LP Thickness/Taper


If anyone has ever wondered how LP thickness varies from lead in to runout, I just measured it.  It's well known that there's a taper to LPs, but I have never seen any actual data.

This is a 120 gram record.  The thinnest part near the beginning of the first track is 0.0415", and the thickest part at the very end of the last track is 0.0470" (+/-0.0005"). 

I know there are many ways to set azimuth, but most most people tend to do it optically with a mirror on the platter.  So, if you set your azimuth like this and are confident that you have it perfect, it will automatically be 0.12 degrees off due to the taper of the record.  I'm sure all records will have a slightly different taper, but I can't see it varying too much.

ketchup

Showing 1 response by fredapplegate

Theo has it. LPs were thicker at the edge and at the label so the lps didn't scratch each other when they dropped from a changer onto the spinning disc below.
I had a Garrard SL95, Dual 1219 and a trusty Benjamin Miracord 50H. Amazing machines.

And then there was DynaFlex...