Q: Playing empty/last groove ?

I'd say that your cartridge is 4 hours older - no damage

Clean you stylus, all is well. I too have done that, and overnight, without losing a single minute of sleep. Neither should you.

the ill you caused is only limited by your imagination.
Pbb (System | Threads | Answers)

now THAT is the real answer! lol!

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Clean your stylus well to remove the layer of burnished-on vinyl particles and crud. It's there - guaranteed.

Use something stronger/more abrasive than a dry brush, goop or gel. Search for "magic eraser" if you need a cheap and effective idea or use a sliver of very fine sandpaper, like Linn has always recommended.

Don't worry. All you did was use 4 of the thousands of hours worth of objective playing time on your cartridge. Subjectively, you didn't even notice! ;-)

Objectively, four hours is four hours. In this subjective world, the ill you caused is only limited by your imagination.

I'll be interested to hear what others say, but I would imagine it wouldn't do anything "to" the cartridge that 4 hours of normal play would do. It may have caused extra wear on the empty groove given the heat that would build up, but does that really mater?