Vinyl Defect

[jadis]

I have seen a few of these kinds of markings on some precious records (this one on a James Newton Howard Sheffield D2D) and I'm wondering how a cartridge can 'scribble' or scratch a form like that, that of irregular lines that does not follow the path of a pivot or linear tonearm. I'm referring to the triangular shape the scratches form on the lower part of the vinyl. A friend's original Dutch copy of Jennifer Warnes' The Hunter also have marks like the above picture, and surprisingly, the marks do not result in ticks or pops. This one has a few but not bothersome enough to trash it. Barring a theory that the user actually used his nails to cause such marks (and why would he do that?), I'm beginning to think this is an inherent pressing defect and not caused by usage. Anyone ever encounter this?

 

[mep]

Somebody drug something across this LP. If that doesn't make some racket, that is amazing.

 

[MylesBAstor]

A record changer? Could have been dirt on the bottom record and when the top record dropped, it skidded around.

Or they just left the vinyl laying around or had a kid.

 

[jadis]

A record changer? Could have been dirt on the bottom record and when the top record dropped, it skidded around.

Or they just left the vinyl laying around or had a kid.

Possible. Though what boggles me is that I don't see this even on VG records (like 60s RCAs) which looked more like rubbed on the floor in blatant neglect. On at least 3 highly priced LPs, I've seen this, only on 1 cut, and the rest are impeccably and immaculately mint. One such LP was a DCC Hoffman LP, all cuts mint save for one with this kind of markings, and it's hard to fathom why a collector of such valuable records would do this himself as most take care of their prized LPs. So I thought it could have been caused by some dirt left on the vinyl while it was being pressed.

 

[GaryProtein]

It looks to me as if the record may have been dropped and fell on a sharp surface, like the corner of a shelf/table of object on the floor, or, as someone said, a kid drew on it with a sharp object.

 

[JackD201]

Somebody drug something across this LP. If that doesn't make some racket, that is amazing.

Yeah drugs might have had something to do with that. I can picture a dude so wasted he couldn't cue up the record properly. Once upon a time we didn't use the cuing levers remember? LOL.

 

[cjfrbw]

One of the first LP's I got when I got back into vinyl was Quicksilver Messenger Service "Happy Days". It was so damaged, it sounded like frying bacon playing it. It had a marijuana seed imbedded in the dead wax, must have popped out from the hooka or something red hot and embedded itself onto the record.

That doesn't look like needle damage, some other fate of scratch occurred, and yes, some impressive looking scratches can be audibly invisible with needles that read deep enough into the groove.

 

[jadis]

One of the first LP's I got when I got back into vinyl was Quicksilver Messenger Service "Happy Days". It was so damaged, it sounded like frying bacon playing it. It had a marijuana seed imbedded in the dead wax, must have popped out from the hooka...

Wow...

 

[jadis]

Yeah drugs might have had something to do with that. I can picture a dude so wasted he couldn't cue up the record properly. Once upon a time we didn't use the cuing levers remember? LOL.

Yup, should be such kind of a guy who would 'inscribe' such things on a prized vinyl. Again, if this happened on your ordinary $1.99 record, I wouldn't crack my head, but so far, I've seen them on rare, expensive LP titles that looks fabulously mint on all cuts save of 1 with such marks.

 

[DaveyF]

On my Blue Note Lex Ave Miles Davis Vol 1,there are several straight line scratches across one side. They look like they were made by a nail or ??..Amazingly, these marks do not sound at all! BUT they sure look terrible.

 

[jadis]

On my Blue Note Lex Ave Miles Davis Vol 1,there are several straight line scratches across one side. They look like they were made by a nail or ??..Amazingly, these marks do not sound at all! BUT they sure look terrible.

Nail or a sewing needle. I know the feeling. But when it plays quiet and well, it's all good.

 

[DaveyF]

Phil, It's the craziest thing. To the eye, the LP looks trashed. When i acquired it, I was very concerned, but since it's sooo hard to get, I took it anyway. The cover is Mint, the labels are mint, side one is mint - and looking at side 2, i would say G- at best!, Luckily, the LP plays and sound Mint-... BTW, a GREAT recording and performance.

 

[jadis]

Phil, It's the craziest thing. To the eye, the LP looks trashed. When i acquired it, I was very concerned, but since it's sooo hard to get, I took it anyway. The cover is Mint, the labels are mint, side one is mint - and looking at side 2, i would say G- at best!, Luckily, the LP plays and sound Mint-... BTW, a GREAT recording and performance.

Good thing it sounded good on the G side, Davey.

I have only one such record that gave me such an experience. 8 years ago I asked my sister in law who was visiting NYC for a few months and I told her if she saw a record store, get me a clean, scratch free copy of Mancini's Hatari on RCA. When she came back, she gave me a record which visually looked like it was used to mop the floor, full of scratches and she billed me $50 as the cost. Feeling bad, I went home, played it, and incredibly, it played NM- . That particular RCA must have had a second coating.

 

[DaveyF]

Good thing it sounded good on the G side, Davey.

I have only one such record that gave me such an experience. 8 years ago I asked my sister in law who was visiting NYC for a few months and I told her if she saw a record store, get me a clean, scratch free copy of Mancini's Hatari on RCA. When she came back, she gave me a record which visually looked like it was used to mop the floor, full of scratches and she billed me $50 as the cost. Feeling bad, I went home, played it, and incredibly, it played NM- . That particular RCA must have had a second coating.

Phil, $50 for Hatari on RCA....Ummmm

 

[jadis]

Phil, $50 for Hatari on RCA....Ummmm

First and last time to ask a non-collector of vinyl to shop vinyl for me.

 

[DaveyF]

First and last time to ask a non-collector of vinyl to shop vinyl for me.

Been there done that too...

 

[garylkoh]

I've seen that in brand-new records freshly taken out of the sleeve too. It's caused by a shrapnel of vinyl that came off after the press and somehow got inserted in the inner sleeve or caught between two records at the pressing plant. Then, weight/movement on that piece of vinyl caused the scratch. Because it's vinyl on vinyl, the scratch may not be very deep, and modern styli dig deep enough in the groove not to "read" it. Only once have I ever found this piece of vinyl inside the sleeve. Most of the time, I just find a brand-new record scratched up like that.

 

[jadis]

I've seen that in brand-new records freshly taken out of the sleeve too. It's caused by a shrapnel of vinyl that came off after the press and somehow got inserted in the inner sleeve or caught between two records at the pressing plant. Then, weight/movement on that piece of vinyl caused the scratch. Because it's vinyl on vinyl, the scratch may not be very deep, and modern styli dig deep enough in the groove not to "read" it. Only once have I ever found this piece of vinyl inside the sleeve. Most of the time, I just find a brand-new record scratched up like that.

That's the explanation that I was looking for, Gary, but was not so sure till you mentioned it. And same case too as what I've seen, the whole LP is practically like new except for this shrapnel-caused marks. Thanks for sharing.

 

[garylkoh]

That's the explanation that I was looking for, Gary, but was not so sure till you mentioned it. And same case too as what I've seen, the whole LP is practically like new except for this shrapnel-caused marks. Thanks for sharing.

Amazing that it seems that only the two of us are unlucky enough to get these. May be it's the bad pressing plants in Asia, but I've had quite a number of LPs like this. Good thing is that you don't hear it!!

 

[jadis]

Amazing that it seems that only the two of us are unlucky enough to get these. May be it's the bad pressing plants in Asia, but I've had quite a number of LPs like this. Good thing is that you don't hear it!!

That's always what we wish for, that they are not deep enough to cause noise.