Skips with 2 gram tracking - plays fine with 1 gram tracking

[chas_kit]

I bought a fairly expensive 45 graded NM, looks great, not scratched or used. It has one skip in the middle of the song with 2 gram tracking. However, it plays fine with 1 gram tracking. I cleaned it carefully. I don't see any mark or scratch in that area. Not sure if I should keep it or return it.

Is there any fix to vinyl with this problem? I tried adjusting the skating a little but that had no effect.

 

[Dave Baldwin]

Which 45 are you having trouble with? Some "hot-mastered" discs have transients that will throw
your needle no matter how accurate the anti-skating is on your player. PM me if need be...

 

[eleelandc]

If the 45 looks great, I doubt that another copy that looks great will solve the issue, so may as well keep the NM one if that is a record you want in your collection. Just put a post it note on there to adjust to 1G.

 

[chas_kit]

It's the Terry Teene 45 Pussy Galore

 

[bosshoss]

I just played my copy of that 45 at 2 grams, and it did not skip.
I checked out the 45 with a magnifier and saw that the cut is heavily modulated, with several potential problem areas where the grooves almost touch. No wonder you're having problems, a tiny piece of gunk stuck in the groove could cause havoc. I have fixed drastic problems like this by wiping with mineral turps, then cleaning normally. If anything is obstructing the groove, turps will flush it. But a warning to anyone reading this, mineral turps will melt styrene discs. It's a last resort only. Pussy Galore is vinyl so it's ok. For anyone wondering about the long term effects of turps, relax, I successfully treated my Barracudas "Baby Get Lost" with turps 20 years ago. It was lightly covered with spray glue and crackled like hell. Conventional alcohol cleaning did not help. Today it looks and plays like a mint record.

I noticed the topical lyric - 'They all have to take a vaccine when they see this action cat".

edit - The problem is not necessarily gunk in the groove. It could be a misaligned cartridge, or a worn stylus. Or just a cartridge/stylus incapable of handling the exxxtreme modulations of Pussy Galore. Audio Technica 540 ML/H can handle it.

 

[Dave Baldwin]

Which version? I know of two different label releases of "Pussy" with different flips.
I have the 'black label' version (not on Discogs?) and it always tracks like a champ.

 

[MopTopMike]

I'm interested in kearning the turps cleaning process, Mark. I'd like to test it out, have some trashed 45s that would be prime candidates.
I wonder if it would work on an acetate / lacquer disc?

 

[bosshoss]

Just use a soft cotton cloth like a piece of an old t-shirt, with a small amount of mineral turpentine. The more refined grades (odourless) have less impurities. Wipe the entire playing surface. Only use about a teaspoon of turps and obviously don't get it on the label. Then clean the record with a standard cleaner of your choice, preferably vacuum or ultrasonic.

Be sure to check that the record is not pressed from styrene. If you're not sure, don't risk it because turps will destroy styrene discs. I'm almost certain turps would destroy an acetate. I wouldn't be game to try it.

Using turps at all is a last resort, but it is safe to use on vinyl pressings with very stubborn junk embedded in the grooves.

 

[Jim]

I used turps on European 45's on the German Starclub label. The vinyl turned hazy and sounded with a loud hiss afterwards. This happened also using alcohol on Starclub pressings and on some German Polydor pressings. Thank God I only used this on Beegees 45's.

 

[bosshoss]

I used turps on European 45's on the German Starclub label. The vinyl turned hazy and sounded with a loud hiss afterwards. This happened also using alcohol on Starclub pressings and on some German Polydor pressings. Thank God I only used this on Beegees 45's.

I should have warned you about Bee Gees 45s. They give off poisonous fumes. Better bury them before it's too late.

 

[Dave Baldwin]

I should have warned you about Bee Gees 45s. They give off poisonous fumes. Better bury them before it's too late.

C'mon man...'Jive Talkin' is a total non-toxic "floor-filler" (lol)

 

[Dave Baldwin]

I used turps on European 45's on the German Starclub label. The vinyl turned hazy and sounded with a loud hiss afterwards. This happened also using alcohol on Starclub pressings and on some German Polydor pressings. Thank God I only used this on Beegees 45's.

Holy Mackerel, Sapphire! A lot of you guys are really harsh with your cleaning agents. I would no more treat a vinyl or styrene
45 with turpentine or alcohol than I would carve a Christmas turkey with a chainsaw! Distilled water with a microfiber cloth
can be enough for most cleaning jobs...even caked-on mud or the dreaded "Louisiana haze".

 

[Jim]

C'mon man...'Jive Talkin' is a total non-toxic "floor-filler" (lol)

All yous jive talkin' gave me an idea

By the way I still need this 45! Anyone have a copy to spare?

 

[bosshoss]

Holy Mackerel, Sapphire! A lot of you guys are really harsh with your cleaning agents. I would no more treat a vinyl or styrene
45 with turpentine or alcohol than I would carve a Christmas turkey with a chainsaw! Distilled water with a microfiber cloth
can be enough for most cleaning jobs...even caked-on mud or the dreaded "Louisiana haze".

I've only used turps on about 3 or 4 records in my life. Only when all else has failed and only if i know turps will dissolve the offending gunk which water or alcohol won't remove. It's useful to know that turps does not harm normal vinyl long term. Unless it's poisonous to begin with.

 

[Jim]

BG's may be poisonous ha ha. The fact remains that the vinyl was terminated permanently after turp cleaning. I guess it all depends on the pressing plant it originated from and the chemical reaction. My experience is not to use harsh chemicals to clean 45's. Better use distilled water with a drop of dishwasher liquid and a soft brush.

Please don't diss the BG's some of their sixties output is pretty cool how unbelievable this may sound...

 

[Jim]

IDEA 45 WANTED

 

[Rythmn Boy]

All yous jive talkin' gave me an idea

By the way I still need this 45! Anyone have a copy to spare?

Was it released as a single? I tried finding it a few years ago with no luck. I got a German issue that does not contain the whole song. I finally got a pirate EP from (I think) Thailand that couples it with 'I've Gotta Get a Message To You' and two songs by The Turtles. It comes in a picture sleeve using the US LP sleeve image. This is the German version:


I

 

[Jim]

Was it released as a single? I tried finding it a few years ago with no luck. I got a German issue that does not contain the whole song. I finally got a pirate EP from (I think) Thailand that couples it with 'I've Gotta Get a Message To You' and two songs by The Turtles. It comes in a picture sleeve using the US LP sleeve image. This is the German version:

View attachment 5019
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Yes it was released as a single and used to very easy to get. Since there are no recordfairs going on it's gotten a pain in the neck to obtain a copy.

 

[Dave Baldwin]

The early Bee Gees were fab: They had their songs covered by other "cooler" artists (James Carr/Al Green/Flying Burrito Brothers) and influenced
countless other groups worldwide. Rolling Stone Magazine-level critics ragged on Arthur Lee's vocals on the Forever Changes album as "...sounding like Johnny Mathis". I've always believed that Arthur was deftly trying to channel Robin Gibb's 'ballad' voice...a hip (not hippie) move in the Summer of 1967.

 

[Jim]

The early Bee Gees were fab: They got their songs covered by other "cooler" artists (James Carr/Al Green/Flying Burrito Brothers) and influenced
countless other groups worldwide. Rolling Stone Magazine-level critics ragged on Arthur Lee's vocals on the Forever Changes album as "...sounding like Johnny Mathis". I've always believed that Arthur was deftly trying to channel Robin Gibb's 'ballad' voice...a hip (not hippie) move in the Summer of 1967.

A very interesting observation to say the least