In the time frame just before the CD takeover, vinyl records were thin which caused them to warp very easily. Now the old vinyl that was thick were better. Keeping them free of dust in the grooves was the key though.
I'm trying to remember what I used, back in the day (goodness, it must have been pre-1985!) It was a contoured wooden block, with a velvet or microfiber like pad, and a solution in a bottle... Disc Washer, I think?
I had a very nice Dual belt drive turntable, with a Dual-Ortofon cartridge (Ultra-light?)
My memory of it isn't that great, but I had a terrific album collection.
Mark
Micro-fiber cleaning cloth work well for getting dust off. But not so much for deleting records off your server.
Those record-club albums seemed to be the worst. They're nothing like the real good, thick vinyl, whose creation is an art form.
I still have my vinyl collection. I was fortunate to acquire some real high quality albums from broken-up DJ collections in the '90s. Some of my collection is my original albums, some abandoned collections of others, some is careful purchases on the used market. Recent acquisitions are what's being produced now, but of older music. A lot of it is real high-quality, authentic production.
I've always heard a difference. I'll agree with what was stated in that discussion, that the early CDs are just awful and the newer ones are better for the sound. To me, it still isn't the same. It's like I don't hear in 3-D unless the music is live or vinyl with speakers set up for best sound delivery.
The vinyl record album is a total experience. The music, usually a sensible, logical collection that as an album tells a story. The quality, there really is a difference in the way that sound from vinyl brings me in so the music is experiences, not background noise. The poetry, artwork, photos, information create a total wonderful immersion into the artistry that has been created.
What I do to enjoy my collection is to about twice a year cull what's on the shelf, so my selection is about 75 albums at any given time. Currently, I'm favoring Elvis, Rick Nelson, Buffy StMarie, Boston, Stevie Nicks, of course some MoodyBlues.
It's that totally experience that's missing with modern music. Who ever spent a few hours kicking back and enjoying their favorite CD or MP3 or whatever?
Some factories also resorted to the odious practice of using "regrind" as a stretcher in the vinyl mixture. Albums made this way would quickly wear out.
” In the time frame just before the CD takeover, vinyl records were thin “
Made in USA records were thin and crap vinyl was used . UK and Japanese pressings were far superior .