2. analog
  3. 140874-1252

Is the Last Record Preservative system a worthwhile investment?

I take great care in my record collection.
1. I have a manual record vacuum cleaning machine. I also use an enzyme cleaner on a few really dirty ones.
2. I replace all paper sleeves with plastic ones.
3. I use groove glide on only the records in really bad shape. Around 1 percent.
4. I use a record jacket to protect the covers.
5. I meticulously keep the stylus clean.
6. Use a brush everytime I play a record.
  My question being is; will the Last system actually improve the sonics even after all the care I put in to my collection?
How much time is involved treating a record? How much per record does it cost if I buy the larger treatment kits? Id like to hear your experiences with this product. I have close to 3000 records. My analogy is like a great movie that I have never seen. Wow you just now saw that? Will I have an aha moment using the Last system like oh wow, I should have seen that movie years ago. Lol
128x128blueranger
2channel8
634 posts
 
@blueranger , I am curious why you only use Gruv Glide on your most worn records? I was/am a big fan of Sound Guard back in the day. The LPs I treated are still new looking and sounding. I was hoping Gruv Glide was a vert similar product.

As for my experience with LAST, I used it foe a bout a year after each LP I cleaned. I examined my stylus under a microscope after playing a few LPs and saw no residue. I did hear subtle improvement in sound and noise. Nothing earth shattering; but as has been said it's intended to be a preservative more than a sound enhancer. So time will tell.

The reason I've stopped using it is because I now clean my LPs with a formula with Turgitol, similar to that used by the Library of Congress. That formula is said to leave a molecular layer that reduces static (and friction?) on the vinyl surface. It improves sound quality noticeably and seems to be lasting (no pun intended) quite well, so far - I only started using it at the end of 2016.

The reason I don't continue using LAST is that I don't know how it will react with my home brew. Which would I apply first? So if anyone has any experience, ....
gibsonian
26 posts
 

Records need no coating imo.  Keep em clean, don't apply any gunk to them is what works for me.

I've never worn a record out yet, I surely don't need a preservative.

Obviously your experience may be different than mine.

harrylavo's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
harrylavo
118 posts
 
rodman99999 - I second the motion!
twoch
186 posts
 
Don't worry about it.   You should get bomb with a 1000 ideas.   Stick with what your are doing 
Forget about it. You will end up in a hospital tied
Down 
orthomead
20 posts
 
According to the website, Last has been available since 1979 and I could find no negative reviews or comments posted on line after hours of searching.  All reports were similar in that the sonic signature was not degraded with use and albums treated maintained decades long quiet play.  I have been using it for about 5 years.  I have found no short term adverse affects.  I clean all records first ultrasonically and then reclean and rinse x 2 with ultraclean water and vacuum dry with my VPI, then apply the LAST.  On the LAST website, Walter does discuss a "hairball on the stylus" that he felt after microscopic inspection was the mold release agent leaching from the vinyl which diminishes after several plays.  He also recommends reapplication if ultrasonic cleaning is done after the product is applied.
More to discover