OT: Turntables (was RE: Brainboost.com)

[Bill Vermillion]

On Mon, Jun 07, 2004 at 01:31:15PM -0400, Jay R. Ashworth thus spoke:
> On Mon, Jun 07, 2004 at 01:18:22PM -0400, Bill Vermillion wrote:
> > Clicks and pops come from treating LPs like magazines and not
> > like books. I also have a vacuum system for LP, and you can
> > remove almost all clicks and pops with wet-playing. I found a
> > replacement for my old Lenco Wet Playing attachemnt on a German
> > site, but got no repsonse from my English letter to the people
> > there.

> At the price of reducing the life of the album sharply, and *never*
> being able to play it dry again, or so I'm informed.

Not true.  I've played wet, and I've also vacuumed, and I have LPs
that are 30+ years old that sound new.  The 50 year old ones
suffered from cheap players but I have those replaced - execpt the
ones that went through a flood and they require vaccuum first and
then wet-play to sound silent

As far as wet-palying you do have to know what you are doing, and
do have to make sure you have a cartridge/stylus combination that
water won't hurt.

As to the vacuum system you need to make sure you have the proper
solutions.  25% pure alcohol [the stuff that cost about $25/qt]
and 75 distilled water with a few drops of photoflow - or pay about
$40 gallon for it premade.

I've used the wet playing to recover records that were thought to
be impossible.  Ever find a disk that had been laying somewhere and
to a light dust coating.  Nothing will clean it completely.  Even
the vaccuum will not get it all but the combo will make you think
you are listening to a brand new disk.

And a vacuum on a brand new disk gets rid of all the mold release
and will be quieter than a brand new uncleand pressing.

I also used the web-playing to transfer from 16" glass acetates
that were cut in about 1944 to tape around 1970.  They used glass
during WWII as all the aluminum was being diverted to air-craft
manufacture.

And post cleaning lubricants do work well.  Those are made from
some exoctic materials and since they are targeted to the
high-futility market I suspect they are even pricier than they
should be. 

They are priced in the same range as the liqueid semi-conductor
material used for relay contact.  Little bottles that go for $10+

> Anyone got one of those late 70's $20k laser turntables that never
> touched the vinyl at all?

Actually though Filial announced them in the '70's/'80's they were
orininally price to be at $35,000 and were targeted to libraries
and archivisits with collection of rare and delicate recordings.
Old acetates can be destroyed easily, and they also like to
delaminte.  I once had email with an engineer who was transfering
the old ZIV radio Lone Ranger series and he had to tape the pieces
that peeled off back onto the base to be able to salvage them.

But from what I see Filial never realy reached production
The company chaged hands and they brought out the first under
$15,000 units in 1997.

And if you hurry there are 3 demo units left of the current model
which has just been replaced by a new model.  Those are $4980 for
the LT-1LA.  There is one each demo of their higher priced models
at $6480 and $6980.

But they WON'T play dirty records and they sell a record cleaner
with them [or did].  They won't play colored vinyl, and are picky
about some things.

The new 3-speed model 33/45/78 - with remote control - starts
at $13,300 but the older non-remote control is still availabe
for $9,900.

So if you really want to know all about them go to:
http://www.elpj.com and drool.

If you really want one you have to put down a $1000 deposit to get
put on the back-order list, as they are always back ordered as it
is a low-volume item.

Currently deliver time is 8 weeks with a 5% discount for cash :-)

I'm waiting for my first big lottery win to get one :-)

Bill

-- 
Bill Vermillion - bv @ wjv . com