correct my EMG record usage.....

Discussions on Talking Machines of British or European Manufacture
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Orchorsol
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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by Orchorsol »

I've heard it suggested that those UK records which today we find noisy were not so when new, but for whatever reasons have developed surface granulation more than other discs over the years.
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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by CarlosV »

Orchorsol wrote:I've heard it suggested that those UK records which today we find noisy were not so when new, but for whatever reasons have developed surface granulation more than other discs over the years.
I read some music reviews of the thirties on the Gramophone magazine that mentions "crackle" on HMV records, so it could mean it was there from new. But I agree with you that some of them that visually look pristine today have such a high background noise that it must have come from some structural degradation of the surface over the years - if such high noise were present when newly issued probably nobody would have bought them. I also have a few HMVs from the period that have relatively quiet surfaces, which at least serve as example that the production was not consistently noisy, or that some of them did not degrade like the majority of their contemporaries.

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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by Daithi »

Is it possible to lubricate such records to make them less abrasive and scratchy?

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jamiegramo
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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by jamiegramo »

Soundgen 'Mike' should be able to confirm this:

Many years ago I acquired an HMV record from unsold/unused stock. It looked absolutely mint but played with the same obvious surface noise as other HMV records. I was only a kid at the time but I remember a long standing collector telling me that HMV used 'vegetable oil' in the production of their records, probably to lubricate the record. This sounded fine when new but being an organic component it degrades leaving excessive surface noise.

He said that continental pressings of HMV discs are more desirable as only in Britain was vegetable oil used.

For lubrication and to protect records I was told to apply a quick squirt of neutral pledge onto the surface of the record and rub in. I'm not sure if this is the best wax or what others use now but ensure the surface is clean before applying any wax. It appears nothing much will cure HMV records of their surface noise.

US forum members would remind you not to get any pledge on the surface of the machine! It causes problems if the cabinet requires cleaning or refinishing.

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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by epigramophone »

I use "Mr Sheen" multi-surface polish, applied sparingly and immediately buffed off, with no detriment to the records or their labels. Even on a record which appeared clean, the first playing afterwards with a fine steel needle often produces a ball of gunk which has been dislodged from the bottom of the grooves.

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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by SteveM »

So no real durability benefit of French and German discs. Is that the general consensus, then? How about Japanese?
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Orchorsol
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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by Orchorsol »

I'm not sure there's any difference in durability, but the laminated pressings of mainland Europe and Australia are beautifully quiet in unworn condition.

Lubricating records - each to their own (emphatically so!) but personally I won't allow silicone polishes like Pledge and Mr Sheen in the house at all! I used silicone oils when I worked in the rubber industry years ago and have a serious dislike of them - extremely persistent and almost impossible to eradicate once they have contaminated a surface. Since I first heard about it and tried it, the only thing I ever use is ibota wax. I wrote a little about it at the foot of this page: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com/usingbcn
BCN thorn needles made to the original 1920s specifications: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4DNb ... TPE-zTAJGg?

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jamiegramo
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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by jamiegramo »

Orchorsol wrote:I'm not sure there's any difference in durability, but the laminated pressings of mainland Europe and Australia are beautifully quiet in unworn condition.

Lubricating records - each to their own (emphatically so!) but personally I won't allow silicone polishes like Pledge and Mr Sheen in the house at all! I used silicone oils when I worked in the rubber industry years ago and have a serious dislike of them - extremely persistent and almost impossible to eradicate once they have contaminated a surface. Since I first heard about it and tried it, the only thing I ever use is ibota wax. I wrote a little about it at the foot of this page: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com/usingbcn
I remember reading about ibota wax on the above BCN website but couldn't source it. I just looked again and can now find it in the States but that doubles the price with postage. I wonder where you buy yours? It would be good to try. I wonder if it improves surface noise.

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Orchorsol
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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by Orchorsol »

jamiegramo wrote:
Orchorsol wrote:I'm not sure there's any difference in durability, but the laminated pressings of mainland Europe and Australia are beautifully quiet in unworn condition.

Lubricating records - each to their own (emphatically so!) but personally I won't allow silicone polishes like Pledge and Mr Sheen in the house at all! I used silicone oils when I worked in the rubber industry years ago and have a serious dislike of them - extremely persistent and almost impossible to eradicate once they have contaminated a surface. Since I first heard about it and tried it, the only thing I ever use is ibota wax. I wrote a little about it at the foot of this page: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com/usingbcn
I remember reading about ibota wax on the above BCN website but couldn't source it. I just looked again and can now find it in the States but that doubles the price with postage. I wonder where you buy yours? It would be good to try. I wonder if it improves surface noise.
I get mine from Japan and sell it for £5 for a 1 gram bag which at a wild guess, might be enough to treat 100 sides or so. I'm not adding a huge markup - it's just nice to offer it alongside the BCNs. I do have the impression it sometimes improves surface noise, but I've never really done any controlled tests.
BCN thorn needles made to the original 1920s specifications: http://www.burmesecolourneedles.com

Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe4DNb ... TPE-zTAJGg?

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jamiegramo
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Re: correct my EMG record usage.....

Post by jamiegramo »

Orchorsol wrote: I get mine from Japan and sell it for £5 for a 1 gram bag which at a wild guess, might be enough to treat 100 sides or so. I'm not adding a huge markup - it's just nice to offer it alongside the BCNs. I do have the impression it sometimes improves surface noise, but I've never really done any controlled tests.
Many thanks. I've found it on the website now. :)

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