You also might try putting your speakers on stands to raise the tweeter (the small speaker) to around your seated ear height and try pulling the speakers (now on stands) ~18" out from the back wall they're against. May result in more natural sound when you're listening. Best of luck,
Enjoy your new vinyl stash! Speaker cable---go to your local hardware store and pick up x feet of 14 ga. lamp cord, and some side cutters and wire strippers. Styli (record needles) wear out, if everything sounds scratchy and trashy, hunt around online for a replacement. With old, used gear, it's a good bet the stylus has seen some heavy use. A Discwasher kit can be had for around $30, and will do wonders for brightening up abused vinyl. It's too bad newer turntables don't have 16 RPM...45 RPM gives you chipmunks, 16 RPM makes Patti Labelle sound like Andre the Giant.
I still have some '60s & '70s vinyl here, mostly pristine. CDs & digital recordings just don't have the same sound quality. You should see if Discwasher products are still available. Those old discs need proper cleaning (and a quality turntable with adjustable tracking force), to avoid any further damage. Just FYI, I was born in 1955, and know vinyl recordings pretty well.
As for playing 33-1/3 records at 45 speed, Bruce Springsteen's song "I'm on Fire" sounds like Dolly Parton. If this album wasn't in that collection, you really should add it. 😁
ok ONE more try with fully set up substack account.
So you can often repair warps/etc in vinyl... try the following:
- buy 2 pieces of actual glass 14"x14" or bigger
- clean the glass really well, if using windex or something, make sure you do a full rinse and dry with distilled or regular water, record should ALSO be clean. If there is particulate stuff on either, that can become imbedded in the fix.
- place record between the pieces of glass
- set this in the sun for 1 hr (or better still until glass gap is ALL the way around at the thickness of the record)
- pull it inside without removing record, and let it cool to room temp, I usually give it 1-6 hrs inside just to be safe
-remove record from the glass and it should be repaired (or at least better)
Of course, I'd never do this to records in decent shape. With records that are already in really bad shape, though, this sounds like it'd be worth the risk. Worst case scenario I'd lose a record that's borderline unplayable anyways, best case scenario I'd restore it to a higher level of playability!
You will love it! There's so much more to putting a vinyl record on than just listening to spotify. Make sure to stay organised and put the ones you like in a special place. Slowly but surely you'll become a vinyl head!
Purchase a Discwasher Record Cleaner. Ensure the magnetic cartridge on your turntable arm isn't damaging the vinyl. Replacing the stylus in the cartridge is a low cost option.
"I’ve also discovered it’s endlessly entertaining to take 33 RPM records and play them at 45 RPM, causing everyone to sound like chipmunks."
Welcome to the joys of my childhood. 🔊😂
Please turn your right side speaker up the right way. It’s upside down!
Yes, high frequencies are more directional, so raising the tweeter above ankle level lets you hear the treble properly.
Good to know, thank you!
Go to discogs.com to find their value, especially if they are first issues from that era. Put the catalogue
number in the search box.
Stop calling them "vinyls," the plural of vinyl is vinyl
You also might try putting your speakers on stands to raise the tweeter (the small speaker) to around your seated ear height and try pulling the speakers (now on stands) ~18" out from the back wall they're against. May result in more natural sound when you're listening. Best of luck,
Thanks for the tip!
Enjoy your new vinyl stash! Speaker cable---go to your local hardware store and pick up x feet of 14 ga. lamp cord, and some side cutters and wire strippers. Styli (record needles) wear out, if everything sounds scratchy and trashy, hunt around online for a replacement. With old, used gear, it's a good bet the stylus has seen some heavy use. A Discwasher kit can be had for around $30, and will do wonders for brightening up abused vinyl. It's too bad newer turntables don't have 16 RPM...45 RPM gives you chipmunks, 16 RPM makes Patti Labelle sound like Andre the Giant.
It’s a slippery slope the vinyl world! But it’s a damned fine one! Welcome to the family!!!
I still have some '60s & '70s vinyl here, mostly pristine. CDs & digital recordings just don't have the same sound quality. You should see if Discwasher products are still available. Those old discs need proper cleaning (and a quality turntable with adjustable tracking force), to avoid any further damage. Just FYI, I was born in 1955, and know vinyl recordings pretty well.
How can digital sound about the same as analog?
It can't.
Please keep it safe the owner may come by soon.
As for playing 33-1/3 records at 45 speed, Bruce Springsteen's song "I'm on Fire" sounds like Dolly Parton. If this album wasn't in that collection, you really should add it. 😁
I'll keep an eye out for it!
Please stop with the VINYLS!!!
It's a killer hobby! I have over 10,000 albums it's a bitch on moving day but wonderful the rest of the time!
Oh my! That's quite the collection!
Is this thing on?
--David Clark, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
These guys are right. Plus you should get some stands. At least put one of the milk crates under each one.
ok ONE more try with fully set up substack account.
So you can often repair warps/etc in vinyl... try the following:
- buy 2 pieces of actual glass 14"x14" or bigger
- clean the glass really well, if using windex or something, make sure you do a full rinse and dry with distilled or regular water, record should ALSO be clean. If there is particulate stuff on either, that can become imbedded in the fix.
- place record between the pieces of glass
- set this in the sun for 1 hr (or better still until glass gap is ALL the way around at the thickness of the record)
- pull it inside without removing record, and let it cool to room temp, I usually give it 1-6 hrs inside just to be safe
-remove record from the glass and it should be repaired (or at least better)
I was actually wondering earlier about how sensitive records are to heat like this! Thanks for the tip!
PLEASE never do this!! If the glass gets too hot, say goodbye to your grooves!!
Of course, I'd never do this to records in decent shape. With records that are already in really bad shape, though, this sounds like it'd be worth the risk. Worst case scenario I'd lose a record that's borderline unplayable anyways, best case scenario I'd restore it to a higher level of playability!
You will love it! There's so much more to putting a vinyl record on than just listening to spotify. Make sure to stay organised and put the ones you like in a special place. Slowly but surely you'll become a vinyl head!
Purchase a Discwasher Record Cleaner. Ensure the magnetic cartridge on your turntable arm isn't damaging the vinyl. Replacing the stylus in the cartridge is a low cost option.