my old and newer vinyl, but wonder how great the different is to move to a machine, say vpi 165?

4. I'm just a poor righteous teacher so I'm a bargain hunter: an Inexpensive Audiophile down with the feel of the Expensive Winos aestheticist mentality.

5. Thanks!
paanders
hevac1
812 posts
 
Music Matters is putting out some great stuff as well as Analog Productions. I would also look at the Japanese market. Some of the older Blue Notes are more affordable, as well as some newer releases. They sound pretty nice also.

I think all records should be cleaned. Just because it is new does not mean it will be clean of all debris from being pressed. I just opened a couple of Friday Music and some other albums that looked like thay were handled by someone with gloves that had traces of talc powered on them or dusty hands. You could see the hand outline across the album. They looked like crap. Once cleaned all was well.

Get a VPI 16.5 to clean your records it is a nice machine for the money. I have no problems with mine. IMHO.
pryso
1,928 posts
 
Paanders, I'm not familiar with the KAB unit, other than knowing he has a very good reputation for what he sells.

More than 25 years ago I bought a Nitty Gritty, their least expensive model which was manual. It did a very fine job of cleaning. Some years later I upgraded to a VPI because I wanted an automated machine. Does it clean any better? Possibly, but I would not say for sure. If cost is truly an issue, do a search for DIY machines. Several folks have reported satisfaction with those on line.

And I also have a different opinion from Salectric on cleaning 30 years ago. As someone already pointed out, we accepted "noisy" records then because we didn't know how different it could be.

Yes, a RCM will be more important for used records than new. But given the pricing for reissues, which records are you likely to buy in any number? And what about a year later when those new records are no longer new and have been played several times?
hdm
1,062 posts
 
I've owned a KAB EV1 for about 5 years now and have cleaned probably 5000 records with it. I have no desire to "upgrade" to anything else and I've had records cleaned on a Monks in the past.

Effective record cleaning is as much about technique and quality of fluids used as the RCM which really only sucks the fluid off the record. While machines like the Loricraft and Monks would seem to have a technical advantage, the upfront cost has never seemed to be worth it to me. Below that, any slot based or wand based RCM does exactly the same thing, including a $25 shop vac with a modified crevice tool.

The KAB is extremely high value and works very well when combined with a decent home vac.
paanders OP
43 posts
 
Pregnant pause during conversation...

"A shop vac with a modified crevice tool? Against these delicate vinyl platters?"

After the shock wears off, allow the thought-experiment to continue. Where might one find or how to make a modified crevice tool?

That's what gets me, there is nothing particularly complex about the idea of vacuuming cleaning liquid, dirt, and dust from a vinyl record except for needing to have right amount of suction.

Meanwhile, can we spend some time vetting used record shops that sell jazz vinyl over internet?

For example, I bought a handful of lps super-cheap from Dusty Grooves America in Chicago--old stuff like Betty Carter and James Moody for $3 or less (!)--and they ALL sounded great. Minimal snap, crackle, pop, even before cleaning. I'm impressed at price and quality!

By contrast, I just bought a handful of records from Wattsjazz (via ebay) and they were 3x (or more) the prices I paid from Dusty Groove and are ALL noisy as hell from track one on. I'm cleaning and double-cleaning, but will then have to ask for refund, considering they were rated as VG and VG++ and they're not even close to that. What a disappointment. Maybe this was an anomalous situation; I hope so.

And finally, my local record shop--Encore Records in Ann Arbor--does a little bit on online sales, though I buy there in person. I'm shocked at how good their stuff and the prices are always at or lower than ebay stores. Kudos!

Who are the online sellers who simply won't sell "good" (noisy) records because they find that to be in bad taste?

Any internet sellers of jazz vinyl (original, reissue, contemporary) to run to or run away from? I will pay extra to deal with nice people who love and support this art form and take it seriously!
hdm
1,062 posts
 
The "modified crevice tool" (lots of variations on it actually):

http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html

The KAB is a bit more elegant but the above link is interesting for those comfortable with DIY.
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