higher end jazz vinyl: where to turn?

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!

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.

"considering they were rated as VG and VG++ and they're not even close to that"

As I pointed out in another thread, those ratings are COSMETIC only. They do NOT denote playback quality.

Y'all be cool,
Robert

A shop vac with modified crevice tool is exactly what I used for many years before my Loricraft. You plug up the end of the crevice tool, cut a slot on the side with a router and use a removable adhesive to attach felt on either side of the slot so you can wipe it along the record. Any reasonable shop vac will provide way more suction than most commercial RCM's. The only issue I ever had ways pulling the "tool" off after cleaning and leaving a clean edge as the forward piece of felt would still be wet and have some residue. But it gets 80% of what a Loricraft can do. Of course my Loricraft is far quieter. I can play LP's while cleaning the next record.

Well I guess now I will be writing to any potential internet seller for clarification on cosmetic condition versus playback condition.

This is ridiculous: what's the point of staring at an lp to see if it provides the nicest reflection, as in a black pond, and calling that a condition (other than narcissistic personality disorder or NPD)? Any of those sellers I will presume is a joker and not to be taken seriously by music-lovers.