Why are my new vinyl records scuffed and scratched? VINYL COMMUNITY
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- Every buy a brand new vinyl record, only to find it scratched, right out of the sleeve? You're not alone...
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Videos shot live on location in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I've noticed a lot of scuffs on new vinyl, especially on sealed records, i wonder if they're from the same pressing plants as some scuffs are identical on different albums. A lot of these lps are limited editions so reluctant to send them back. Thanks for mentioning this phenomenon.
It's weird my copy of madvillainy came really scuffed brand new out of the shrink wrapped package but it plays front to back perfectly fine
Great record
really late reply, but nope! my godspeed you! album had some scuffs on it but it plays really well
I’ve got a Jazz Messengers record. All scuffed up. Plays beautiful. So weird.
Same I jus got good kid Maad city and there are little scratches, and it played beautifully
Frank, you should do a video on original vinyl vs remastered vinyl! I feel like it's a topic to talk about because not all reissues are bad and I have a few which sound awesome.
Zach Jira I second this one. Remasters are a very tricky bunch. Some are good, but a lot are not. Definitely pays to do research on the new pressing when it comes to this topic.
We agree! However, if it's a Digital Remaster, we always pass. We always try and do our homework.
I agree...this is definitely a topic to discuss. This issue has been like the elephant in the room that no one really acknowledges. I respect that people will own and swear by reissues, but I only own two and that's only because these bands were not around during the days of 140-gram pressings. Personally, these 180 and 200gm records are just giant CD's that you can place a needle down on and play. This is the sound you're getting and it's hard to argue against that because it's what you can clearly hear. It is not Hi-fi, but rather digital. But, like you say, many feel they are not all bad, so it's worth talking about. I would love to read the point/counter-points or even engage in the discussion. As a person who stays away from new vinyl, I would love to hear the pro-arguments.
@Vintage Vinyl Vets, i know i'm in the minority i get it a analog format should be mastered from a analog source. in my honest opinion i've heard albums that were mastered from a hi res digital source and still have that full sound that a lot of digital media formats lack. my ears are pretty spot on the majority of the time i can tell a analog from digital master.i truly believe the quality of what people hear when it come to recorded music is how it's mastered is just as important as the source, at the end of the day i know this is all mostly preference & subjective and differentiates from person to person.
Vinyl&Kicks86 Agree with this. While I try to stick to all analog releases I do have have a few digitally sources records where the mastering is just to good. Good mastering engineers can work wonders with digital files, problem is it seems nowadays they just don't bother doing it, they just do whatever the client tells them and a lot of the time there clients are wrong or those clients don't really care about getting the best sound quality they can.
I think its paper sleeves, i have gotten new records that werent scuffed, listened to em a few times but my record player didnt scuff it, but after putting it back in a paper sleeve and then listening to it next time it was scuffed for no reason so i assume paper sleeves
Joey Sendzik when I get one with a paper sleeve, I just try to pull the record out without letting the sleeve have contact with the playing surface!
Vinyl City thats what ive started doing as well, i also plan on investing hi-fi sleeves that arent paper
Sleeve City Diskeeper sleeves work great.
I just Ed Sheeran Divide played it once, but it away. Week later took it out to listen again and the first track was scuffed AF... you can guess i was pissed.
I immediately replace paper sleeves with plastic ones / the ones from Quality Records.
We all have these problems, check your vinyl when it arrives in the mail! Had one earlier this year with a very serious scratch on it, in a very straight line and deep. Looked like a mechanical cause. Returned the record and got a new copy.
When I got a $70 boxset of All Things Must Pass I was upset to find minor scratches and scuffs, but I played it through, and it played perfectly, so I've learned to just not pay attention to new vinyl scuffs, as long as I don't hear them. (Obviously a really really bad scratch or scuff is a different story)
dude..... i paused at 1:40 and looked up Cauldron because the artwork was cool.
you, sir just made my week. They're sick!
Yes... Cauldron are great.
Yup, I think you hit the nail on the head, quality control.... At least the scuffs you found don't affect play.... Thanks!
Good video! Nothing worse than having a brand new record skip or be warped. Happens to often.
It's interesting how you can come across 40 year old records without any scuffs or warps, but get a brand new one with both.
I bought a brand new sealed copy of The Division Bell recently, and it was a bit scuffed to begin with. It plays great though.
Glad I found this video. I’m new to vinyl and have been buying mostly brand new records. I’ve been very careful when handling them but noticed some scuffs and other marks on some. I replaced the inner sleeves right away with the brand in your video. I’m glad to know I didn’t do something to cause this.
5 out of 10 new Vinyl is either warped, scuffed, miscentered. I got tired of returning to Amazon & other stores, very fraustrating. Makes me think if its even worth continuing to collect Vinyl or stick to Cds.
@@vincentcoleman2069 Beware, CDs are on a comeback and so are the prices.
thenow 555 Agreed 100%! It is really frustrating to spend $30-$40 bucks on a Record and it is warped, scratched, scuffed, off center, or the center hole 🕳 is too small. I’ve seen fingerprints on brand new albums, too. It is Unacceptable. There seems to be No quality control at these pressing plants. They are only concerned with getting this Crap out as fast as possible.
@@QoraxAudio Where do you live that CDs are on a comeback? People are still practically giving them away where I am in Australia, there's a box of CDs for $1 each at almost every garage sale, and in my shop people are even just donating me boxes of them. I've jagged some ridiculous bargains. Rarities, doubles, mint digipaks, box sets, all for pocket change. There's a lot of chaff too, of course, but plenty of gems among them. I'm hoping for a comeback somewhere down the track, but I don't really think it's happening just yet, unless you know something I don't?
@@woopimagpie Cool! You should hoard them now and sell them over 5 years! I live in the Netherlands and over here CDs are already past the lowest pricepoint and have started to rise again.
Since the cassette retrohype failed to continue (early 2018), the CDs took their place.
@@QoraxAudio Oh yeah, I'm hoarding like mad. I probably have about 500 for sale in my shop, with another 1500 in storage currently, and that grows a bit every week as I cherry-pick the collections that pass under my nose. Where I live is rural/coastal, well away from the big cities, so things are slower to catch on. I occasionally still have people come in to the shop, look at the vinyl, and ask "do people still buy these old things?" Lol. It's that kind of place. It's lovely, but a fast paced city it ain't. When the city folks visit, however, they buy up big as my prices are much cheaper and I get good stock - the second-hand market in the cities here is pretty scoured, and they're laughably expensive. I've seen some stuff where it would be cheaper to buy it brand new - unless it's something really special that's just daft, they have basically priced themselves out of their own market.
As a result I'm finding now that second-hand vinyl is slowing - I'm not selling them anywhere near like I was 3 or 4 years ago. I also used to stock a small range of new vinyl, and that sold well, but now our Australian Dollar has fallen badly against the US Dollar where I imported them from so the wholesale prices took a big jump upward, and at the same time a reasonably close by big retailer caught on to the vinyl craze and started stocking them at prices I can't compete with so I just stick to the second-hand stuff now. I'm primarily a bookshop, the vinyl and CDs are just sidelines.
I'm glad to hear the CDs are recovering. I will continue to accumulate them and wait for the resurgence to arrive in my little town, probably several years from now!. Cheers.
I never have these issues...
Hell, a Tootle the train storybook record my mom had since childhood that also happens to be broken on one part still works perfectly and there's no skipping. Old ass records really are the toughest
Q.C. is the culprit. I don't think the packaging process is being done with care. The records certainly don't come off the pressing machines looking like that. You have to figure that unskilled labour is being hired to marry records with jackets and perhaps the training and care standards aren't the best. You're right about complaining considering what we are paying for these things. If my records end up being scuffed I want it to be done by me and not coming from the factory looking like that.
Yup.
I've seen video of new vinyl being packaged. There were half a dozen people packing the fresh vinyl into the inner and outer sleeves by hand - non of them wore gloves and they all handled the surface of the records with bare hands slamming the records into the sleeves.
Light scuffs probably from putting in the sleeve Too soon after pressing! I purchased a remastered LP, returned it
as it had bad noise in one song, the replacement was in exactly the same spot. I guess that QC could be a thing of the past!
I agree with another poster, they are pumping out vinyl like popcorn!
The biggest issue I've experienced with modern vinyl is warping; years ago, I purchased the FANTOMAS 'WUNDERKAMMER' LP BOX SET, super cool set, also a demo cassette and artistic prints were included, not a cheap product, and I had to return it, all of the records, no exception, were badly warped. It's strange I don't hear people complaining enough about that issue. Not too long ago I purchased 7 records on Amazon and returned 3 because of the same problem.
It’s funny you upload a video about this today, as I was discussing this very issue yesterday. 7 out of the last 10 new records I bought last month have very noticeable warps, I used to let it slide but it’s happening so often that I always return them to the store now . The used records I bought recently that were pressed about 20 years ago haven’t anywhere near the same amount of flaws. It leads me to suspect that the plants are firing them out at a rate of knots, with little mind payed to quality control. It’s frustrating, given the high price of vinyl these days.
I agree with everyone who places full blame on the inner sleeves. When you buy new records these days, they always come practically vacum sealed in cardboard inner sleeves that double-up as lyric sheets or some extension of the artwork. I don't know why, but I've always just pulled the records out without even attempting to seperate them from the sharp edges of the cover. I must be a bit stoooopid because It's taken me until tonight to understand that almost every scuffed and scratched record I've ever purchased is basically down to me. It's kind of a sinking feeling. Heartbreaking even. I'm talking about a lot of records here and a shed-load of money spent on them. It's not like I can even sell them because I wouldn't want to pass on damaged goods to anyone. It's enough to put you off the whole vinyl game...and music. I think I've just peaked.
Well, I know some people will hate me for saying this. But this is one advantage of CDs. Even if you find scratches on them, they are easy to fix. You can buy a $30. machine, and it will not only get the scratches out in about 10 minutes (give or take), but it will shine the disc up and make it look brand new. And yes. The CD will play. Records are good for nostalgia, but they can't really be your main source of music.
To each their own, eternalhalloween1. If CD's are your thing and YOU think they're better, so be it. But to say that "Record are good for nostalgia, but they CAN'T really be your main source of music" like it's FACT, only goes to show how ABSOLUTELY IGNORANT and ill informed YOU might be. 90% of what I listen to IS vinyl. I only buy CLEAN used copies and usually get lucky with GOOD, non-defective pressings of NEW albums. As for "scratches". Well, the best way to prevent that is by TAKING CARE of your records, not THROWING THEM into the sleeves between plays like a dipshit, and HANDLING THEM PROPERLY. Oh, but I guess because I like vinyl, you're going to tell me that I'm a "nostalgic" kind of guy...PLEASE....Don't make me laugh!!!!!
you know you've gone down the youtube rabbit hole when you sing along to the channel 33 rpm theme song haha! it's too catchy.
I purchased a brand new, still sealed copy of St. Paul and the Broken Bones Sea of Noise. When I opened it, it had fingerprints and dust all over the record. I don't even know how something like that happens.
I've seen this before as well. Sucks.
Frank
Piss Poor QC. Thats how it happens.
Im buying loads of vinyl (jungle/drum n bass) they are always flawless! They were 20 years ago and they still are these days. And only cost 8-10 bucks a pop.
33 or 45 12” dj records (mostly 120 or 180g)
Considering most are buying the vinyl at a higher cost than a CD or download and as a a collection piece you'd think they check the product more as they are making more margin on it. Nice of the label to make it right with a care package! Luckily ive only had one that had a issue from amazon.my local shop I've yet to have a issue so maybe they have a different vendor. Great video as always
Thanks Daniel! Glad to hear this has not been a big problem for you.
Cheers
Frank
All these scratching, scuffing faults on new vinyl are well and truly still happening! Whenever I get a new record, I shine a bright light on it -- almost without fail it will be covered with loads of odd scratches and scuffs galore, as well as odd gouges. If these affect the sound, then I take them back and get a replacement.
Sometimes there is loose vinyl particles floating around in the sleeve that can cause scuffs on new records. I would suggest that before you remove the record, blow air into the inner sleeve to separate it from the record then slowly remove the record. Better safe than sorry. Also some inner sleeves just stick to the records more than others. I find this problem on records pressed in over seas plants. The records come with thick paper sleeve that cling to the record so much that sometimes it’s hard to remove the record. Then you get those surface scuffs when trying to remove the record. I always throw those sleeves away. What I hate more is warps. Slight dip warped or dish warps on some of these new records are hard to fix. Sometimes with dish warps you can kind of flex the vinyl back and forth a little bit to soften in up them press it flat on the turntable. That will usually fix a slight dish warp. Depends on the vinyl though. Some vinyl can’t be manipulated this way. Anyway good luck folks.
Just got a new jazz record in the mail...all looked fine until I unwrapped it and instantly noticed a nasty figure 8 scratch on side A...was definitely was that was from the factory--the shipping box and the sleeve were pristine.
Sorry to hear, Chris. This seems all too common...
Frank
Chris Perry I got both Pink Floyd the wall and Meddle from different suppliers and both were sealed, but scratched badly. There was a mark on Meddle which I carefully removed using a damp cotton bud, a process I very occasionally use on older vinyl with absolutely no issues, and it completely buggered up that part of the track. This makes me think it's either a softer material being used or the cuts are more fragile. Either way I'm under the impression that new releases may not last as long as original issues!
Hey Frank -
Excellent topic! My last vinyl purchase online (as opposed to in a brick-and-mortar store) was Phish's BIG BOAT. The first copy I got was severely warped (both discs in a double LP set) - so I asked for a replacement and I got one.
My fear is the heat in Phoenix during the summer. Who knows how long these records sit in non-AC trucks, warehouses, and sorting offices. Scuffs have not been an issue, but warping? YES, ABSOLUTELY!
For this reason, I prefer used records in record stores. I know you can't always go that route, but when I can, that's what I prefer.
Great video, as always!
Cheers
Got the remastered Pink Floyd's The Wall and Meddle and scratched and scuffed. Poor for what you pay for them!
Andrew Haines me too!!! is it because of the sleeve
Me too! Side 3 right on the edge before "Hey you"
Gee, that's funny...I have all the remastered reissues, and there aren't a THING wrong with any of mine. Sounds like you're one of those who got unlucky. That said, I don't agree with how they went with the heavy cardboard inners for the reissues of every album from Animals up to Division Bell. For those prices, it wouldn't have cost the label that much more to package those in the poly-lined black inners (like they did with the reissues from Piper to Dark Side), and simply include repros of the original inners as extra inserts. That's what they did with the George Harrison reissues, luckily enough.
one of the reason might be that the records after pressed are put back to back warm without some liner in-between. Their Qc is just to get the maximum quantity out.
I’ve gotten multiple brand new records where the center hole is so small that it won’t even fit on the spindle. I’ve had to personally make the holes bigger just so that I can play them.
Had this happen with a Beatles reissue. I wasn't very happy having to chisel the center either. It's horse shit. I swear next time this happens IT'S GOING BACK
Not a knock on your channel and I truly like and appreciate that you feature vinyl and give it a well-deserved forum, but man do I hate reissues! I own just two "new era" vinyl records and I really don't expect to own anymore. The reason I have those is that these are newer bands that were not around when original 140-gram records were being pressed.
I don't know if it's just me, but I find the sound of 180 and 200gm vinyl to be more digital in sound and less of what true vinyl should really sound like. There is no Hi-fi sound because it has simply been replaced with a digital sound.
I have heard that what they essentially do in the process is take the digital (CD) sound and press it onto vinyl so what you are basically left with is a giant CD that you can put your needle on and play! I don't know what the process really is, but that is surely what it sounds like to me!
I recently listened to a "Dark Side of the Moon" side-by-side original and reissue comparison and I can really hear some significant differences. I am also not surprised that these new pressing plants are rushing through and not paying attention which leads to scuff marks. Seems like there is no love for the art of pressing vinyl!
I think it's just you man.
Owning just two modern records isn't nearly a big enough sample set for you to have an opinion. I also wonder which pressing of DSOM you heard. The James Guthrie remastered vinyl issued a couple of years ago absolutely shits all over the original pressings imho. And the SACD version or the dsf high res digital files that were available are just astounding. Miles better. The same could be said for the more recent Queen remasters, although to be fair it wouldn't be that hard to improve those originals, the mixing and mastering on a lot of that early Queen stuff is pretty ordinary. Even the much talked about Led Zep reissues were better, if a little sharp round the edges. I always thought the original Zep recordings were a bit muted and lifeless and the reissues mostly fixed that. I think a lot of people didn't like them because they were so used to the old dead sound the reissues had too much life in them and were too different in their sound. Personally I like 'em.
Whilst I'd be the first to agree there is some rubbish amongst the modern stuff, that's mostly due to them being mastered incorrectly. Vinyl requires a different technique to the digital formats, and unless a recording has been specifically mastered for the vinyl format it won't live up to the medium's potential. A lot of record companies are either too lazy or too cheap (or both) to have the process done correctly. Some of the really dodgy pressing plants just use the CD version as the master - ugh. But when it''s done well it's a very different story.
So how can you tell? Probably the best indicator is the cost. If it's cheap, there's usually reason for that. It's been my experience that the fancy packages with the bigger pricetags are almost always far better - the pressing plants seem to make more of an effort with the top line stuff, rather than just churning out the chaff for the masses. I've been very impressed by the quality in the more expensive stuff when compared to the general run-of-the-mill versions. Even though we know the 180 and 200 gram records are partly just marketing wank, if they're virgin vinyl "audiophile" versions with a single album spread over two records they actually are better sounding - they're properly mastered, there's more space in between the grooves so there's no bleed-through, the virgin vinyl has better elasticity so won't damage as easily and is less abrasive on your stylus (so it plays with a "smoother" sound), and they are way more resistant to going out of shape. You really do get what you pay for. Those reconstituted/recycled vinyl flimsy things record companies were putting out in the late 70s - early 80s were just woeful, in that regard we've come a long way.
As your comment was 2 years ago I'm hoping you've sampled more than two by now and have realised what I'm saying is true. Cheers.
Got a Melvin's - Live from 3rd Man LP, was warped to hell when I played it...sent it right back.. Got a copy of Unknown Mortal Orchestra's II LP - It was in a paper sleeve and was VERY VERY dusty!
Hi Frank, i got sent a new lp sent me in the post.
The whole thing was wrapped so my surprise when i tore open the package and found a warp like a wee hump back bridge And a gritty ( as apposed to greasy ) thump print, there were a few pops and crackles as well so an email sent and now waiting for a second copy.
Yup - lots of new manufacturers just don't do a great job taking care of their own product in the factory - one reason why I RARELY buy new because why bother. Easy to fix too small of a spindle (I had a video on it) - just run a scissor around the hole and it will shave off the excess (be careful, you can do it too much).
I'll check out your vid Kris!
Frank
I had to return reissue of Deaths spiritual healing. Record had white fingerprints all over it like someone touched it in factory with colored hands.
Every record I’ve purchased in the past month has had at least one side completely ruined right out of the sleeve. I purchased the downward spiral by nin and every disc on every side was scratched, same with sign o the times by prince
yup really annoying when i played my new copy of angelus apatrida hidden evolution and heard 2 loud clicks. when it was over i looked at it n saw 2 or 3 deep scuffs. now i get to hear 2 clicks every time i listen to a record i purchased brand new
I buy my records from Amazon now every record I bought for them it's been mint, definitely no scuffing, hardly any surface noise and ticks on the record. I don't know if I'm extremely lucky or what but I had one bad record I returned it they didn't give me a problem asked for a new one came back flawless record stores today they don't care except the bottom line the money they're making!@!! it's a shame!!!😎
Just an observation, i find that newer vinyl tends to be considerably "softer" than the good old vinyl, which in turn tends to hold more static and obviously scratches easier. The static in turn attracts more dust. I don't have that many new reissues, being a self confessed vinyl snob, i tend to shop around for 1st presses or demo copies (much to my wife's dismay).
These things (including the ones you've said were 'nothing major') would've been UTTERLY SHOCKING in the 70s and 80s. People born in the 90s or later would be amazed by the quality if they went back in time to see what I was buying. A brand new record taken home, removed from the sleeve would be an utter JOY. The smell and the sheer perfect surface with NO defects whatsoever!!
I wouldn't settle for ANY of the copies you've shown. Suffice to say I don't buy much brand new vinyl now having bought enough in the glory days.
I have had the same problem, micro scratches and a bit warped records. Even when they are new reissues from 2014-2017. My sgt peppers i bought a while ago and is a new reissue from 2014 i believe, was a bit warped from one part so my stylus goes up and down a bit, but it does not make any disturbing sounds or skip. Have you bought new reissues and found them a bit warped?
THE kind of warpage you've described may "make the needle go up and down slightly" WILL NOT affect the playability or SQ of the record. And for that matter, it's really nothing to split hairs about or even BRING UP. Now, if the warping is VERY severe and DOES rule out all manner of playability, that's another thing. I hate to say it, but another thing that's got the vinyl resurgence on the path to ruin-and ALSO doing its part to drive prices through the roof-is the fact that the more anal-retentive element of vinyl lovers are sending their records back because of even the TINIEST, most MICROSCOPIC physical imperfections in the pressing and packaging that don't really matter within the grand scheme of things. Granted, who DOESN'T love a record that's perfectly flat? But at the same time, it doesn't help to nitpick over minor flaws that do nothing to affect playback or SQ.
I often notice particles, minor scratches and surface noise on brand new records. I've heard that it's caused by careless factory workers who have no experience with vinyl and don't know how careful you have to be with it.
Every single sealed reissue Ramones - Rocket to Russia Had a slight warp and scuffs. We stopped ordering it in for 3 months and now they are fine. I just think they do a rush job or there machines are set to ridiculous fast paces to keep up with demand. Keep up the great videos. :)
A lot of scratches are caused by excess bits of vinyl being in the inner sleeve, when you slide it out the record gets scratched. I've noticed this happening a lot more with newer pressings. If it affects the playback then it goes back, if not I'll keep it. Great channel m8!
Thanks Daryl. I appreciate your perspective.
Frank
Hi Frank just to say I have been buying records for over 35 years and you will always get from time to time marks on records just have to be unlucky.keep on spinning!!!!
I remember saying I was going
quit playing records when CDs
were the rage.
One thing i noticed is that those MFSL sleeves can cause micro scratches or hairlines. Plus they leave like a strange visual effect sometimes, like on that Pink Floyd LP. For that reason, i use normal poly sleeves.
I am so happy you did a video on new vinyl quality! I've been back in vinyl collecting for about a year and a half and I can tell the most issues / problems I have are with new pressings. Warps, misalignment, inner groove distortion tendency (meaning if my cartridge is even slightly 'off' it'll sound splattery in the sibilance"). And I've seen this with foreign, major domestic and "vinyl first' labels. I have a Racontours on Third Man Records that has one side misaligned from the center spindle. The other side is fine. So the spindle hole is cut okay, the plant just pressed 1 side slightly off. It's audible as wow-ing, and visible in a side-to-side tonearm movement as it plays. Some 180 gram records I've gotten sound poor while some flimsy 80s pop sound like they were recorded yesterday. Hopefully this will improve. But it seems like some people are treating this vinyl thing as just another piece of merch, like a button or t shirt. to stamp out and sell.
Great comment, thanks CJ. Your last sentence is so true... "treating this vinyl thing as just another piece of march." Very sad.
What an odd error with the Raconteurs. Hopefully your luck improves.
Frank
Recent pressings and reissues in the past few years are done too quickly, with low quality control, like you mentionned, I got those scuffs from labels as prestigious as IMPULSE in one instance. My biggest problem with new pressings, aside from scuffs, are popping noises... i mean, it's brand new!!!! How is it that I will buy the same records from the 70s that have lots of surface scratches but will play BEAUTIFULLY, no pops or nothing?
It drives me a bit nuts that ill spend 30-40$ on something with surface noise even though it is its first time playing, versus the same 70s copy, which will be in G to VG condition and will play better!!!
It's indeed a quality control... my local record guy claims one of the problem is that it is because they are not left long enough to dry and put too quickly in sleeves?
Yes quality is all over the place these days. Warping is a big problem. I ordered new records last December and they were warped! Hoping for cool weather while being transported,still warped! My new evanescence has a slight warp and crackle on one quiet song. But I only paid 12 dollars. The album overall is ok , I'm going to keep it. I have removed extra little bits of vinyl from the center hole just to get it all the way on my platter.
I have three LP"s that I purchased new from the Tee Pee lable, 2 Comet Control albums and 1 Quest for Fire album. All three had scuffs, finger prints and dust bunny's. I have been able to remove the dust but the finger prints are stuck on like glue.
Just bought a new 2014 EU Stone Roses copy and it has two massive scratches that I can't believe made it through QC. That side was almost unplayable, and it sucks to have this kinda of issues with new products.
I just started with vinyls. I've bought 4 vinyls. 3 of them were unplayable out of the box (skipping forward several seconds several times just in the first ten minutes of listening alone). I'm not sure if this is a problem that's getting worse, but I'm already regretting having gotten into the vinyl game, if I'm honest with you, especially after nearly $150 down the drain before I've ever touched them. And just like you mentioned, the cheapest vinyl of the four - NMH's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - is the only one that plays flawlessly.
Last time I got Aphex Twin record... Side B is deeply scratched and it's unplayable. So I got a new on in school :)
My RSD 2021 Little Feat Electrif Lycanthrop was scratched on side 4 all through Sailin Shoes. Curse record plants
Hey Frank great topic .... and one that is hard to pinpoint exactly when and where the problem is actually coming from, everyone who buys records knows about cracking open a brand new album and seeing those annoying scuffs and imperfections that just seems takes the wind right out of your sails. It’s funny (or sad really) when you said that the cheaper albums for twenty dollars ...
when they used to only cost us six or seven dollars when I was a kid, oh well that life right! Take care and enjoy your evening.~ Jeff
Almost every new record I buy, unless it is shipped in a plastic sleeve
Scuffs are one thing.
Scratches are another.
I'll take a scuff over an off center spindle hole any day. Back when Mother Mother was supporting their "Very Good Bad Thing" Tour, I picked up a copy of the album on green vinyl at their show. It was so misaligned it wasn't even listenable. I ended up giving the record to a friend who's going to (as an experiment) putty up the hole and see if he can drill a new one. It will be an interesting test none the less.
I usually stick a pen through the centre hole if it's too small
I have only returned two records, and they were the same record order from Amazon. The 2016 PF Meddle reissue. First, I unwrapped it to find "Atom Heart Mother" was the enclosed record. I received the replacement and found the record significantly warped. My biggest beef is the amount of debris on new records.
Scuffed, scraped, warped and frequently straight up dirty, yes. If I buy an album at, say, Best Buy, I open them immediately in my car so I can walk right back in and exchange them as necessary now. It stinks, but until they up quality control this is how it is.
i bought a bowie record Scary monsters and i accidentally scuffed it while playing. On the side B it jumps about 8-10 seconds for just one song. Anyways I love the record and that skip im getting used to haha
I've had a problem lately with very noisy vinyl. Replacements always solve the issue, but it's been happening more and more lately.
Thank you for this episode, Frank.
Scuffed? Hell brother I have had finger prints!
Yeah, I've had this before as well... How does this even happen... Pretty bad.
Frank
You talk as if this is a new problem I was reading a music paper from 1975 and people were complaining about the Genesis lp being shit quality wise when played. Charisma told people to take it back to the record shop and they would replace it. But as the whole batch were faulty it became pointless. I had a compilation on this label that was scratchy when played I think their pressing plant were at fault. Nobody checks individual records I have taken back ones that have the paper label across the record, ones with bits of alien material buried inside, ones with bumps even one with a strange hole in it. My best one is the one that had a lump missing from the corner how would you play that. I once had a picture disc that wasn't warped but I kept it as a curio.
It definitely pays to check your deadwax's inscriptions/stampers to see what plant pressed the record. Usually a pattern will emerge on which plants are low on QC. From there just do your research, if a particular plant you've had lots of trouble with in the past has pressed a record you want it's easier to make an informed decision on whether or not to purchase said record.
I've had problems with skipping.
Wargod48 if its not the scratch, you've got your low-end volumes too high.
The needle bounces around to heavy bass
Well done Brother Frank👏😄!!! Tight and intriguing throughout. You drive through the main points all very well and succinct. Thank you for saying out loud for the rest of us 💪😄!! Warmest Regards, ~ ian
Thanks Ian... good to hear from you. I enjoy your videos .. especially the cartridge comparisons. Cheers! Frank
Dear Frank, I am very happy and humbled to have received your reply :-D !!! I forgot to mention that I really love and look up to your verve and passion. Very useful practical advice and opinions surrounding all of us vinyl users too! Yay!!!!! Thumbs UP to you and your lovely hard-worked channel Brother Frank!!..
Yours,
~ ian.
I send back a lot of new records. Scratches, Vinyl is warped, cut outs etc... It's annoying!
I know what you mean with the "iron Maiden" ! I got "powerslave" reissue, and the "spoken word" part of "rime of the ancient mariner" it has a big scratch, and a loud audible pop! On some turntables that track lighter than 3.5 grams it will probably "loop skip"!
LIKE YOU SAID THEIR DOING THEIR JOB REAL FAST AT THE PLANT THESE BOSSES TODAY THINK SPEED IS THE ANSWER TO DOING YOUR JOB TODAY SEE THEY WANT EVERYBODY TO MULTI TASK WHEN YOU DO THAT PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES SO YEAH THAT'S WHY YOUR GOING TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM GOOD VIDEO FRANK KEEP THEM COMING TAKE CARE
I bought a brand new record yesterday that was not only smudged and super dirty but has a pretty significant scratch/loop on the third song which I think is either a production flaw or just from it being mishandled in store and having to much pressure on it.
One time I bought a new record, it was white but it was supposed to be black vinyl. There where a liiiiiitle bit of dust and it was super warped :(
Yep, not enough people with EXPERIENCE in the field. Just like in many other fields. Too fast, not enough eyes to check, and Machine maintenance not being done for the sake of upping productivity numbers.
I got some warped vinyl...that was blue notes 75th anni vinyl
Definitely quality control due to intense demands on pressing plants. They have not figured out a way to cushion the platters during production individually so that the assembly line process refrains from sideways motion during the pressing. Brand new records even in cheap sleeves should never show scuffing, maybe dust and debris but it should shine like a mirror without these noticeable markings. Speed does not equal efficiency in this regard.
Very good points. They need to figure this out. Cheers Kurt.
Frank
I recently bought a couple of box sets, one was a Sparks boxset that came full of scuffs but sounded fine. The other was a Humble Pie boxset where every record looked pristine but nearly every record had some non fill or other defects. If a record has scuffs it can still play fine, I have a load of beat up Alice Cooper records that sound remarkably good.
Received CSNY So Far with inner groove distortion also received Dark Side of the Moon with scratch on track one on one side of the record that I believe was caused by a flaw in the record sleeve. both records were purchased from Amazon
just got my copy of ghost and the saber tooth tiger - midnight sun vinyl , unwraped it to find it was scuffed as if it was a 2nd hand vinyl but brand new, was tightly locked into a papaer sleeve which is never good, kinda heartbreaking considering the price i paid for it.
I just had an unfortunate experience with a factory defect. I bought Korn Follow The Leader brands new from my local record store. I got it home and all was well except the second record had a deep chip in the first track on side 4. When I took it out of the sleeve I noticed a small piece of black plastic fell out with it. Almost looked big enough to fit the center hole of the record. I took it back and get another copy, which turned out to be in perfect condition as expected. QC is a hit or miss unfortunately.
I experienced a problem with a particular Mobile Fidelity release a few years ago. Fresh out of the jacket for the first time, there was white dust on the record. I sent the record back and they sent me another one that had the same problem. I sent that one back too. They sent that record back and refunded the money I paid them and allowed me to keep the record. I cleaned the record with a "Spin Clean" but there were hand prints on the record that I was never able to remove (Those prints were definitely not mine. I am extremely particular about how I handle records.). These prints do not affect the playing. The record plays beautifully after being cleaned by the "Spin Clean" but I would like to know if you know of a way to remove hand prints that seem to be embedded in the vinyl as if someone handled the record after being pressed before the record was completely dry and ready to be handled.
I don't know if you know this but I find interesting to note that Mobile Fidelity utilizes RTI as their record pressing plant. At first I thought there was a problem with the quality control at RTI pertaining to this aforementioned particular record, that is until I found out that RTI does not create jackets for the records they press and RTI does not package the records in sleeves and jackets. RTI only presses records and takes no part in sleeve / jacket creating or packaging. In the situation written about above, my best guess is the problem was caused by whichever organization that does sleeve and jacket packaging of records for Mobile Fidelity.
The speed of the packing should not be an issue. Think of the sheer volume of records packed at speed at the height of Beatlemania, for instance....or even during the 70s for other 'mania' periods like David Cassidy, Osmonds.....or later for Michael Jackson. If the records had been scuffed it would've made the news in those days because scuffing was SO RARE.
Obviously it is due to the HANDLING though. But 'packing records' was done very quickly without issue back in the day.
I bought, a few years ago, E.S.T. Live in Hamburg box set. I only opened this two weeks ago (3/2021). All four discs had undersized spindle holes and the first disc has a really bad centre dish, the second disc has a lesser dish.
This last week I purchased a Keith Jarrett box set of 10 discs. The first disc has a really bad warp and a fault on side two that stops it being played. Other discs in the set also show some warping. I’m waiting for the shop to get back to me!
So, over time it seems that standards of quality control have not improved. These were two expensive sets and I expect the pressing plants to take a darn sight more care over their production and quality control.
Here in Europe, tha vast majority of records are made in Germany and they are excellent, without flaws. But if you buy records from small labels made in UK or Italy, it is less quality production of discs, but still no serious damages. American records are not available here. Maybe in the US people working in pressing plants are poorly paid, so they don`t have motivation to be precise.
I have an RCA Hall and Oates Voices from the early 80s produced in West Germany that sounds like a live band. Almost 40 years old and clean as glass. So based on that, I'll take the German pressings!
I love German pressings! That and the old Japanese ones are my favs.
Frank
I buy a lot of vinyls, I notice that scratch problems come mainly from US pressing. The European pressings have less than this problem
The singular of vinyls is vinyl, which is a material, not an object. So therefore, there can be no plural of vinyl. THEY ARE CALLED RECORDS!!!
@@alanbratt3022 He can say vinyl as much has he wants. Only mediocre people like you who have to complain about that, no matter how much you nitpick, nitpicker!
Believe me @DIRECT SOUND VINYL lots of European pressing plants have problems too. Especially Optimal Media GmbH and GZ Media. Horrible QC.
Around 1983 I bought a copy of Alice Cooper's "Muscle of Love" lp via a mail order outlet. The record arrived well packed but when I took it out of the inner sleeve it was in pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. Must have been smashed before it was put in the cover as there was no damage to that or the mailer. Never figured out how it happened.
I quite often find a greasy residue and big thumb prints. Wouldn't you think that they would wear gloves in the pressing plants
mofi pressings are a bit may, but some Hall & Oates mofi pressings in the cheap and they came with scuffs. Wasn't bothered as they were cheap, but they are supposed to be an audiophile label, it's silly that their quality control is so bad.
My mofi inner sleeves have been scuffing the crap out of my records. I'm going to get the HDPE japanese ones with the rounded bottom - Mofi has really dropped the ball, and I'm surprised, given their cult following.
5:52 - It looks like the Mofi sleeves have scuffed yours too, sadly.
I had a beach boys reissue that had what I thought was glue on it! I took it back to my local record store and they happily replaced it! So that was a great outcome! I guess some maybe disgruntled employees maybe let things pass by! Who knows!
I buy alot of used records I find they are better than buying new most of the new records I get are warped and had one with something molded to the record
personally I have no idea why new records come with paper or card sleeves, always change mine straight away, had a terrible copy of Benediction-scriptures, red and black smoke version, was warped and edges were chipped and rough, when held to the light it actually had a 1cm crack in it
FOR ME THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS OF COLLECTING VINYLS AND THE REASON THAT I DONT ANYMORE BUY A LOT OF VINYLS ARE SCRATCHED NEW VINYLS AND PROBLEMS IN THE JACKETS... WHY I MUST PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT ISNT PERFECT?
The biggest problem I've had with new vinyl is that they are warped. Have sent back a few records because of that.
Yea it's pretty bad. I've sent copies of brand new warped records back just to receive the replacement and it also be warped, send that back and it's replacement is warped to. I've had that happen to me 3 times now and they were all pressed at United pressing plant.
I've returned way too many records over the past few years due to various production flaws. For the amount of money that the consumer pays for brand new LP's, it's absolutely unacceptable for them to be anything less than perfect. Thankfully most retailers are more than happy to accommodate.
As far as warping goes, I've had a few bad ones that I personally believe are down to the way retailers are storing them.
Great video. I just started getting vinyls and it was driving me nuts that out of around 20 I had to return about 5 because pressing problems. One warped with dents that skipped several tracks (Tranquility Base Hotel AND Casino by AM), another one with broken package and the rest with scuffs and marks. Also just realized my Ziggy stardust copy has lots of mini scratches all around but plays fine. I thought I was being careless but I see it's common. Thanks for giving me peace of mind
As long as the sound is Crystal clear scuffs don't bother me. Warps do. Even if warps don't affect the sound.
Yes, but how depressing is it to look at scuffs on a record you paid so much money for?
Farrell McNulty it really doesn't bother me. Skips do Warps do but that's it.
Unless the vinyl mfr. is operating a clean room it is most likely there are microscopic dust particles left over. Sliding the vinyl in/out of the jacket probably causes this. Just my guess.
Yes, QC is the big problem and some plants are worse, far worse, than others. The worst plant for QC is United which is normally identified with a circled 'U' in the deadwax. Lately, though, I think they are deleting the 'U' because of all the rants they get. About a quarter to a third of the records I get from United have some type of defect. The Judas Priest record is a bit surprising because Mofi uses RTI in California but it's not to say they don't have their QC problems from time to time. I get an occasional off center pressing from RTI. Overall, RTI is really known for their quality.
Hi Paul. Thanks for this info. I've definitely heard complaints about United. Thanks, as always, for your perspective.
Frank