Caption Competition Results

[Filterlab]

Well, let's face it - you're in it up to your neck now, being the soon-to-be owner of 2 turntable related items!

You may as well finish the job off & get yourself a turntable.

Nice one! Thank you very much.

[Mike]

I think I may be now.

I know just the thing for you Rob!

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1694

[Beechwoods]

Hell yeah! They are really nice. Definitely worth considering!

[Filterlab]

I know just the thing for you Rob!

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1694

I've just been glancing at that as it happens Mike. May be a while before I go turntable though, no records, no pre-amp, no space etc etc etc, However I'll see how quickly my mind is changed once TGW's prize arrives.

[muffinman]

Big up to the wazzer
my prize arrived this morning.
i sat down and ate the supplied jellies whilst i read my letter, i feel quite ill now.
i'll give it all a go in the next few days.
thanks for the fun fella

[Spectral Morn]

Hi

My gift arrived today, Excellent a baby Dalek. Friendly before conversion to the darkside.

I look forward to trying it, the other gift scares me a bit. I can't really afford to kill my Frog Gold Cart, so I will try on something older.

Thank you ever so much for your kindness.

Happy new Year ---- when the invasion comes we will spare you and your family.

Regards D S D L ----- Neil

[Filterlab]

A baby Dalek, great prize!

Thanks TGW for my stylus cleaners, I now just need a cartridge and an arm and a turntable and a phono stage and a pre-amp to go with them.

[Primalsea]

Hi Waz,

Got the sticky hand, what a good idea. I didn't get the other one though but it seems like a good idea so I will buy one when Im in town again.



Cheers

[The Grand Wazoo]

You're welcome folks!!

Sorry I wasn't able to reply to all this sooner.

In case anyone is wondering what the guys got, here's the note I sent them with the goodies:

CONGRATULATIONS ON WINNING A PRIZE IN THE GRAND WAZOO’S CHRISTMAS CAPTION COMPETITION!!

As I said, the prize would be turntable related and almost worthless!!

So, in order to reward your undoubted skill and judgement, I’ve picked out for you some of the highest quality (& lowest value) items on the market today for discerning the turntablista such as yourself!!

YOU WILL NO DOUBT ALREADY HAVE FOUND A SMALL BAG, on which is written the word ‘TOYS’.
Don’t let this fool you (don’t forget that the DNM tonearm was called YOTA. I’m sure you know that their cartridges were just Goldring cartridges with their names spelt backwards eg Eroica/Aciora – which means the arm was also A TOY).
Contained within this small packet of joy, however, is not a toy – or a tonearm. This is, in fact, one of the best stylus cleaners that money can buy!! (In truth, they’re so cheap that you hardly need money to buy them!).
THIS IS THE STICKY HAND!!!!
It is functionally identical to the Zerodust stylus cleaner, which currently retails at US$70 (I couldn’t find a current UK price, but the last time I looked, it was ~ £30).
IT COST ME UNDER 20 PENCE – INC. POSTAGE FROM THE USA!!!

Keep it in an airtight container, so it doesn’t dry out or collect non-hi-fi dust & it’ll last you for years.
What I do is I cut it up into smaller pieces & stick one piece to a coin – it’s pretty sticky (as suggested by the name) so you don’t need glue. Put the other pieces somewhere safe & airtight too.

To use it, just place it on the platter & lower the stylus into the gel & then raise it again, repeat as necessary.

- It really is as good as the $70 version.
- If you don’t have a turntable, then now is the time to buy one!!
- If you don’t want to buy a TT then you can use the sticky hand to grab stuff from table tops or stick to peoples foreheads by stretching it & letting go like a catapult! (Don’t play with it if you’re going to clean your stylus, as it picks up dirt like you wouldn’t believe).

THE OTHER ITEM in the envelope is another of the best stylus cleaners on the market. £3 for over 600 times the amount I’ve sent you. Again, this piece will last you for years.
THIS IS THE MAGIC ERASER!!!

However, it must be used with extreme care, as there have been expensive accidents with this. Only use it with the lift/lower device on your arm. You must never do it by hand.

The reason for this is that the material is not what it appears to be (normal foam) but is made from Melamime. It has millions of tiny, microscopic barbs that will clean your stylus with ruthless efficiency. The stylus must leave the foam at the same angle as it enters it. A sideways movement can grip the stylus so efficiently that it removes it from the cantilever!! As I said, only use the lift/lower. I use it happily on my Koetsu Black & have never had a problem in several years.

Again, take a 2p piece and stick it on – this time, with a tiny blob of superglue. You don’t need any of the liquids you may use with a carbon fibre brush. Use it as I described for the Sticky Hand.
I tend only to need this for the odd fine hair, or really stubborn lump of gunk.
I have an Audio Technica electronic stylus cleaner, which went missing when we moved house. So I explored other methods & this combination is what I came up with. I found my AT just the other day, but I will still be using these cleaners as well.

What would be great would be if you could have a go & post your findings on the Art of Sound for others to read. I’ll understand if you don’t want to try the Magic Eraser!!

Enjoy!! All the best.
Chris

[The Grand Wazoo]

SO....................... HOW DID YOU ALL GET ON WITH YOUR PRICELESS(BUT ALMOST VALUELESS) PRIZES???????

Please report back.

If you think they are as good as I do, then pray tell, & you could be doing your fellow Art of Sounders a serious favour (or at least those who have turntables).

Here's the deal................I want each winner to put up their thoughts on these items - and if you I have used them, you will know how good they are compared to the 'approved' (read expensive) methods.

If you all do that, then I will supply 1 more set for the person who gives me the best reason that they should get them - and they must promise to post their thoughts once they've tried them.

Come on now folks, in the true spirit of fighting the crunchy credit we can all work together & help one more hapless owner of a mucky stylus.

...........after that you lot are on yer own.
Cheers

Chris