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Cleaning Your Stylus (Needle): An Essential Turntable Maintenance Practice
Stylus
Here’s a reality about the nature of vinyl records: As the stylus runs through the grooves of the record, static electricity is generated. This static electricity attracts dust and debris to the record. The moisture in the air, mixed with oils on your hand when you handle the record mix with the dust and debris, and stick to the record. As the stylus runs through the record grooves, this gunk gets stuck to the stylus (needle). Over time, you’ll begin to notice that the records you play on your turntable begin to sound less clear, distorted, staticy, just plain different. You can clean your records all you want, but the sound is still “off”.
What to do? It’s time to clean your stylus (needle)! Fortunately, this is a very easy process, and only takes a few minutes. Here’s what you do:
- Get some cleaner specially designed for turntable styluses, as well as a stylus brush.
- Apply a drop or two of the cleaner to the brush.
- Hold the tone arm and stylus firmly with your hand to ensure that it doesn’t move and turn on the turntable while you’re cleaning.
- Rub the brush from the rear of the stylus to the front. Repeat this a few times: 5-10 should be great.
- Let the stylus air dry for about 5 minutes.
- Place your favorite record on the turntable, and enjoy the (clear) music!
That’s it, folks. Easy enough, and it can make a significant difference in the quality of the sound. There are no real guidelines to how often you should do this. Fanatics will say do it after every session, but I think it’s only necessary about once every 15-20 hours of record playing.
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Topics: maintenance, Sound Quality | 16 Comments »
Vinyl Record Formats: EPs, LPs, 33s, 45s, 78s, oh my!
Record Spider
Vinyl records are produced in a variety of formats, and have a variety of terms describing them. Most of us kids that grew up with CDs don’t know too much about this stuff, so I have prepared this handy guide!
It should also be noted that vinyl records have gone through a wide variety of format changes over the years. From their size to their playback speed to the depth of the grooves, and even the way in which the grooves are read, there are tons of formats out there, most of which are obsolete and very hard to find. I only want to focus on the main formats that are being used today, so this guide is not complete by any means. If you really want to get into the history of vinyl, I highly recommend Wikipedia’s page about the Gramophone record.
With that said, here is the abridged version from Vinyl Revinyl!
EPs and LPs…Huh?
I have seen these acronyms all over the place in music shops for as long as I can remember. However, to call something an EP or an LP is generally not very accurate way to describe a record. In short, EP stands for “extended play”, and is generally used to describe a 7″ 45 RPM record. LP stands for “long play”, and is often used to describe 12″ 33 RPM records. However, these definitions are not completely sufficient because EP and LP are used to describe a variety of other record formats, most of which are out of print and obsolete. In general, all you need to know is that some people use the term EP to describe a single or short record with a few songs. LP is generally used to describe full-length albums.
Why is a single 7″ record referred to as “Extended Play”?
The reason is that this new EP format did allow for extra playing time compared to what was offered at the time. Back in the bad old days, large records (10 and 12″) would only play about 3-4 minutes per side. 7″ EPs can play up to 12-15 minutes per side, hence the name “extended play”.
Record Speeds: 33, 45 and 78 RPM
Records are played back at a certain RPM (rotations per minute) on your turntable. However, to be played back at that speed, it must also be recorded on to the record at that speed. Records that rotate at faster speeds generally contain more musical data, and are said to sound better.
These days, most records that you’ll come across are recorded at 33 or 45 RPMs. 78 RPM records are still out there, but as far as I know, no one is making them. Many newer turntables won’t even play them because they don’t have a setting for 78 RPMs.
Most records that are recorded at 45 RPMs are singles. Many of these records feature a large center hole so they can be used with jukeboxes and record changing mechanisms. To play a 45 on a turntable with a small spindle (the needle in the middle of the platter), you need a plastic “spider” that snaps into the center of the record so it can be played.
However, not all 45 RPM records are singles, or “EPs”. Some LPs are being released at a playback speed of 45 RPM. Some believe that 45 RPM records sound better than 33 RPM records, and some audiophile-grade records use the faster 45 RPM format. I recently picked up Metallica’s Master of Puppets in the 45 RPM format, but don’t have a comparable 33 RPM record to compare it to, so I can’t comment on improvements in sound over a 33 RPM record. I can say that it sounds WAAAAAY better than a CD.
Here’s some more interesting trivia:
Some old record formats play back at 120 RPM.
Another failed record format playback speed is 16 2/3 RPM (Half that of a 33 RPM)
Record grooves are about 25 microns (.001 inches) wide.
Some records are read by the stylus from the center of the record, outward (CDs operate this way too), as opposed to being read from the outside of the record in.
Alright! I hope you learned something here. Kick back, and enjoy the music!
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Topics: Vinyl Info | 8 Comments »
The Joy of Music
Music Staff
As evidenced by my many postings here, most people can tell that I am a big-time music lover. In my relatively short life, I have listened to thousands of hours of music at home, in the car, at work, and at shows. I have crossed many musical boundaries too. In the 80’s, I enjoyed pop music. In the 90’s, it was all about rock. Over the past 10 years, I have explored many other forms of musical expression such as hip hop, blues, soul, jazz, and electronic. I have become intimately involved with the imaginations and emotions of musicians and songwriters.
Over the years, I have come to a major conclusion, and that conclusion is this: Music has an amazing ability to affect us both psychologically and physically. Music can make you feel happy, feel sad, feel energetic, and feel relaxed. It can make us think, it can make us act. It can open our eyes to new things, teach us lessons, and be used to stimulate the mind. Music truly is one of my great joys for the many stimulating effects it has on the mind and body.
Of course, the big deal here is not only in its ability to stimulate the mind, but to instill happiness. Some of my happiest moments have been while listening to music. Not necessarily music in the background, but when I am focusing on the music, and allowing myself to be open to what the musician is saying to me musically. Many times, I interpret musical ideas as ways to live and ways to be. When a lyricist sings a line, and leaves me with some wisdom, I feel fulfilled.
Another aspect of music that brings happiness is a beat. I know this sounds crazy, but bear with me. Humans seem to be naturally attracted to beats. We have been using beats for millenia–even before melody and music theory seem to have existed. Also, the next time you’re in the presence of a beat, pay attention to your body’s reaction to it. You may feel a compulsion to tap your foot or rock back and forth. You may feel an urge to dance. You’ll feel happy when that beat hits. I really can’t explain why we react to beats, but we do. Listen to beats, get into beats, enjoy beats.
Of course, beats aren’t the only elements of music that bring happiness. I am also a big fan of melodies. Every melody is like a musical sentence to me. It begins with one tone, and ends with another. It takes me from one emotion to the next, and then to the next. Sometimes these combinations of notes make me feel happy, sometimes sad. However, all the time, these notes bring me emotion, and I like that. Despite what so many people try to prove, humans are emotional beings, and we truly respond to the emotions communicated with music.
Another element of music that brings joy is harmony. Harmony is great. Harmony is the synchronization of several tones, all conveying the same emotion. Think of it like 10 beautiful women (or men) standing in front of you. Sure, one is great to see, but 10? Amazing. I really enjoy the War song “All Day Music” to illustrate: where the singers in the group harmonize the lyrics “all day”. It’s a climax of pleasing sounds, pure aural pleasure.
Music brings happiness. Kick back with your favorite artist or album, turn out the lights, close your eyes, and really get into what the musician is trying to communicate to you. You’ll be amazed at what you discover within the music, and within yourself.
Peace out, my fellow music lovers. Spread the joy of music.
-Alan
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Topics: Music | 3 Comments »
45 RPM Vinyl LPs: Do They Sound Better?
45 RPM Record
When most people think of 45 RPM records, they think of the small records often used for jukeboxes and singles. While it’s true that many 45’s released are singles, there are also 45 RPM LPs out there. These records play at a faster speed than the usual 33 RPMs of a standard LP, and because of this, are often doubles. While on a 33 RPM record, you can fit an entire album’s worth of music, 45 RPM LPs can usually only fit about 12-15 minutes of music on each side–usually not enough space for an entire album.
So, what’s the big idea? It seems like these 45 RPM records are more trouble than they’re worth! According to audiophiles, the 45 RPM format sounds better because more musical data is fit into a smaller space than with 33 RPM records. This logic is also applied to digital music formats such as MP3s. A 256kbps MP3 is said to sound better than a 128kbps MP3 because more data is contained in the file. Just like a computer must read through more data in a 256kbps MP3 than with a 128kbps MP3, a turntable stylus must pick up on more nuances and details in the record groove in a 45 RPM record than in a 33 RPM record.
In theory, it all sounds well and good. It makes sense that a 45 RPM record sounds better than a 33 RPM record. However, can humans perceive the improvements in sound? In my opinion, the jury is still out. I can tell the difference between a 128 kbps MP3 and a 256kbps MP3, however I can’t tell the difference between a 256kbps MP3 and a CD. I can, however, tell the difference between a CD and a vinyl record. I just purchased my first 45 RPM LP, and I can tell you that it sounds fantastic, but I can’t tell you if it sounds better than the same album pressed on a 33 RPM record. Whew! A lot of perception going on here…
Anyway, the album I purchased was one that I had only listened to on CD and MP3 up until a few days ago. I can tell you that it sounds WAAAAY better than the CD, and definitely better than the MP3. However, I don’t have a 33 RPM pressing of the album to do a side by side comparison. Too bad… I need to give the album another intense rotation or two to really get a feel for the superiority of the sound over CD, but again, this proves the theory (again) that vinyl really does sound better.
If you find an album that you love, and it is available in the 45 RPM format, it’s probably worth picking up, because in addition to the theoretically better sound, it is also probably a heavier format, made with virgin vinyl, and may even include some nice extras. Enjoy the music…in 45 RPMs!
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Topics: Sound Quality | 23 Comments »
Musicians Against Air Travel: Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stevie Ray Vaughan was a highly skilled blues guitar player from Texas. He won admiration from many of the most influential blues and rock musicians, and is still celebrated in guitar playing circles today. At least once a year, Guitar World will put him on the cover, put him in as a centerfold, or tabulate one of his many songs. Stevie Ray Vaughan, like many musicians against air travel, died way before his time.
Stevie Ray Vaughan was born in 1954, and is guitar player Jimmie Vaughan’s younger brother. Stevie is quoted as saying that his biggest guitar influence was his older brother. Stevie got his first guitar at age 7, and by the time he was 13, he was already playing music in clubs.
Stevie got his big break in the early 1980’s when Mick Jagger and Keith Richards discovered him and his band, Double Trouble, playing at a club. Jagger and Richards invited the band to play a private party in New York City, where they made some great connections. Before they knew it, they were playing the world famous Montreaux jazz festival in France, where Jackson Browne invited the band to record in his studio, and David Bowie invited Vaughan to play lead guitar on his album Let’s Dance. In 1983, Double Trouble released their debut album “Texas Flood“.
Texas Flood was a milestone album. It brought the blues to a wide audience, and established Stevie as a guitar virtuoso. During the mid 1980’s, Stevie released several albums, including “Couldn’t Stand The Weather“, “Soul to Soul“, “In Step“, and “Family Style” which was a collaboration between himself and his brother Jimmie. During the 80’s, the stress of being out on the road and maintaining a rigorous schedule helped Stevie become addicted to alcohol and cocaine. However, he eventually got treatment and kicked his addictions.
In the few short years from his debut on Texas Flood, Stevie Ray Vaughan established himself as a hugely influential and respected guitar player–even amongst his own influences. Stevie’s guitar style is heavily influenced by many of the great blues guitar players such as Albert King, Buddy Guy, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Johnny “Guitar” Watson. Stevie also is heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix. Much like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie played both rhythm and lead guitar parts in his songs, effortlessly switching back and forth between them. Stevie is the type of guitar player that leaves you in awe with how easy he makes it sound, then makes you want to give up the instrument forever because his skill is so humbling.
Unfortunately, for the world, Stevie Ray Vaughan died tragically before his time in a helicopter crash in 1990. He is buried in the Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas. His legacy has yet to be matched in guitar, blues, and rock and roll circles. Stevie’s ingenious guitar playing and skill lives on through his albums. If you’re a fan of blues, rock or guitar music, you have to hear Stevie Ray Vaughan.
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Topics: Artist Tributes, Musicians I Like, Rock | No Comments »
Relaxin’ at Camarillo: A Look At Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Being interested in jazz music, I was knowledgeable of Charlie Parker’s existence. However, also being a newbie to jazz, I never really got around to exploring his music until very recently. It went like this: I was reading Miles Davis’s autobiography, and as many of you jazz afficionados already know, Miles got his start playing in Charlie Parker’s band. Miles spoke very positively of Charlie Parker’s musical skill and vision. Then, one day I was at the library, and decided to check out a Charlie Parker compilation CD.
I put it on when I got home, and was instantly amazed at Parker’s virtuosity on the sax. Many of the recordings also feature a major player in jazz: Dizzy Gillespie. The “Diz and Bird” (“Yardbird” and “Bird” were nicknames that Charlie Parker was known by) team produced some of jazz’s most memorable and innovative songs. Both were on the forefront of the bebop movement, which featured fast tempos, virtuoso playing, and improvization based on harmonic structure. When I listened to the albums, I am amazed at how many notes they manage to fit in such a short period of time. Incredible.
Immediate;y it was clear to me why people are so into Charlie Parker. Here’s Parker’s story: He started off as a teenager playing the sax, and apparently wasn’t very good. Many of those around him expressed their displeasure with his music. In response, Charlie Parker got busy and practiced intensely–up to 15 hours a day for a period of 3-4 years. As an older teenager, Parker was involved in an automobile accident that reportedly got him hooked on morphine. This addiction led to heroin, which would haunt Parker for life.
Parker played in several bands around his home state of Missouri. He was influenced by people like Count Basie and Lester Young–another saxophone visionary. Parker soon moved to New York, and joined other famous musicians from the legendary 52nd street scene such as Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie. This scene was the birth of the bebop movement, which was famously recalled as music that “they” (white people) could not play.
Unfortunately, Parker’s heroin addiction caused him to miss performances. In addition, many of the performances that he did make it to, he was so ufcked up from the heroin and booze that he would nod off, and simply could not play as well as he could under normal conditions. His behavior became increasingly erratic, and at one point, he was committed to Camarillo State Hospital–A mental institution about an hour out of Los Angeles. Upon release, Parker appeared to be healthy, and returned to New York where his new-found health allowed him to do some of his best playing ever.
Parker went on to do an album that was a fusion of jazz and classical, entitled “Charlie Parker With Strings”. At this point, Charlie Parker was one of the most famous jazz musicians in the world. He recorded several more legendary performances in the early 1950’s that have all further solidified Parker’s place in the history of jazz.
He died in 1955, at the age of 34. Years of abuse to his body caused the coroner to believe that Parker was in his 60s. Like many other musical visionaries, Parker worked hard and played hard. His musical genius is still respected and celebrated to this day.
Charlie Parker: An American music innovator and stellar performer. You have to hear this guy on vinyl to truly appreciate the intensity of his vision and playing. Get one today, and enjoy the music!
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Topics: Artist Tributes, jazz, Musicians I Like | No Comments »