View Full Version : Eccentric Records, do you have any?
Gentlemen, I was thinking back to a disagreement I had on another forum several years ago, about eccentric records. No, it's not a new recording company, (but may be a great name for one!), I mean records that are out of round. Or more precisely, the hole is not exactly in the center.
This forum I was on at the time, related to a turntable website, had mostly European members. And they were all going on about all of the records they owned that were off center. And how well different record players, or tone arms I guess, Handled the issue better. I butted into the conversation and asked exactly how many of these out of round records did they have? One gent said he had maybe 25%! Others claimed the same. Some said more! When I said I lived in the States, and none of my records were off center, they called me a liar! I swore that i was not making this up, and supposed that perhaps the pressing machines in the US were newer? Or in better shape? I had at least 6 people try to explain to me exactly what they meant, and I told them, I've never seen my tonearm swaying from side to side more than a mm if that much, maybe one if any.
So, anyway, since most of you are across the pond, I was wondering if this was true? Is eccentric records something you have to deal with?
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Got loads of them. Never used to bother me now it is unacceptable to me. Don't know what that's about. Age thing, probably. It's 2017 so I'm not putting up with wobbly pitch anymore, there's no need to. Bought them again on CD. A decent pressing you shouldn't see anything moving of the arm, not even a little bit. No up and down, no side to side. Should look like it is doing nothing. Got a few of them but too few.
Sherwood
06-03-2017, 15:11
Does the Best of Tiny Tim qualify?
:stalks:
I just have one.
''It's A Mod, Mod World'' by the Small Faces. Not sure who pressed it, nothing to say as much on the Sleeve or the Record.
The quality of the recordings (all Live) is so poor I can't hear any ill effects and so it doesn't bother me. The Music itself is great though!!
Jim.
rigger67
06-03-2017, 16:05
I have a copy of this - does it count ?? :eyebrows:
http://images.eil.com/large_image/KENNETH_REXROTH_POETRY%2BAND%2BJAZZ%2BAT%2BTHE%2BB LACKHAWK-360979.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Fx7M1A7.jpg
Like this?
Can't say I have any records where the hole is not centred, but I do have one or two where the label in the middle is off-centre.
RobbieGong
06-03-2017, 22:14
Yes, Reggae Jamaican presses are renowned for being a bit crude sometimes.
I have a JA press 7inch where you can see the record swaying in and out.
Same goes for Dennis Brown's 'Loves Gotta Hold on Me' (US press reggae album actually) - A great album but every copy I've had does the same thing. I've decided that all the original press copies must be the same :steam: It's a shame :(
Mikeandvan
07-03-2017, 00:25
I just have one.
''It's A Mod, Mod World'' by the Small Faces. Not sure who pressed it, nothing to say as much on the Sleeve or the Record.
The quality of the recordings (all Live) is so poor I can't hear any ill effects and so it doesn't bother me. The Music itself is great though!!
Jim.
That's by Squire, not the small faces. On an LP I believe, 'Mods Mayday',nice tune, but lyrics are somewhat vapid.
That's by Squire, not the small faces. On an LP I believe, 'Mods Mayday',nice tune, but lyrics are somewhat vapid.
Squire you say?
I obviously cannot read..........................19615
Jim.
Beobloke
07-03-2017, 12:57
I have a copy of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" on 7" that is so hilariously off-centre and unlistenable I keep it simply for comedy value. More irritatingly, side 1 of The War on Drugs' 'Lost in the Dream' is similarly afflicted, which is very annoying as it's brilliant, but has quite a few sustained synth notes, so is really obvious.
And all those other records in my collection that are less than 0.5mm off centre are corrected by my turntable so aren't an issue! :eyebrows:
rigger67
07-03-2017, 13:07
I think 12" singles were generally more likely to be "off" in this way than an LP.
The plastic being thinner may have had something to do with it, I don't know, but I can remember a couple being dodgy and causing the headshell to be moving at least 50mm from side to side, maybe more.
I also had one thicker and harder 12" (no sniggering at the back) that had two holes in the middle, like they missed the first one and had another go, rather like you would if you messed up with a hole punch and some paper wouldn't fit in your folder.
I think 12" singles were generally more likely to be "off" in this way than an LP.
The plastic being thinner may have had something to do with it, I don't know, but I can remember a couple being dodgy and causing the headshell to be moving at least 50mm from side to side, maybe more.
I also had one thicker and harder 12" (no sniggering at the back) that had two holes in the middle, like they missed the first one and had another go, rather like you would if you messed up with a hole punch and some paper wouldn't fit in your folder.
50mm! :eek: Are you sure? That would 'wow' like mad and be virtually unlistenable.
I have Mingus Plays the Piano (Jasmine UK pressing of unknown vintage) that's hideously out of center - to make matters worse, it's worse on the other side! That's the worst example I have and being piano music, it's unlisteneable as it is. I tried fixing it filing the center hole so I can center it manually, but being a bit pissed off when I was doing it the file slipped and I made a huge scratch that runs through the whole last song on one side... I have another one that's almost as bad, can't remember off the top of my head what it is though. I performed the file "fix" with better success on that one, but manually centering is a pain so I never listened it much, which probably explains why I don't remember what it is. On that one too, I think one side is worse than the other. There are others which are somewhat off center but I can't recall any which are bad enough to really bother.
I have a linear tracker and sit straight in front of it, so any sway is really noticeable.
There is some movement on about a quarter of my vinyl, but nothing excessive, with maybe a handful moving 3 to 4mm in total.
I have noticed where the hole is over sized this produces the same effect, as the spindle can sit off centre in the hole.
rigger67
08-03-2017, 19:44
50mm! :eek: Are you sure? That would 'wow' like mad and be virtually unlistenable.
Look, you know how men tend to exaggerate ? ;)
martian sunrise
08-03-2017, 22:22
After reading this thread, I have just noticed the record I am listening to right now is WAY out. It's a recent pressing from a supposed quality label. I have had a few shit copies of new vinyl recently. One I sent back twice, because it was like a pringle. A limited release (100 ! Ha! I had two knackered copies).
After reading this thread, I have just noticed the record I am listening to right now is WAY out. It's a recent pressing from a supposed quality label. I have had a few shit copies of new vinyl recently. One I sent back twice, because it was like a pringle. A limited release (100 ! Ha! I had two knackered copies).
At the price of new vinyl today, there is no excuse for poor quality!
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dimkasta
09-03-2017, 09:24
50mm is way too much. That should be more than half the width of the readable surface :D
As for "limited", every underfunded release is labeled this way today. It probably means as much as "180 grams" these days :D
Their price has nothing to do with quality, and all to do with small production quantities.
I cannot remember any off-center records on my racks, but I have many that are wavy
Warped records are another thing indeed! It's real depressing when you play a new record that is wavy, old ones can get that way from improper storage, etc. but they were probably in a hurry at the factory and didn't let it cool before putting it in the sleeve, when you buy them warped. Or shipped improperly? In a hot truck maybe? But I've got a new record flattener, I discovered quite by accident! I just lay the warped album on top of my Krell amp, and as soon as it flattens out I move it to a flat shelf! Fixed in 5 minutes flat! (Pun not intended)
I've got a few, not many, but my Jethro Tull Aqualung has been warped for 35 years! But no more, saved me from buying a new copy.
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De-warping records is often inconsistent and unreliable. You think you have successfully flattened a record only to find the warp returns a few months later.
I have one or two here, they are in the Jimi Hendrix Woodstock box set.
If you want to deal with it you can carefully open the hole up bigger and center the record manually so to speak.
De-warping records is often inconsistent and unreliable. You think you have successfully flattened a record only to find the warp returns a few months later.
So true. My worst is an original copy of Aqualung. It was completely unplayable once upon a time, but storing it correctly helped, and it got better. Then, I got fed up and flattened it. I laid it on top of my Krell! And as soon as it laid flat I slid it off onto a piece of glass, an old refrigerator shelf. It seemed fixed! But last time I played it, darn if I didn't see a bit of it coming back? I'll never understand that.
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I have one or two here, they are in the Jimi Hendrix Woodstock box set.
If you want to deal with it you can carefully open the hole up bigger and center the record manually so to speak.
That could prove tricky! Deciding which way to move it, plus it could be different on each side.
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