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TAKING CARE OF YOUR RECORDS

Looking after your records is actually pretty simple (provided you keep at it), and many regard it as part of the magic of keeping a legendary collection. Chances are, if you own a sizeable vinyl vault, you'll be using the right cleaning materials already. Not everyone does though. And if you've mistakenly thought that tap water will do the trick, there's much more to learn. So stick around.After all, this is probably the one major part of your life that's not stored digitally.

Storage and Passive Care
Much comes down to you treat your records when they're not in use. This part is usually simple, but if you do it properly you'll be rewarded for decades to come. This involves some obvious pointers like keeping your vinyl out of the sunny windows and heat sources like amplifiers, and humid areas of the house like bathrooms or kitchens, presuming they don't have an extraction fan, are a definite no. Be wary of areas that are just hot or humid in general. If you're new to the game, you may not have known that records should never be stored horizontally in large numbers. If you really need to though, stacks shouldn't exceed 15-20 in number.

Then there are the obvious points: records should be kept in their sleeves when not in use. This comes down to the war against dust is, but it doesn't have to be a struggle. One fool-proof method is to store them in plastic sleeves. If you find that comes off as tacky, the cardboard sleeve should fare just fine. It also generates less static.

Guarding against static
Static is the other area you'll need to guard against. The paper sleeves which records are shipped in tend generate plenty of it. It pays to invest in some polyethylene lined sleeves for your most favored records.

Handling your records
If you're staging a romantic dinner and have been cooking all evening, remember keep those oily paws off the fine grooves. If you want your records and stylus to be playing like they did a year from now that is. For general handling though, the place you hold the record matters too: The labeled area and outer edges are safe-zones for those fingers.

Before and after slipping on a record, a carbon fiber brush is handy of removing any micro-particles that could've landed on your favorite LP between taking it out and replacing it inside it's sleeve. Another great way to remain dust-proof is to buy a record player with a lid.

Record Cleaning
No matter how meticulous you are about record storage, a good cleaning now and then will benefit your vinyl, keeping the sound just as crisp and clean as it should be. If it's an older record or you've just let it become dusty as hell through lack of discretion, there are a number of tried and tested ways of restoring it to it's former glory provided it's not been scratched. Any grime that invariably comes with second-hand records should be dealt with immediately so as not to damage your stylus.

If you want to simplify the process, there are plenty of cleaning machines available that will save you time, but assuming you're more hands on, there are some classic methods of record-cleaning that will be available for as long as records are around. That said, cleaning machines are also available, which will make the load lighter.

Cleaning Machines
Although automatic record-cleaning machines tend to be expensive and space-consuming, that doesn't mean you can't save time and money by buying a compact and trusty manual cleaning machine. Especially if you have a massive vinyl collection, this will turn a day's cleaning into a couple of hours. The Spin Clean Record Cleaner is one fine example of this, and it works using the same mixture of cleaning solution and distilled water.

The Classic Cleaning Method

Before you start to clean, always use a dry carbon fiber brush to take off any loose dust particles. Some cleaning solutions include this as part of the package, such as the Clear Groove Record Cleaning Solution for instance. If you don't brush before applying the wet cloth (the next step), dust can become lodged inside the grooves.

Next, apply your cleaning brush with record-cleaning solution. You might choose to dilute with some distilled water (Again, never use ordinary tap water as the minerals will cause the vinyl to degenerate). Now gently wipe the grooves, going with the grain, for obvious reasons. After a few swipes, check the cloth for any dust deposits and rinse them off before restarting the process. The cloth shouldn't be sopping wet, so just wet it enough to pick up those finer dust particles. While you're cleaning, be wary of getting any water on the label. This can cause smudging.

Now stack your records vertically and leave them to dry in an area of the house that isn't too dusty.

Stylus Maintenance
This is the point where the needle hits the groove, so it's crucially important to maintaining a healthy library.As we mentioned before, keeping your stylus clean and properly aligned will have a direct effect on how long your records last. This is because a badly maintained stylus can end up scratching your records. Keeping your records clean in turn, will effect the longevity of your stylus, so it's this cycle you need to keep an eye on, and fortunately it doesn't require a lot of work provided you don't let things get out of whack in the first place.

A few pointers are worth bearing in mind here:

- Never use a worn-out stylus.
-Ensure that your stylus is clean and free of grime at all times.
-Make sure you've balanced your stylus in accordance with your cartridge's requirements.
- Be sure to align your cartridge properly.
-Set up your anti-skate counterweight properly.

Summing it all up

In a nutshell, record-maintenance is all about keeping the physical connection between record and stylus crisp and clear. Records are still the most magical form of music-appreciation, and caring for your record collection won't require heaps of work if you take care of regular maintenance.

Take a look inside BaseVinyl.com

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European Release, Remastered 2016 Vinyl 2LP in 180g gatefold. Tracklisting - LP1: 1. The Happiest Days of Our Lives 2. Another Brick In The Wall Part 2 3. Another Brick In The Wall Part 1 4. Mother 5. In The Flesh? 6. Th..

Let Me Feel Your Power

British heavy metal legends Saxon will unleash Let Me Feel Your Power, their 10th live album, on September 23rd via UDR Music (out on October 7th for US & CA). The 16 track album was recorded in Munich during November 20..

Astatic N8-7s 0.7 Mil Sapphire Phonograph Needle

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PHONO TURNTABLE NEEDLE STYLUS FITS SHURE N95E M95ED SHURE N-95ED M-95E 4767-DED

That's the Way of the World

1975 release by Earth, Wind & Fire ''That's The Way Of The World'' was also the name of movie that featured several members of the band in cameo roles. Featuring the #1 hit Shining Star and the title track reached number..

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Columbia/DENON - DSN-81 Replacement Stylus for The MG2721

This is Columbia (Denon Denon) made cartridge [MG-2721] dedicated Apisu made compatible replacement needle.Cartridge No: MG-2721Cartridge format: MMNeedle tip shape: round needleStylus force: 2.5g..

FonPeak Half-inch Standard Moving Magnet Turntable Cartridge w/ Stylus Needle for LP Vinyl Record Player Phonograph

One of the most popular cartridges ever made. It is used by many manufacturers in their stereos & has been for many years such as ARISTON, FISHER, GOLDSTAR, GOODMANS, KENWOOD, NUMARK, PHILIPS, SAMSUNG, SANYO, SHARP, SONY..

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After getting fed up with dust and static spoiling my audio experience, I decided to do something about it. The factory rubber and felt mats seemed to contribute to the problem, so I began a search for a new material. Af..

Record Player Needle W/ Diamond Tip - 3-pack - Treat Your Ears to Superior Sound Quality - Protect Your Timeless Records - 1000 Hour Life Span Save...

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Universal Turntable Headshell Metallic Sky Blue

The DJDeals.com blank turntable headshell is compatible with all headshell-mount turntable cartridges.UniversalStandard mountIncludes pre-installed high-quality lead wires...

1950's JUKEBOX NEEDLE STYLUS FOR THE VACO VARCO CARTRIDGE

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91ED 93E Shure Type Replacement Stylus

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Replace your turntable stylus with this universal aluminum headshell with gold plated contacts.Aluminum die-cast construction with integral finger lift24 Karat gold-plated pre-installed lead wiresFor use with standard 2-..

Acrylic Turntable Mat Cartridge Alignment Protractor Strobe Disc Stroboscope

PUREST AUDIO ST-PT-89 Turntable Strobe Disc / Alignment Protractor...Allows you to accurately adjust the speed of your turntable to 33-1/3, 45 and 78rpm. Designed for use in artificial light, the disc's pattern will appe..

ADJ Products TT-HEADSHELL Turntable Cartridge

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Astatic N230-7s Columbia 0.7 Mil Sapphire Stylus

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Astatic N676 Sonotone N-8T-S Replacement Stylus

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Astatic N8-7s 0.7 Mil Sapphire Phonograph Needle

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Audio Technica AT100E Phonograph Cartridge

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Audio Technica AT3482P .7 mil Conical Cartridge Fits P-Mount Turntables

This .7 mil conical cartridge fits P-mount turntables. A versatile entry-level cartridge that delivers outstanding performance..7mm conical cartridgeFits P-mount turntablesFits .7mm onlyFrequency Response: 20-20,000 HzCh..

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