Yeah that is a bad one. Sometimes the hole is centered on the record but the pressing isn't. So it looks good- until you notice the arm swinging back and forth.
Affects of Badly Centered Hole
Recently I bought a new LP record and while listening to it I noticed that the speed seemed to waver, especially on the last two tracks of the record. The sound of the music sounded like the tape was slowing down. I remember this sensation with tape decks in the 80's when the motor would wear out or tension wasn't correct in the mechanism.
Anyway, I wasn't sure if this was part of the music or not so I kept listening until I realized that there was definitely something wrong. When I looked at the spinning LP I saw the cartridge undulating back and forth at least 1/4 of an inch. This is the worst out of center I have ever seen a record cut. I guess I had never realized how much this affects the pitch of the music. I've noticed that out of center holes are not uncommon, but I have never noticed the pitch affected by it.
Anyway, I wasn't sure if this was part of the music or not so I kept listening until I realized that there was definitely something wrong. When I looked at the spinning LP I saw the cartridge undulating back and forth at least 1/4 of an inch. This is the worst out of center I have ever seen a record cut. I guess I had never realized how much this affects the pitch of the music. I've noticed that out of center holes are not uncommon, but I have never noticed the pitch affected by it.