Static on turntable

@bdp24 I suspected that to be the case, but can't really say why. Static electricity is black magic to me, largely because it didn't figure much in my A-level physics.

When a disc is sprayed on one side only, the static charge "migrates" to the untreated side.

I have been using the Destat III on the side to be played, then using it on the other side when when I flip the disk over. I'll try doing both sides before playing the first and see if it makes a difference. The reason for using it at all is not so much that I can hear static pops, but that it makes it easier for my rocket brush to blow any specks off the surface before playing.

+1 for the ZeroStat. I use it on every record and again when I flip sides. Works like a charm. 

@dogberry: It’s best to "spray" the record on both sides before placing it on the turntable, holding the disc in one’s hand. That’s true of not just the Destat, but all anti-static guns.

The cause of the (negative) charge on an LP surface is either direct transfer from another charged object, like you, the operator, who got charged up by walking across a carpet wearing leather shoes, or friction, like when you pull the LP out of a paper sleeve.  Low humidity only makes the problem more likely. Numerous experiments have shown, at least to my own satisfaction, that friction of the stylus in the groove is not a cause.  Dogberry, the Shure Corporation showed decades ago, and published in a white paper on static charge, that you may discharge the playing surface, but when you then turn that LP over to play the other side, static charge is accumulated on that side you did not previously discharge. So you have to do it again. Stylus/vinyl friction is not a cause, or certainly not a significant cause.

While I treat a record with the Destat III before playing, when I go to pick it off the platter to play the other side there is often static attraction that was not there when placed on the platter. It has to be the stylus/vinyl friction that caused it, I think.

Often overlooked, the record may pick up a static charge after it has finished playing the side. You already experienced this.

I believe static on vinyl after playing is caused by the environment and climate of your room; eg, very dry, low moisture in the air, possibly the mat on the platter, maybe from a dirty stylus.

Does the receiver have a ground pin on the mains plug?

@chille1525 One more basic thing to check = stylus force (i.e.  with a good quality, accurate stylus gauge).

@chille1525 Afraid I don't have any "ah hah!" diagnostics and/or solutions for you.  However, a couple or three questions:

How old or, more importantly, how much mileage do you have on your stylus & cartridge?  In other words, do you have a method or tool (e.g.  Stylus Tracker) to track the hours of use of your stylus/cartridge?

Do clean your stylus regularly (e.g.  before each side of an album)?  If so, how so and with what (e.g.  stylus cleaning gadget; liquid stylus cleaner)?

Do you store your albums in good quality anti-static poly sleeves?

Have you checked, cleaned, secured, etc. your TT and pre-amp phono contacts?

There are other possibilities.  However, my advice would be to check the basics, first.

Good Luck!

Dry air will do it.  Checking the humidity is your first step. Second question is when you pull the record out of the sleeve, does it snap electricity?

I live in Colorado where the winter months include often dry air, leading to a noticeable increase in static on my vinyl.  I simply run a humidifier in my listening room, and am able to eliminate virtually all of the static pops.  Might be worth a try.

Elliott, those are all worthwhile thoughts. But the haphazard occurrence of the problems doesn’t rule out static charge, in my opinion. That’s the nature of the beast.

OP said:

"sounding quite great until recently.  Recently ... wonderful."

everything was fine, in his environment that did not change, thus it isn't the carpet or the way OP yanked his LPs out of the sleeves.

the platter mat was fine, was in play when it sounded great.

"Very quickly I started noticing some very loud pops (almost electric sounding)."

minor even consistent static does not make loud pops.

the new LP was a mess, but it was properly cleaned, , and subsequently cleaned.

If previously great sounding LP's now have problems, something changed, WHAT?

stylus AND cantilever full of gunk from the new problematic LP?

considering nothing changed until the new 'slimy' lp was played: what else could have changed?

lastly: always ask: misled by inadvertent coincidental timing of a different source of the problem?

If static is a real issue, I recommend Gruv Glide. Absolutely kills the static. Some vinyl enthusiasts are against putting any sort of a coating on the records, but GG has been sold by Acoustic Sounds and Music Direct for many years and I have never read about any adverse issues. At least it’s worth looking into. I have not found it to affect the sound, either positively or negatively, but it stops static completely.

If you have a turntable and play records, you HAVE to have a way to combat static, which is inherent in PVC.

The Zerostat works okay, the Furutech Destat III works great.

Do you have wall to wall carpeting?  Is it synthetic fiber?  These are potential contributors to static discharge.  You could try a humidifier.  But for prompt relief…Zerostat.

Follow the advice of @lewm 

Yanking the new LP out of its paper sleeve most certainly charges it up.  Carbon fiber brushes are not the most effective way to neutralize the charge thus acquired.  I would advise you to invest in a Zerostat and learn how to use it properly.  Also be aware of  your environment.  Do you have a wool carpet in your listening room?  Is it low humidity? Etc.

Washing the platter does nothing that I am aware of.  The charge is on the LP surface, not on the acrylic platter.

Flattire, what is a "low static area"? 

I use the TEAC washi paper and notice a reduction in static.

However I live in a low static area.

I have the Fluance turntable plugged into the phono input on the Denon Receiver.  I do have the ground cable connected from the turntable to the receiver as well.

What are you using for a phono preamp?