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I find that cleaning used records very difficult

Hi
I buy many used records from thrift shops and used Records Stores. I ussually play them 1st if they are decent. I'm finding out that many times that eaven thought the records looks like it needs cleaning. I play it and it actually has the true Vinyl sound ( Thats great but it looks dirty)and as soon as I wash it with my $500.00 record machine and distilled water, it seemes to lose that deep bass on guitar or other instruments.
Its like it leaves a layer of something that takes away the highs and lows.
.
I even had a few records cleaned on much more Expensive machines like $4,000.00 machine and it also seems to do the same thing.

Has anyone one else experienced this and does anyone have a better way of cleaning records.
macallan25
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czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
Liz the vacuum cleaner nozzle brush is it a soft type that doesn't scratch the record? Or is it modified?

Chuck
mgattone
25 posts
 
I've had the opposite experience, in that the records sound better after cleaning. Check the needle on your cart, perhaps the cleaning jarred something loose from the grooves that didn't get picked up by rcm's vacuum.

-Mike
photon46
1,076 posts
 
Nope, can't say I've EVER experienced what you're hearing. FWIW, I always use a record cleaning solution first and use purified or distilled water only to do a final rinse. I'm not going to recommend specific cleaning solution systems because it seems everyone has their favorites and this subject just incites instant flame wars. Research the subject here, on Vinyl Asyulum, reviews, etc. and experiment if needed. Also don't underestimate the efficacy of adding a steam cleaning routine before using the record cleaning machine. That has revived and silenced many noisy used lp purchases I've made.
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