newbie: needle meets label. damage level?

low.pfile · « **on:** 11 Dec 2007, 07:04 am »

basic newbie mistake: I was entertaining. and while cooking I knew I had to be extra attentive to the album I was playing for a music fan friend who walked into the kitchen.

but it happened.....As soon as I heard muddy waters' guitar stop, I threw down what ever ingredient was in my hands and lifted the needle which was in the label probably about 1-2mm - I guess about 1 -2 album revolutions. I know I am not the first to do it, but how much damage can happen with a single "riding the paper trail?" how much damage with 10 times? Cartridge is a Audio Technica AT150MLX (MM). TT: Technics SL1210

I knew it would happen soon enough and will leave the tunes to a digital source while cooking or any other task other than listening!

~enjoy your music, ed

Wayner · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 12:34 pm »

I don't know how it got up on the paper, but it should be OK. Damage is more likely to happen when you drop the tone arm hard or side swipe it, perhaps bending the cantilever. Take a careful look at the stylus and if no damage is noticeable, play away.

Wayner

low.pfile · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 03:40 pm »

maybe it didn't make it "onto" the label. I did not stop to investigate, I just concentrated on finding the lift arm to raise it. but it could have only went 1-2 revos since it was only 10-20 seconds since I heard the music stop before running in. guess you're saying it rides along the edge of the label? I doubt if could cause major damage but as my first time I am just trying to understand the impact, if any.

ed

Dan_ed · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 04:15 pm »

I agree with Wayner. I would add that you probably want to clean the stylus, which you really should do after each LP side. A clean diamond is a happy diamond.

Wayner · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 05:52 pm »

Good advice, Dan_ed.

A record is a gigantic ever spiroling inward "screw thread" in the flat plane, that is terminated near the lable into an endless circular loop. If you let your tonearm get there, you will hear a "blump" every rotation of the record. That is the noise from the lead-in groove into the loop. If that's all you did, no big deal. I do that all the time.

Cheers

Wayner

low.pfile · « **Reply #5 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 06:09 pm »

Wayner,

Thanks so much for the explanation! Now I understand the endless loop groove with lead in groove...I never knew how that worked. So the thump I heard (once) was the needle passing the lead in.

And yes I will clean my needle ASAP.

Thanks all. Great to have all you vinyl veteran here. Much appreciated!

~enjoy your music, ed