Saw this NIB LAST kit circa 1980s? at a GW for $.99 so it was a no-brainer pickup. Kit consisted of a expensive looking cardboard box with a bottle of cleaner, preservative and four applicators and an extra glass dropper for the sealed preserver. Also had 100 pressure sensitive LAST stickers which had lost their stick along with a manual stating that the treatment lasts for 200 plays.

I went ahead and treated 50 records but have no idea whether this original solution is any better or more effective in preserving against groove wear than the current formulation. I was kind of amazed that it had not evaporated as the preservative is said to be fairly volatile. I believe that LAST now costs about $50 for a 2oz bottle and has gotten a good review from Stereophile. Supposedly the earlier solution contained freon from what I have read. Can't say I can notice a difference but if it does what it is supposed to do, it was worth the effort.

HI,
Glad you found Last at last (pun?). I am a big advocate of Last products and have written about them here a few times. I suggest a search with Last as the search object.

One note: Last's advantages only show up over time. The advantages are many and your records and stylus will love you. I only buy large bottles. Expensive, yes. But cheap compared to the small bottles.

You should consider using Stylast stylus treatment. All of the advantages of Last only become fully realized using Stylast before playing a side.

Applying Last is an issue. I use my VPI 17 RCM. A VPI 16.5 would also work well. Both have a very high torque motor that handles the treatment process easily. This is the main reason I would never have a Nitty Gritty style vertical RCM which is useless for Last application.

Washing the record first with a fluid that has alcohol (very important) as part of the formula is an essential part of the process. Records have a mould release residue that must be removed before Last is applied. To be perfectly honest, Last may work even if the mould release is not removed. I really don't know. I do know the Last factory suggests applying to a washed, clean record. The VPI 17 works like a charm. With a little practice and the right equipment applying Last is almost as easy as just washing a record. It becomes automatic and fast.

When calculating costs, don't forget inflation. The inflation corrected cost of Last has not increased much over the years. Last has always been expensive. Figure it costs about $1.00 per record. Not too bad if you want to keep your records in pristine condition. Yes, I also treat used records. I don't keep used records unless they are in fine condition.

I never play an un-Last'ed record. Never. I have a large record collection (4000+) and over the years most of it has been Last treated. If I pull a record off the shelf that has not been treated, I wash it, Last treat it, mark it, then play it. Slowly, the entire collection is becoming treated.

Using Last is a commitment; one I made almost 30 years ago. But, then again, so is playing vinyl. If you are dedicated to the vinyl sound, then Last is a logical component of your long term vinyl enjoyment.

Sparky

Last is Gold.

HI,
Glad you found Last at last (pun?). I am a big advocate of Last products and have written about them here a few times. I suggest a search with Last as the search object.

One note: Last's advantages only show up over time. The advantages are many and your records and stylus will love you. I only buy large bottles. Expensive, yes. But cheap compared to the small bottles.

You should consider using Stylast stylus treatment. All of the advantages of Last only become fully realized using Stylast before playing a side.

Applying Last is an issue. I use my VPI 17 RCM. A VPI 16.5 would also work well. Both have a very high torque motor that handles the treatment process easily. This is the main reason I would never have a Nitty Gritty style vertical RCM which is useless for Last application.

Washing the record first with a fluid that has alcohol (very important) as part of the formula is an essential part of the process. Records have a mould release residue that must be removed before Last is applied. To be perfectly honest, Last may work even if the mould release is not removed. I really don't know. I do know the Last factory suggests applying to a washed, clean record. The VPI 17 works like a charm. With a little practice and the right equipment applying Last is almost as easy as just washing a record. It becomes automatic and fast.

When calculating costs, don't forget inflation. The inflation corrected cost of Last has not increased much over the years. Last has always been expensive. Figure it costs about $1.00 per record. Not too bad if you want to keep your records in pristine condition. Yes, I also treat used records. I don't keep used records unless they are in fine condition.

I never play an un-Last'ed record. Never. I have a large record collection (4000+) and over the years most of it has been Last treated. If I pull a record off the shelf that has not been treated, I wash it, Last treat it, mark it, then play it. Slowly, the entire collection is becoming treated.

Using Last is a commitment; one I made almost 30 years ago. But, then again, so is playing vinyl. If you are didicated to the vinyl sound, then Last is a logical component of your long term vinyl enjoyment.

Sparky

Last is Gold.

Do you clean records with your 17 & a brush after they've been LAST-ed? Not right after, but on an ongoing basis? I always wondered if you can strip it off by RCM'ing.

Hi meggy,
Last combines chemically with the vinyl. It cannot be washed off.

My record washing is limited to when it is needed. I do not wash before every play. I have never understood why people do this. I consider ANY extra record handling to be dangerous to the record. So, I try to minimize handling including washing.

My record playing procedure for every side is:
1. Make sure record is marked as Lasted. If not, wash it and apply Last.
2. Put record on the table and turn it on.
3. Dust the record using a moistened Diskwasher (the old version; the new ones are useless).
4. Remove dust from stylus using a short bristle stylus brush.
5. Apply Stylast stylus treatment.
6. Play, enjoy.
7. Sometimes, when necessary, I will dust the record again when it is finished to prevent dust from entering the liner. This rarely necessary.

Every so often I deep clean the stylus using my electronic stylus cleaner.

Note this: Among its other virtues, Last reduces static charge. Thus, my records attract very little dust while being played. I live in dry Northern New Mexico. Before Last, dust was the bane of my existance. Last has totally solved that problem. It's magic stuff.

Sparky

Most of my records are of a near mint used condition. I used my Record Doctor RCM with RLL fluid prior to the application. I was wondering the same thing regarding subsequent cleaning measures affecting the treatment. The instructions mention only to use the Last cleaner with the white applicator first treated with the preservative.

Most of my records are of a near mint used condition. I used my Record Doctor RCM with RLL fluid prior to the application. I was wondering the same thing regarding subsequent cleaning measures affecting the treatment. The instructions mention only to use the Last cleaner with the white applicator first treated with the preservative.

HI doc,
Check my above reply to meggy.

Sparky

I have a few albums from radio stations that were lasted. They do seem to make a difference for the positive when played.

I have a few albums from radio stations that were lasted. They do seem to make a difference for the positive when played.

HI Hanger,
Just curious. How can you tell? What are you hearing? Indefinite statements do not help much.

Sparky