AXPONA 2018

Nitty Gritty Record Care Products Changes Hands And Returns to the Thriving Vinyl Scene

Michael Fremer  |  Apr 27, 2018

Brothers Kevin and Steven Berg recently purchased vacuum-based record cleaning machine manufacturer Nitty Gritty Record Care Products and have resumed operations in an Atlanta, Georgia based facility that will produce a full line of machines as well as service older units.

Kevin is best known as owner of Audiophile Import Specialists, which has long-established ties with JVC, DCC Compact Classics and Elusive Disc, Inc. that will handle product distribution of the re-established company founded in 1981.

Gayle Van Syckle, Nitty Gritty’s previous owner, who’d been with the company since its founding, will consult with the Berg brothers as they reintroduce familiar Nitty Gritty products and design new ones for the growing vinyl record market.

For more information on Nitty Gritty Care Products contact Kevin Berg: berg_kevin@hotmail.com

COMMENTS
HiFiMark's picture
Submitted by HiFiMark on Fri, 2018-04-27 14:46

So great to hear. Really, really like my Mini-Pro. Long live Nitty Gritty!

OldschoolE's picture
Submitted by OldschoolE on Fri, 2018-04-27 15:21

with more choices of RCMs. Cleaning records is important and one of the best investments one can make in their sound system. Having more choices for folks is always good. Glad to see Nitty Gritty back in action.

gMRfk6LMHn's picture
Submitted by gMRfk6LMHn on Fri, 2018-04-27 16:38

Delighted to see that Nitty Gritty is back on track (no pun intended). There was a lot of goodwill shown on the Steve Hoffman website towards Gayle Van Syckle and I am sure the same will apply to the new owners.

My Nitty Gritty machine has been going since the early 90s and apart from some servicing has stood me well all these years.

James, Dublin, Ireland

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on Fri, 2018-04-27 19:04

It would have been a shame to see it go. Competition though, will be fierce, another ultrasound machine will be entering the market soon. www.degritter.com

Jancuso's picture
Submitted by Jancuso on Fri, 2018-04-27 21:16

Good news for the analogue lovers and the marketplace. Congratulations !

SeagoatLeo's picture
Submitted by SeagoatLeo on Sat, 2018-04-28 00:44

First, operating at 120 Khz is far above any other unit (35 to 80 Khz). The high frequency cavitation is generally used for medical instruments made of hard surfaces. The kirmuss uses only 35 Khz as it can clean shellac 78s safely. Plus, the temperature max of 86 degrees is about 10 degrees less than optimal for cleaning purposes (too high a temperature can warp the grooves & record). So, I don't think the degritter is a good US record cleaning machine.

PAR's picture
Submitted by PAR on Sun, 2018-04-29 05:47

...what has this to do with the rebirth of Nitty Gritty?

NB: the Degritter is not a US record cleaning machine. It is Estonian.

analogdw's picture
Submitted by analogdw on Wed, 2018-05-02 11:56

US = Ultrasonic

volvic's picture
Submitted by volvic on Sun, 2018-04-29 10:17

120Khz will produce smaller bubbles and clean better, true less energy to get more dirt out but record can stay longer, although KLAudio have said to me in an email that theirs at 40khz will not damage a record left in for 9 hours. I think it just might work but will reserve judgement until others test it. One thing for certain you cannot own an ultrasonic machine without one of these great vacuum machines like the Nitty Gritty to pick up any left over dirt. Glad to see they are back in business, hope they thrive.

Steve Edwards's picture
Submitted by Steve Edwards on Sun, 2018-04-29 08:15

I owned one for over twenty years. Just a few years ago, I sent it up to Monrovia for a rebuild. Gayle is one of the nicest people I have ever met in the audio field. I wish her, Kevin and Steven continued prosperity.

Play on

mtglass's picture
Submitted by mtglass on Sun, 2018-04-29 15:40

Hi Michael, Will you be able to review the Kirmuss ultrasonic record cleaner? I'm hoping it's a viable choice for those of us looking for a cheaper alternative.
Thanks

Lazer's picture
Submitted by Lazer on Mon, 2018-04-30 18:32

I saw this rcm at Axpona. I really liked it but having no dryer option is a huge drawback in my opinion.

analogdw's picture
Submitted by analogdw on Tue, 2018-05-01 07:11

The price is right too. I already have the Pro-Ject VCS for drying. The Kirmuss + Pro-Ject combo would still be significantly cheaper than the Degritter, let alone an Audio Desk or Klaudio.

The Kirmuss site goes out of its way to argue against 120 kHz, which is what the Degritter operates at. I wonder how to reconcile the two schools of thought?

AnalogJ's picture
Submitted by AnalogJ on Sun, 2018-04-29 19:56

I'm glad to see that Nitty Gritty is still in business, especially in that they produce the bargoon of record cleaning machines, the Record Doctor, which is offered exclusively by Audio Advisor. It's essentially the Nitty Gritty 1.0 without any bells and whistles. You want a machine to vacuum your wet-washed records dry? That's the way to go at $199. You want the best cleaning and relatively inexpensively? Put together a DIY ultrasonic cleaning machine, and dry it with the Record Doctor or a Nitty Gritty.

Bromo33333's picture
Submitted by Bromo33333 on Tue, 2018-05-01 10:40

I have a model 2.5Fi (dual reservoir), so I'm happy that I'll be able to get it serviced and get a good supply of wearout parts!

mtglass's picture
Submitted by mtglass on Tue, 2018-05-01 13:17

I agree. I have a VPI vac but haven't stuck my toe in the water [no pun intended] of ultrasonic. If it cleans as good as others but I have to dry my records I'm ok with that. Waiting to hear some reviews on the Kirmuss before I pull the trigger.

Monkeyboy's picture
Submitted by Monkeyboy on Tue, 2018-05-01 20:52

Glad to see this. I was starting to worry about replacement parts. All is well.

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