Is the Last Record Preservative system a worthwhile investment?
When Last Record Preservative first was introduced the sales rep visited our store and made a very convincing demonstration. He cleaned two new identical records and treated one with Last and left one untreated. Then the two records were put on two identical automatic turntables and left on repeat for non-stop play for a couple of days. Customers could come back at their convenience and listen to the two records. The treated record sounded new, the untreated record was very definitely noisy. A third record was compared too, and sounded very much like the original treated record. I have used Last ever since. |
has2be Do you have reason / experience you could share and explain that could validate the above statement ...As I said, I'm familiar with the product and think it's a cure in search of a disease. I tried some long ago, probably in the early '80s, and didn't see any improvement. As you note, "it's meant as a long term thing, anyone expecting instant gratification isn't going to find it," so that's not an unlikely outcome. Since then, I bought an ultrasonic record cleaner and for the first time - even though I've had a Nitty-Gritty cleaner since they were first produced - I found the benefit of really clean, pristine LP playback. And at the same time, I have records that date back to the early '60s and they still play superbly - even without the benefit of any record "preservative." So I'm not sure what the point is of trying to preserve a vinyl product that with proper care already seems to be virtually immune from aging. I get why some don't want to put anything on a clean record ... But that doesn't mean Last is bad ... I understand why many would not put anything on a clean record other than a clean well adjusted stylus but that's a personal choice not a reason that Last is " goop" and doesn't do what it's designed to do.I never said Last was bad or didn't do what it was designed to do and, in fact, praised some of their other products. I use Last stylus cleaner and it works very well. I have no issue at all with Last. |
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As I said, the difference in sound quality is very small but it's nice to have it. Also, I didn't do it myself but you can try to clean the record again after applying LAST. I mean right away, because I re-clean records after about 10 or 15 plays. Yes, worth it - slightly less noise and of course better for stylus. My only reservation about the LAST could be if you intended to sell collectible records at some point. Some record collectors will not want it on the records. I once asked Walter Davis if he thought that treating records would prolong their life span in case the records were not played but just kept in archive. He said - Don't know. |
@rshak, Walter Davies states that because the Last chemicals bond to the vinyl molecules, any foreign matter in the groove will pushed off the surface of the groove (but will remain IN the groove), where it may be heard by the stylus as noise. The solution is to clean the LP well before applying Last. |
The problem as I see it is this: anyone who applies Last to a record is (by definition) someone who cares for their records. In other words, that person is an audiophile and will likely be very careful about cleaning, etc. So, how can you separate that truism from the potential benefits of Last? Having noted that, I've used it for decades and I really can't tell if it helps or not |
Perhaps it was a case of user error . . . but many, many years ago I tried the stuff on quite a few records and found, after time, that they sounded worse (clicks, pops, etc. that were *not* present when the records were treated). I've stayed away from that stuff and for years have relied on my Loricraft and proven cleaning fluids. Very happy with that arrangement. |
Yes, can be a touch quieter too with some pressings. I also suggest MA Recordings inner sleeves. And if you use tape deck treat the heads with LAST head treatment before each play. Not substitute for head cleaning of course but a complement. I do it and there is virtually no head wear after thousands of hours of play. I do use best tape and clean the playback head after every 15 hours of play. |
"Last makes some very fine products. I just don't think the record preservative is one of them."Do you have reason / experience you could share and explain that could validate the above statement especially after calling it "goop". Curious , I have heard very few grumblings, but never an explanation beyond opinion. I get why some don't want to put anything on a clean record , I didn't at first either. But that doesn't mean Last is bad or goop which requires explanation beyond just not wanting to use it as a reason to knock it . I understand why many would not put anything on a clean record other than a clean well adjusted stylus but that's a personal choice not a reason that Last is " goop" and doesn't do what it's designed to do. I have used a loricraft to clean my records since the eighties myself. I clean every album new or used before I will play them. Back in the nineties when I was cleaning up on cheap vinyl prices, I bought a collection of about 300 rarer records off a guy who kept his records very clean and most all of them had the last treatment and the sticker applied to the labels they gave you. It certainly never made them sound better, but , they certainly don't play with the signs of wear that albums that get played as much as they have . I have treated many myself as well through the years also. So for my actual long term experience based opinion , I have seen zero negative reasons against and have 40 yr old heavily played records that don't play like they were played as much as i know they were. Being a preservative it's meant as a long term thing , anyone expecting instant gratification isn't going to find it . To each his own as they say..... |
If your hearing and system are good enough there is a very slight improvement in clarity. Good test. But yes, the LAST was not designed for that purpose, it's a bonus. Second treatment does not improve sound quality, at least I don't hear it. I use Okki Nokki cleaning machine in reverse to treat records with it, three revolutions. |
bdp24 Last is not "goop". It is a very thin liquid, which when applied to an LP bonds molecularly ...I'm familiar with the product. I think it is a cure in search of a disease. Walter Davies is ... a fantastic guy, and Last Record Preservative a great product!I don't doubt that he's a good guy, and Last makes some very fine products. I just don't think the record preservative is one of them. |
I very much agree with cleanliness cleeds (I own a VPI HW-17F, and am putting together a DIY USC), but Last is not "goop". It is a very thin liquid, which when applied to an LP bonds molecularly with the vinyl, preventing the fracturing of the vinyl's molecules. Last creator Walter Davies is not just a chemist, but a long-time audiophile, engineer, and hi-fi retailer. I bought my first big system (Magneplanar Tympani's bi-amped with ARC electronics) from Walter in 1973. He's a fantastic guy, and Last Record Preservative a great product! |
Last Record Preservative creator Walter Davies claims no immediate benefit in the sound of treated LP's, but rather, as the name more than implies, the prevention of deterioration in their sound with multiple plays. At that I consider it very successful. It takes only a minute or two to do both sides on an LP, far less time than a thorough cleaning. I've used Last since it was introduced in 1983. |
