Starting a Classical Vinyl Music Collection

Static can be a problem. Static can cause clicks and pops. I have found static guns completely useless.

I preclean album on the turntable with Last General cleaner with their brush. Then use a dust / static arm (looks like a tonearn: Antistatic Record Cleaning Arm… there are a number of them on the market). the arm cleans and discharges in front of the tone arm. The arm is connected to a ground and discharges the electricity.

I recommend all three Last record cleaning products.

Can playing dirty LP's cause damage the stylus?

I'm thinking yes.

:mad:

Many great recommendations!

Not disagreeing with any of them, but if I were starting a classics collection, I would almost begin by looking first at anything by the finest orchestra/conductor combinations, i.e. Chicago/Reiner, Cleveland/Szell, Ansermet/Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, etc.  Those are just a couple of my favorites, and I believe almost anything by them is fabulous. By getting just a few of those, it'll point you in a good direction.

I lusted after DG lps in the day, and there are many that are treasurable, but on the whole it’s interesting how poor DG was a recording bass.  At first I thought maybe it was a Karajan thing, but many Bohm and Jochum recordings have the same issue 

A reasonably priced record cleaner is your first step. I have a VPI 16.5, but you don’t have to start there. The Spin-Clean is a good starting place, next up the line the Record Doctor V. And then start shopping used. (But stay away from RCA after Red Seal, especially DynaFlex.)

Buy cheap at first and have fun!

And your 2M Blue will do you just fine. Remember to keep the stylus clean.