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SUPER Staticy Record???

So, I got a shipment from overseas of some new vinyl.  The first LP I pulled out of its sleeve literally had to be PULLED out of the sleeve there was so much static.  I spin washed/vacuumed it and then hit it with a carbon brush when I put it on the TT.  When I put the needle down it sounded like it was pressed through a layer of gauze.  I was pissed.  Shitty pressing from a small "audiophile" label - I surmised.  Its a double LP and I didn't bother to try out the second record.  I got three other albums from this label so I'm now expecting the worst and not a happy camper.

So today I pulled out the second record - which was also pretty staticy - spun washed it, carbon brushed it and it sounded fine... really good actually.  

Then I pulled the first LP out of the sleeve today to double check my ears (it slid out smoothly this time).  I put it on the TT; hit it with the brush; dropped the needle; and... viola - it sounds fine (more than fine, it sounds great).

Query: a vinyl be SO staticy that brushing, washing, vacuuming and brushing again doesn't get rid of the static?  Why did it sound so bad before I put it back in its sleeve last night and sound fine today?  When I say "so bad", I mean it sounded like every groove was full of grainy distortion to the point where it was virtually unlistenable. 
sumadoggie

Showing 3 responses by mijostyn

mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
If the records are in a paper sleeve (paper is high on the list) they move around a bit in shipping. Paper rubbing vinyl makes a great static charge.
Try it. Take a paper record sleeve and rub a record vigorously. You won't hurt it. Pass the back of your hand over the record and you will feel your hairs stand on end. 
As for what made the record sound awful after cleaning? Lord knows but I doubt it was static. 
As far as discharging the record a path directly to ground is the gold standard. This is easily done with a conductive sweep arm or a carbon bristle record brush attached to ground. You can drill and tap one of these brushes and wire it to ground near your table where it is handy. This is the best way to discharge a record. All that other stuff is making a mountain out of a mole hill. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
A spin clean wets both sides. Water would have totally discharged the record. But, rubbing any item high up in the triboelectric series against the record vigorously will re establish the charge. Even with careful drying the record might continue to hold some moisture in the grooves for a while. Summadoggie , do an experiment for us. Clean a record, dry it and place it on the turntable immediately. Does it play correctly or are you hearing the same thing you heard the other night?
Another thing. Charged records will play just perhaps with an occasional tic. What the OP describes sounds worse.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
sumadoggie, the only thing that makes sense to me is it probably did not get dry all the way and there was still water in the groove. Today dried out it sounds fine.
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