ADVICEE NEEDED: getting rid of 'crackle' on lp

[pencilface]

i bought PENTANGLE - "basket of light" from a charity shop today. the disc looks pretty fine but when played there is a really infuriating crackle at some frequencies (such as everytime john renbourn opens his gob - and half the time when the female singer does!!)

--- what causes this and how do i get rid of it

i cant listen to it like this -- the disc doesnt really look like it needs a clean or anything -- is it just worn or something?? ive never had a record that does this...

[eclectiktronik]

this is the classic symptom of a record once played on something like a mono dansette pickup. often if a stereo lp (for example) has been played on a worn or mono stylus, a cartridge with poor compliance or a high tracking force was used, irrevocable groove wall damage occurs. Noticeable on louder passages as the mistracking occurs.

infuriatingly this is not easy to see with the naked eye. my copy of smiley smile and some sergio mendez stuff i own is like this.

If you have a record like this, some styli track them better than others. you may find some knackered lps sound better on your old fidelity autochanger than your more fussy rega planar ;-)

Ben

[folkishienne]

If the record is clean and there is no obvious flaws then it could well be groove wear (Played in the past too much or with a poorly aligned stylus / worn / damaged / heavy stylus)...Transtalantic pressings are not the most forgiving things...If the trouble you are getting only occurs with this record - Then in short, it may be worn out..

[Sergio Paradise]

I read somewhere that different shaped needles (eliptical?) can make a difference, but I can't recall the details.

[folkishienne]

I read somewhere that different shaped needles (eliptical?) can make a difference, but I can't recall the details.

There is potentially a chance it may sound better with a different stylus - However if the groove wall has been cut into, worn away or otherwise the the record will never sound perfect

[woodbutcher]

i bought PENTANGLE - "basket of light" from a charity shop today. the disc looks pretty fine but when played there is a really infuriating crackle at some frequencies (such as everytime john renbourn opens his gob - and half the time when the female singer does!!)

--- what causes this and how do i get rid of it

i cant listen to it like this -- the disc doesnt really look like it needs a clean or anything -- is it just worn or something?? ive never had a record that does this...

this could be all of the previous replys telling you to change your stylus etc etc

meanwhile pick up the spray that your lady uses for the rubber plant, apply to the vinyl & play it wet... not only might it sound 100% better, the stylus might actually flake out a load of crud from the grooves... which was causing the distortion in the first instance...

[john stapleton]

Take it up to Martin at Plastic Wax and get it cleaned on the VPI machine for a start.

You never know....

[wayne]

Had a few like this that look clean and mint but play as though covered in surface scratches and in need of a clean. Most have responded well to a good, thorough clean, but a couple were beyond help, so I'd guess sometimes it might just be residue of some sort in the grooves, but occasionally the kind of damage noted above. On the plus side, when it's that bad you've nothing to lose by giving it a dunk and polish with a soft cloth in a lukewarm bowl of clean washing-up water, then trying a microfibre duster on it (a Wooly tip that I can heartily recommend...) to dry it off properly.

[pencilface]

Take it up to Martin at Plastic Wax and get it cleaned on the VPI machine for a start.

You never know....

i think i'll try this -- i have a MARYLA RODOWICZ record that needs a good seeing to when i'm there. cheers fro the advice guys.

[alanmck]

aye, sounds like it might have been played on a knacked/ misalinged/ overwieghted stylus.

other than VPI-ing it, for cleaning...try something like
this

also, check here...

good luck.

[antwhiplash2]

Most likely played with bad stylus in the past as noted above.
Was offered an original Velvet Underground & Nico UK press. Looked fine so asked the shop to play it & the dreaded crackle appeared although the LP looked fine. They cleaned it 3 times on their VPI (bless 'em) & the problem remained.
Chazza finds are worth the risk but when parting with a lot of cash, where posible ask the seller to play it.

[pencilface]

si even if i get thsi bugger cleaned properly it'll still be there?