LAST Record Preservative: Thumbs up or thumbs down

Blackie, one possibility you might explore is that the LAST preservative has actually broken loose contaminant in the grooves. As I understand the process (and I admit I may not have the details right), the LAST preservative actually penetrates the molecular surface of the vinyl. In the process, it can cause surface contaminant (dirt) to come loose that has not previously been removed. On the first play, the stylus picks this up. When I see this happen, I simply re-clean and rinse with great results. [In making this comment, I offer no disrespect to the Disc Doctor product, which has received high praise from many users whose opinions I respect.]

Other people who post here have previously noted this same experience. For example, see the post from Albert Porter at:
http://audiogo5.iserver.net/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&989893521&openflup&17&4#17

During further research I found out that the LAST Preservative actually softens the vinyl, preventing (they claim) parts of the groove walls from possibly chipping off. I have also heard that the pressure from applying the Preservative in conjunction with the softening of the vinyl can actually deform the grooves. I'll try cleaning the records again because I really liked the way the Classic Records "Time Out" sounded before the "treatment".

I will give a thumbs up for the Last Preservative. I use the Last cleaner first, then clean with a Nitty Gritty Vac. Machine, then treat with Last Preserv. Into a rice paper sleeve, (VRP, VPI etc.) and vinyl nevere sounded so good. Surface noise is all but gone, and stays gone. On the noisey record, I would Vac. clean again to get the loosened up grunge and then eval. the highs. Jallen