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OK, I've gone and plopped down the biggest chunk of cash for a cartridge yet, now how do I take care of this sucker? A friend once told me you should, ideally, clean a cartridge after playing each side of a record. I've been using Last Stylus Cleaner on my old MM and was wondering if MC needed something different. Each newly pressed album gets Premier sprayed and washed on the Nitty Gritty, and all new used vinyl gets a three seperate bath and vacuum before being played, and each record after that gets thoroughly dry brushed before being played, so I try to keep my vinyl as clean as possible. But what of the cartridge itself? Is a wet brush wash between sides too excessive? Please advise.
Follow Ups:
I dry brush with my trusty Discwasher brush between every side. I currently use the ClearAudio cleaning fluid probably once a day. I have the Zerodust and an electronic vibrating cleaner as well.But nothing works as well as the green sandpaper I got from the Lynn dealer. I hate the thought of using it, but everytime I just barely touch the paper to the stylus, it sounds better. I've been using it since 1981, and have noticed no adverse effect. I think the sandpaper uses aluminum oxide, which is much softer than the diamond.
But I am intrigued by the Magic Eraser idea. Where do I get that?
Just better. I know several Linn veterans who've switched to it.The ME's abrasive micro-fibers are finer than sandpaper and they're flexible, which makes it easier to touch all surfaces of a stylus and cantilever. That's nearly impossible with the sandpaper, especially with modern stylus shapes.
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"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - JRRT
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I've never gummed one up, ever!
After every side, without fail.As I've posted n^23rd times, a stylus must be cleaned (not just brushed) after each side. It collects a layer of baked on vinyl molecules from the extreme pressures/temperatures at the diamond/vinyl interface.
If this layer isn't removed it continues to accumulate, to the detriment of your sound, your records and your stylus.
Brushing won't remove it. ZeroDust and Xtreme Phono type stylus cleaners won't remove it. Some wet cleaners may, but they can also put your cartridge at risk (some cartridge manufacturers warn against them).
The dry brush removes any loose fluff. The Magic Eraser removes the vinyl layer and other stubborn crud. The second dry brush removes any loosened stuff, as well as any pieces of Magic Eraser (it's abrasive and would play hell with your record grooves).
If you want to be extra safe, beto's followup with a zerodust makes good sense.
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"Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger." - JRRT
I own a Dyna 10x5. Most of the times, a small pad of Magic Eraser (finally, had to try it!) and the trusty Zerodust I've had for years take care of the stylus crud most of the time. I've also made myself an habit of not playing an LP until I find time to clean it properly using RRL and distilled water. I have a bottle of Last stylus cleaner around, but that one gets used only sparingly and if it does, just the least possible amount on the stylus tip. Wet cleaning should be kept to a minimum.
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instead, I only clean after each playing session. Unless I'm playing say more than four albums on a weekend. And when I clean the stylus I use the Stylast "dry" brush and put just a small amount of the cleaner fluid on it by touching the wet applicator brush to the Stylast brush. Then I very carefully brush the stylus with the Stylast brush where the small amount of cleaner has been deposited.So far so good. Stylus stays nice and clean and I don't believe there's any fluid traveling up the cantilever since the fluid is now held in place by the brush bristles and the stylus is basically just passing through.
That's my theory anyway.
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Tom
I have had two Dynavectors (17D2 MR) and neither one lasted very long. I always blamed Dynavector but now I believe it was my fault. I used to pamper my dynavector MC carts with stylast. I was anal about keeping the stylus clean because I thought I could extend the life of it.That was before learning from others on this forum about keeping it dry and the possible migration of Sylast up the cantilever. I don't really know if stylast does migrate or not, but I do know that I get much better results by keeping the cart dry and only cleaning my records. I use my AudioQuest antistatic record brush to gently brush the stylus before each play.
I think John Elison has a similar positive experience with Stylast.
HenryA 12-gauge shotgun is the ultimate arbiter of disputes - G. Gordon Liddy
Same here. 20+ years of cleaning after every side with Last stylus cleaner and Stylast with different cartridges with no problems. In fact, the stylus's are still in excellent shape.
I realize that lots of guys have had good luck with it, but it just didn't work for me. I probably put too much on, or too often, or something else that I did wrong. But whatever the case, it just seems like its something that guys like me should stay away from.A little goes a long way but a little more could be dangerous in the wrong hands.
this, cuz I felt the MM cart I had was starting to sound pretty beat after only a year of less than moderate use, and didn't know whether it was due to overdoing it on the Last cleaner. So I hear you, man. And that you had Dynas and I now have a Dyna, well, you can see my concern.
HenryA 12-gauge shotgun is the ultimate arbiter of disputes - G. Gordon Liddy
No more for me.
I had the diamond fall off my first DL-103R after about 500 hours. I threw the stuff away.
The brush is still used, nice for wiping hairballs from the tip. But it did not hurt an OC-9 eliptical, several Blue Points, couple Ortaphons. Just seemed to soften the glue on the 103R.
The stories of it traveling up a hollow cantilever do not seem possible on most, even the hollow tubes look to be mashed flat where the stylus mounts.
I would keep it dry, and brush it lightly. I buy used cartridges a lot, and for every trashed tip I see, I see at least five trashed cantilevers. Pitting is common, and moisture causes that. I wouldn't overdo it with anything liquid.
no liquid at all? Just a brushing with, say, the Audioquest Anti-Static brush I use before play? What about any dried gunk that mght accumulate on the tip?
I brush the tip with a little brush that came with a cartridge, and I use a Milty Twin Track or a Decca 2+2 on the records. It works for me.
I've used it for 20+ years and it keeps my stylus pristine.
HenryA 12-gauge shotgun is the ultimate arbiter of disputes - G. Gordon Liddy
between Stylast and plain old Last Stylus Cleaner, the latter which I've used for the past year, like Henry, after every side of play? And what is, pray, the average life span of a MC anyway, if one does practice religious cleaning of their records and regular maintenance on their stylus? I guess I should say that I have a Dynavector 10x5, for those who may be joining us already in progress.
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