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Re: How would you "train" your stylus to track a skip: higher VTF/antiskating?

Posted by jazzthusiast (A) on May 1, 2007 at 13:32:00

In Reply to: How would you "train" your stylus to track a skip: higher VTF/antiskating? posted by ParloFax on May 1, 2007 at 11:37:42:

This is a last resort option, only for skips that cannot be otherwise remedied. But in these cases, I have found that I can cure the vast majority of skips. You may still hear the residual pops, but they are usually lessened.

IME, most skips are caused by dirt lodged in the groove or from a scratch that breached the groove wall leaving vinyl debris in the groove path, sometimes still partially attached to the wall. The stylus either slips through the breach or jumps the groove b/c of scratch debris or from dirt wedged in the groove.

Straight pin remedy: with a 6x linen tester mag glass (ratshack), a good light source, and a #10 silk pin, you can see the gunk or debris in the groove path. For dirt/gunk, hold the pin at a shallow angle and make sure it slides in the groove parallel to the groove wall (so not to add another scratch!). Very carefully, with little or no downward pressure, let the weight of the pin do the work, dislodge the gunk. It usually pops right out. For scratches, hold the pin the same way and gently push the pin through the vinyl debris causing the stylus to jump the groove and then retrace the groove with a backward motion using a little downward pressure to reestablish the groove path. If the stylus is simply slipping through a breached groove wall, try to restablish the groove signature with the pin. Again, light pressure is all that required. You don't need to deepen the groove but just a little for the stylus to trace successfully.

Again, a last resort requiring a delicate touch. I have about a 90% success rate restoring trackability. There are always a few scratches that are beyond remedy.

Regards,
Jim

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