All Things Vinyl, April 7-11, 2008

by Oliver Amnuayphol

So now that you're firmly committed to spinning the black circles, let's talk about good vinyl hygiene. Hygiene? As in cleaning? Absolutely! If you want to hear your records at their best, proper cleaning of your records is a must. You know all those ticks and pops and static-type sounds that notoriously goes hand in hand with vinyl? Nearly all of that can be eliminated by simply keeping your records clean. Most of those vinyl noises are caused by dirt, dust, and various other particles that are trapped the grooved walls of your records, causing lots of noise and, even worse, permanent damage to your precious vinyl. And even if it's a new record, chances are there's still some grime (and mold-release agents) that need to be cleaned from the record for best performance.

So--how does one go about getting those vinyl contaminants outta there? There are three basic things things you should do before playing any record: treat each one to a thorough wet wash (preferably with a specialized vacuum cleaning machine); clean each record with a record brush before every play; and clean the stylus before and after every record side. By keeping the record and the various parts it comes into contact with free of any possible contaminants, you'll guarantee noise-free play and top-notch sound quality from your vinyls for years to come (for a detailed description of a very thorough process, check out the excellent article from the musicangle.com site here).

And now, a smattering of some stellar record care products:

Gruv-Glide II Record Treatment LP cleaner ($28.99): A simple, spray on LP cleaner, the Gruv Glide is perfect for quick cleaning of garage sale finds or a great solution for those a little short on scratch for a wet-cleaning system. Can leave a residue of used with a heavy hand, but definitely better than no cleaner at all.

Nitty Gritty 1.0 Vacuum record cleaning machine ($365): If you have a substantial record collection or just want to get your records uber-clean, the 1.0 model from Nitty Gritty should be considered mandatory--especially considering its beer-budget price when compared to other models out there. Its powerful vacuum action and simple, fuss-free operation means you'll be enjoying super-quiet and squeaky-clean vinyl goodness for many moons to come.

The Disc Doctor record cleaning solutions (prices vary depending on item): I've tried many vinyl cleaning solutions with my cleaning machine over the years, and the Disc Doctor products are my cleaners of choice. The Miracle Record Cleaner spreads easily yet stays neatly on the record until it's time to suck it up. What's more, every item is a superb value, and their wet clean records are the best I've ever used.

Sleevetown.com record cleaning brush ($13.95): Using a quality, non-damaging brush to dust off those records before every play is important to maintaining clean vinyl surfaces, and the brush from Sleevetown is a dandy. Pretty much the same as that audiophile standard of brushes, the Hunt EDA--but less than half the cost.

Last Factory stylus cleaner and stylus treatment ($22.50 and $33 respectively): Even with the most immaculately cleansed records, over time microscopic dust, dirt, and grime particles form into a thin, coarse, sandpaper-like film that gouges your record's grooves with every play. An unavoidable occurrence--unless you clean your stylus before every listening session. Thank the analog gods for Last's stylus cleaner and treatment which will, when correctly applied, extend the life of both your records and your cartridge's stylus. Amen Last, amen.

Next week: Setting up your vinyl rig.