Do you clean new virgin records?

[triphop]

I've read that records that are still sealed/never opened and shrinkwrapped even still can have possible record sleeve artifacts that are worth cleaning off.

I wonder your thoughts on this. In theory, would a record you just opened sound different (better/worse?) than the same record after cleaning it?

Do you apply the same rules to a still sealed record from the 60's vs. a brand new one from the current year? That is, is it silly to wash a record straight from the pressing plant but somehow 40+ years of storage on a still sealed one makes it neccessary?

I have a small handfull of still sealed older records that I'm thinking of archiving in 24 bit lossless, etc. and wanted the experienced opinions here, thanks.

[pivot]

Every record gets a 2x ride on the Nitty Gritty before I play it.

With luck that is the only time on the RCM for that LP.

[Tedrick]

Yep, all my records, regardless of age or source, get the full RCM cleaning regimen before the first play.

[Mark E Smith's Dentist]

I do when I think of it.

Trouble is you can't unclean it for an A/B comparison! It's a good idea though.


JT

[davidsss]

Always clean records I have bought, new or second hand.

DS

[LousyTourist]

always.

New records get a three stage clean, one cleaner, two rinses. Compared to used records, three cleans, two rinses.

[Shadowman82]

I recently bought a Factory sealed copy of Depeche Mode's Ultra Album and that thing is just full of smudges .

[bauzace50]

Yup,

I wash all LPs which have not been played before. Just in case something got into the grooves which should not be there.
The other reason is to give the washing machine a workout.
Regards,
b50

[zwarte-romantiek]

Just with a brush, never with a wet cleaner.

Niels

[MonkeyBoy]

I always do. You just don't know what happened to the album between the time it was pressed to the time you opened it up.

[Shadowman82]

If I had a RCM machine I would probably clean them too .

[Dinohyus Hollandi]

All records that come into my possession go for a ride on the Okki Nokki. Used records to clean out the gunk that has accumulated over the years and new records to clean the residue that the press inevitably leaves behind.

[sjam]

Hi, I would only wet clean a new record if I couldn't return it to the seller. Only when an other one to obtain, would not be possible, I would try to make it playable and wet clean it. A new record should be in fine shape and otherwise it's defective. Dust that was inserted with the packing is something else, but as Niels says, can be removed with a brush. I do not think a new pressed record should have any residue, that one could hear, on its surface. Sam

[Dinohyus Hollandi]

They shouldn't, and it's not a big deal, but most new records do have a few specks of grease from the press on them.