higher end jazz vinyl: where to turn?
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. |
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. |
Paanders, think about it, what store could possibly "play grade" (common term for sonic evaluation) the many records they buy then sell over the counter, or on line? That benefit may likely come only from private sellers with a few offerings or dealers when selling expensive, rare recordings, knowing the buyer will likely demand such. I may guess that your experience of clean, quiet recordings from one store and noisy records from another was likely luck. It may have been that all the quiet records came from one owner who simply took better care than the average person, who knows? The point remains that buying used records is ALWAYS a bit of a chance, and then after you've owned them and played them several times they will need cleaning again. You certainly shouldn't need to wash and vacuum after every playing but eventually you likely will. Don't spin your wheels here, find some means of wash/vac that meets your budget and go for it. |
