Needle being taken off a vinyl record

Why Clean A Record Needle?

Records must always be stored upright like books on a shelf. Because of their size and weight, regular bookshelves don't work well to store vinyl records so consider a real record storage shelf or cube instead. Never stack vinyl records as shown in this photo as it can lead to warped discs and ring wear on the album jackets. Read more on why you shouldn't wet play records. If you want to reduce static pops when playing a record then get one of these. Keep fingers off the record How do you handle a vinyl record?

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Never touch the record's playing surface with your bare hands or fingers as your body oil will transfer onto the record attracting even more dust thereby affecting sound quality. Always hold a record by its outer edges only. If you accidentally touch a record, it is best to immediately clean it with a liquid record cleaner before putting it back in its sleeve. Keep your filthy paws off the playing surface of a record. Your T-shirt or towel is not a record cleaner Can I give my records a quick whisk with a towel?

Resist the temptation to wipe your vinyl record with your shirt or dry cloth no matter how soft it may feel. This will scratch and scuff the record and only move the dirt around. For dry cleaning or light touch up, use an anti-static record brush as it actually discharges static and lifts dirt without damaging the vinyl record. View step-by-step directions on how to clean records. If it's not specifically labelled for use on vinyl records then please do NOT use it. Never use WD40, lubricants, or solvents of any kind on your records. Never place or pick up a vinyl record as the turntable platter is spinning.

This will quickly scratch the underside of a record. Always wait for the platter to come to a complete stop before doing anything with the record. If your turntable platter uses a rubber or felt mat then make sure it is clean before placing a record on top of it first.


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  • Vinyl Record Collector Essentials?

Don't mar that beautiful album cover art with tape Can I use masking tape or Scotch tape to fix record jackets? Refrain from using Scotch tape or packaging tape to fix a record cover that is splitting or tearing. It will completely destroy the cover. As the cellophane tape ages, it becomes brittle, yellows, and will ooze adhesive making things worse than before.

Best to place the record jacket in a poly outer sleeve and place the record in its inner sleeve behind it or place the record in its inner sleeve inside a generic cardboard record jacket and save the original jacket for safekeeping. Do you know which sleeves are right for your vinyl records? Generic replacement record jackets are great for replacing water-damaged, lost or torn jackets. Never leave your records out of their sleeves longer than necessary How long can I keep my records outside of their packaging? Put vinyl records back into their protective inner sleeve when you're done.

It is not uncommon for dust to get lodged on the needle itself.

Noisy vinyl? - Just add water

Be sure to check, using your eyes this time, if the needle is clogged with collected dust. You will also want to make sure that the machine is sitting on a flat surface. A record player will suffer from playing at an angle. The turntable must be flat to function, and so since Emile Berliner invented the gramophone in Unlike turntables, needles have experienced some changes over the years. Unfortunately, these changes have yet to exempt them from wearing out. Replacing them is as important as ever. But before you do anything, unplug your machine.

Ensuring you always have a great record player

Not all needles are appropriate for your machine. Record players come in all shapes and sizes, so you want to make sure you buy the correct needle for your model. The easiest way to determine what kind of needle you need is to read the serial number that lines the cartridge. To that end, you will want to make sure that you have an adequate understanding of the parts you are dealing with before getting started.

To know what kind of needle you need, read the manual or the instructions that came with your machine. Replacement protocols should be clearly defined there. Established companies like the legendary Victrola offer a timely technical support portal on their website. They will ask you information on your machine. Be prepared to have answers regarding:. It follows that before you can put in a new needle, you need to take out the used one.


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In some models, the old needle will be housed in a removable headshell. This is the easiest kind of needle to replace. All you have to do is unscrew the shell to reach the needle. Generally speaking, you will need to unlock the lever that keeps the metallic tonearm set in place. Gently lift the arm and pull out the needle. Be wary of putting too much pressure on the metal arm.

To avoid confusing one for the other, place the old needle a good distance from the new one. Clean with compressed air spray the now empty spot the new needle is slated to occupy.

Breadcrumb

Insert the new needle with the point facing down, where the record will eventually be. When you are finished, carefully move the tonearm back to its usual place and plug in your record player. Use one of your least favorite records to check that the needle is correctly placed. Listen for any unusual sounds, such as:.

Try readjusting the tonearm if the strangeness persists. You may also need to defer to a professional. You now know how to replace a needle on a record player. By learning this new skill, you are giving your record player the best chances at aging gracefully. You are also protecting your cherished records and preserving the music. How Stuff Works.

How easily are record needles damaged?

Close menu. Record Players. Our Collections. My Cart. Trial by Fire: Record Player Maintenance Indeed, a record player requires more maintenance than any modern audio replay device. The Unavoidable: Needle Replacements Your record player may be 4 more like a pet than a fridge, but it still is a machine. What Does the Needle Do? At its essence, it all starts with the needle. When the Music Sounds Funny When we said to keep an eye on early signs of needle wear, we meant ears.