How to fix a scratch or skip on a vinyl record album
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- I decided to redo this video with a microscope so you can see what I’m doing. Take your time and go slow. It can be done and it’s actually pretty easy with practice, but not everything can be fixed
#recordcleaning #recordcleaning #scratchedrecord #fixingrecords
I shave down a toothpick to a needle point. Something about the touch of wood on the vinyl surface versus a metal needle gives my fingers a better feeling of control. The metal needle can bounce around and cause more problems. Wood is softer. That's been my experience. Hard enough to be working upside down and backwards when viewing through a low power handheld microscope.
Never had any control issues with a needle.
@@spatulacityrecords6263 I feel more comfortable applying pressure with a wood point than I do with metal. Metal feels more slippery.
But he has the needle in the end of a wooden pencil. ;)
@@R3TR0R4V3 Wood is much softer material and less prone to cause unnecessary damage of your hand slips.
omg thanks alot. at least i could get my vinyl from making a loud pop to making a soft click with this method. so effectively saved it :)
“Alot” isn’t a word.
I've found the best way is to just to use a Cartridge & Stylus that your not too bothered about. I use an old Audio Technica AT3600L that came on an old deck I had, Just set you old Cartridge & Stylus up on your deck then turn the Counterweight right up so there's loads of weight on the Stylus then just keep playing the record over & over again over the scratch and that will work if you scratch isn't too deep.
Tried that but unfortunately it did worst.
Great video. Guess when I was a very young DJ. Yes! 1969-1975. Country and Rock. My manager gave me any record if we had duplicates. I have about $60,000 worth of work for you. Seriously man, good work. And Sam Cooke is great.
Brilliant explanation. Thanks a ton. Atleast now I know the theory behind the skips
hell yeah thank you for this. I accidently dropped a stapler on a Queens of the Stone age album and it scratched a small bit of it.
Nooooooooooooo! 😭😭😭
Hope you fixed it. 🤞
#QotSA 🤘
I've been using a toothpick, with good results for years. But I'm gonna try the needle method. No more skips 2022! 📍
What type of toothpicks are you using? I could see where they would be beneficial but I’ve tried several from restaurants and they just buckle or are too wide to get in the groove. The needle is nice because if you have a really messed up groove you can sometimes groove a new one. Not for the faint of heart and it will usually tick but it will fix a skip.
Took a beat up copy of My Funny Valentine by Miles Davis and improved the playing by quite a bit with this technique. Had a spot on the second song that would get caught and create a repeat cycle. It took a while to smooth out but no longer gets caught and allows it to play through. Definitely a tedious process but it did work. You showing the angle on the needle set up was huge. Also, only used a 10x magnifier so hoping to get better results with something stronger. Thanks man!
You got it! Glad it helped. A stronger magnifier is a huge difference
I agree! Just used a 30x jewelry magnifier on a Three Sounds microgroove that got rid like 80% of the pops with a pretty decent sized vertical scratch that spanned one and a half songs. Took forever but I’m sure it’ll get efficient with more practice. Thanks again man!
I had to to do this on an "original" Etta James At Last, Chess records LP. It was nerve racking but it now no longer skips and that record is super rare! My repair on this record was done over 12 or 15 years ago.
Greetings and many thanx from Norway!
Jaså gitt
Happy new year and season greetings. I have just watched your video. I will try to fix my vinyls. Thanks
Vinyls 😂
Happy new year, Hope the new one is better than the previous two.........Enjoy the music
Hey man, great and very helpful video.Thank you so much.
Great video, I've got a Dire Straits album with a few skips that year really annoying, and a couple other records also, will be very careful at them thanks
Doh! That's exactly what I'm trying to fix too, a RL Led Zep II... There's a tiny scratch on the Whole Lotta Love intro, right where Plant sings "..back to schoolin", skipping there for 3 revolutions. It's the only skip on my copy, and is pretty minor tbh, but it bugs me, so I'm really hoping to fix it. We'll see.. 😬
Murphy's oil soap works wonders, but when it dry the skips come back, I guess the soap keeps the needle from sliding out the track
So, it doesn’t work very well at all? Also, all that soap is going to build up on your stylus or needle as you play the record, distorting the sound.
@@spatulacityrecords6263 growing up in the 80's our favorite album was scratched up and I remember our mother trying Murphy's oil soap and the Album played clear as new, it was amazing and yes after a few songs the magic was over lol
Interesting I'm going to have to try this because I have one small skip in the beginning of roll me away on my copy of the distance by Bob seger and that album isn't an album that is super valuable or hard to find if I did screw it up
Thank you so much! This worked!
great explanation....Thanks :)
Lol. I was just looking to see how to do this method to try a test run on my Herb Alpert Whipped Cream record when you mentioned don't try it on that one. LMAO. What are the friggen odds.
Seriously. Don’t mess with Herb.
Fascinating method you have there to fix irritating skips. Here's a dilemma: I bought a rare (first pressing) of an album (worth approx. £150) and found mice had eaten part of the rear sleeve. The disc itself is spotless minus a tiny point (a mouses's tooth mark?) which causes a single skip in the first two seconds of side 2. Should I attempt your remedy or simply live with it?
I'm a record dealer, it's all I do for a living. In my opinion I'd try and fix it. A skip is a death sentence for value
Nice one. Thanks.
I use a insulin needle. Is very thin.
Just look after your record's i dont mean be perfect my wife scratched one of my classical records it goes across round and the record she did it while moving the record she didn't stop it or pause it just dragged the arm across needle bent to the right slightly and a scratched record...
I've got quite a rare album that was mastered poorly and has two grooves that literally touch; as such it skips at that point. I've been wondering if it's fixable. It's difficult because effectively what I need to do is introduce a new 'wall' between the grooves. Perhaps heating it up to soften the pvc then using a toothpick or needle to make the correct groove the 'path of least resistance'??
Do NOT heat up the record. You will ruin it.
The adjustable desk stand that you used - what is it called? I can't seem to find them on amazon and I must be typing in the wrong names for it. And thank you for the video.
Not sure what you’re asking? Adjustable magnifier?
@@spatulacityrecords6263 you have your hand on it at 8:32.
So what you are saying I shouldn’t try and fix revolver 1st
TY very much. Third time watching. Is it correct to assume that 45s will be easier to fix. Are they fixed in the same manner. Look forward to your response
They’re the same. I don’t know if they’re easier. I rarely deal in 45s but they are better made to take the beating given to them from jukeboxes.
Hey hows it going do you still live in la quinta CA?
No. We moved to AZ a little over 2 years ago. We only sell thru our website now Spatulacityrecords.com
I did try the eraser trick on my hot mix Led Zeppelin II hot mix. Got it for 10 dollars so I didn't feel like buying another one for much more money in even worse shape and it worked but I agree, don't try shit like this on something you paid alot of money for and it's rare. It's not worth it
It’s absolutely worth it, if you know what you’re doing. My point was don’t try this for the first time on a valuable record. I have people send me records from all over the world to fix.
@@spatulacityrecords6263 my bad. I was agreeing with you on that part. As a first time I wouldn't do it. I would send it to someone like you or try an alternative method
Turn up your volume please
I think that happens on your end.
@@spatulacityrecords6263 you may be right my phone is a pos
Thsnks
supreme.thx
I tried with a tooth pick.. but the best result i have archieved is with ice...
Wait, what? How does that work? Are you rubbing the ice so threat it pushes the vinyl grooves back in place?
@@spatulacityrecords6263 Yes... first i clean it... with soap, cloth (microfiber), etc.. Then i take a cube of ice and star to rubbing following the grooves nearby the skip or scratch, that way the ice "copy" the grooves.. you will fell it... the keep rubbing on the skip... over and over... with some dee skratches doesn not work.. (son that why i was watching your video. hahahahah)
Anyway.. the leyend says.. that technique was used with "dry ice" or very very low ice temperature... I heard that when i was a kid (almost 38 years ago) but i am not shure about that.
@@mickmutante Imma try it in like half an hour with a record I messed up yesterday.
@@Martorell_ how did it end up?
@@Martorell_ how did it end up?
What is the name of that little magnifying glass?
It doesn’t have a name. It’s a 60x - 100x magnifier. They’re made for iPhones
DO NOT DO THIS! unless your goal is to permanently damage your vinyl.
Read the comments, you’re the only detractor. I have people from all over the world send me records to fix. I’ve owned a record store for over 10 years and have listened to records longer than you’ve been on the planet. What are your credentials?
@@spatulacityrecords6263 that's hard to believe.
May not be rocket science but almost like brain surgery!! Only for the steady of hand and nerves of still. 👍👍👍
Why are you filming in portrait for TH-cam? If you’re on multiple platforms, do the extra work.
@@JLeeeP this video was done years ago. If you don’t like it don’t watch.
@@spatulacityrecords6263 And portrait mode was also trash years ago. That isn't an answer.
@@JLeeeP how bout this - go find a video from someone else if you don’t like how I do things. Move along little man, you’re not required here.
@@JLeeeP or…..hear me out…..turn your phone sideways…..
@@spatulacityrecords6263 Lol. That isn't how orientation works.
Just ... never mind. It's a nice technique to repair scratches but you have to learn when to take an L.
The best way to fix this is to buy a NEW LP. The toothpick technic is rediculous. If you don't think so, try it.
Guy, do you think I put this up without trying it? It’s not hard, AT ALL. It’s ridiculously (correct spelling included) easy. Troll someone else.
Good one.
Dear Spatula, your video is very informative. However, videos recorded in the vertical format are VERY distracting and unprofessional. I love your content but can't get past the vertical format. The recording in the horizontal format is so much better for viewing on either a web page or a phone.