Finally fixed my vinyl static problem after a record store owner yelled at me

I used to just wipe my records with a dry microfiber cloth before playing them, thinking that was good enough. Last month a guy at Dusty Grooves in Chicago stopped me mid-wipe and said "you're just pushing the static charge deeper into the groove, man." He showed me his method: spray a 50/50 mix of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol onto a carbon fiber brush, then do a slow circular motion for about 20 seconds per side. Now I do that before every play and the pops and crackles dropped by like 80 percent. Has anyone else gotten a harsh tip that turned out to be a game changer?

2 comments

2 Comments

troy_sanchez829d ago

Wait, people are actually spraying their records with alcohol before every single play? That sounds like a lot of effort for a problem I barely notice. Unless you're picking up a ton of static from a carpet or something, a quick brush seems like plenty.

james5331mo ago

idk man, maybe it's just me but it sounds like that record store guy was being a little extra. I mean, a dry microfiber cloth isn't gonna ruin your records overnight or anything dramatic like that. I've been doing the same thing for years and my records sound fine, maybe a little pop here and there but nothing that bothers me. Seems like a lot of effort to spray a special mix and brush each side for 20 seconds before every play. Unless you're listening to super rare vinyl that cost a fortune, I doubt the static is that deep of a problem. But hey, if it makes you feel better and you have the time, go for it.