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From: greg@olivej.UUCP (Greg Paley)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Use LAST
Message-ID: <175@olivej.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-May-84 11:58:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: olivej.175
Posted: Tue May  8 11:58:27 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 12-May-84 07:16:06 EDT
References: <1656@iddic.UUCP> <1566@sunybcs.UUCP>
Organization: Olivetti ATC, Cupertino, Ca
Lines: 28

Charles Pearson was interested in discussion of STYLAST.  This is
a fluid which, when applied to the stylus, is supposed to extend
the life of stylus and cantilever.  As I understand, it is supposed
to lower the friction between stylus and groove, thereby reducing
wear.  A bottle costs $16 and, when used as directed, should last
at least a year (depending on how often you play records).

Since I've only been using it a couple of months, I can't attest
to whether or not it really meets its goal of extending stylus/
cantilever life.  However, I can say that it produces no audible
deterioration of the sound, in fact seems to effect an improvment.
Furthermore, records I've played immediately after application show
no sign of deposits or increased surface noise.  If this seems
stuff that one should be able to take for granted, my experience
with similar products in the past indicates otherwise.  Also, the
stylus cleaning brush supplied is one of the best I've encountered -
similar to the Discwasher brush but with softer, apparently smaller
bristles.

As I said, only time will tell if it really does extend the stylus
life.  Considering the cost of replacement styli for high quality
cartridges ($200 for a Grace Ruby, considerably more for moving
coils, many of which have to be returned to the factory) I find it
worth a $16 a year gamble to find out.

	- Greg Paley