Why Does My Record Player Skip? Common Causes and How to Fix Them

Record players have been making a comeback for quite some time now. Chances are, you are reading this because you have found the joy in analog music.

The joys of vinyl are immense, however, there are some pitfalls to this form of physical media.

Record players are notorious for skipping. You know, that moment where you are really into the song and then it glosses over the most important two seconds.

As heartbreaking as that moment can be, there is an explanation on why your record player is skipping, and a few fixes for you to try at home.

Common Causes of Record Players Skipping

Dust & Dirt in Your Records

Even though you house your vinyl in their sleeve, and in some instances a second protective outer sleeve, dirt will find a way to your records. This is probably the most common issue and it does not mean you are doing a bad job protecting your records – it happens!

How to Get Dirt Out of Your Records

• Visually inspect your records: While this may seem obvious, this is the first step in getting the dirt out of your records. Sometimes you can find an individual piece of lent housed in the groove of a record. If that is the case, just remove the lint and you are good to start enjoying your record again.

• Use a microfiber cloth: This is the next step in getting a little more aggressive in getting the dirt out of a record. Simply turn the record on and while it is spinning, gently run a microfiber cloth over the top. Flip your record and repeat for side B of the record. Try spinning your vinyl again and see if this has resolved the issue.

• Use a cleaning solution: If the previous two steps have not cleaned the dirt out of your vinyl record, this will be sure to do the trick. While records are resilient, try to avoid using  a harsh chemical on it. Find your preferred cleaning solution, create a mix by diluting it with water, and gently wipe the record down while it is spinning.

The Record Player Tonearm Needs Rebalanced

The balance of a tonearm with the cartridge is vital to a record player not skipping. If your record player is skipping you should first find out if you are able to rebalance the tonearm. 

Many entry-level record players have a fixed weight tonearm that is not able to be rebalanced. This is great for an entry-level audiophile, however, if your records are skipping this could prove an issue. On another note, weighted tonearms may not be the best for your records if they are improperly balanced. 

If you are able to balance the tonearm, great! The process is fairly simple and takes just a few minutes.

How to Rebalance the Tonearm to Prevent Record Skipping

• Set your anti-skate control to zero
• Move the tonearm off of it’s rest and adjust the counterweight so that the tonearm is floating horizontally.
• Set the correct tracking force depending on what the cartridge manufacturer suggests.
• Adjust the anti-skating to correspond to the tracking force

This is a general guideline on how to do it. It is always best to read the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific record player.

Old Styluses Do Not Track Effectively

If you have been enjoying records on the same stylus for hundreds of hours, it could be time for a replacement.

A stylus will begin to dull over time. This is perfectly normal. However, as a stylus dulls it is not able to track as effectively. Even with the most up to date ant-skate settings, a dull stylus will still stray when it is playing which leads to skips.

It is difficult to see if your stylus is dull without a magnifying glass or other tool. When observing the stylus you are looking for a dull point, as opposed to a sharp one of a needle.

If your stylus is dull, it is time to replace it. Thankfully it is easy to do so and this should help the records to not skip.

Record Static Leads to Skips

Static electricity on a record can lead to pops and skips while you are playing. If you are in a dry climate, this is a likely culprit.

Thankfully in this situation there is nothing wrong with your records or record player.

How to Remove Static on Records

• Use an anti-static brush: This is typically included in a record cleaning kit. Simply brush your record for a few seconds before playing.
• Use an anti-static sleeve: There are special sleeves that you can house your records on the shelf in that deter static.
• USe a platter mat: Some platters on record players naturally are more susceptible to static than others. Using an acrylic mat can help stop your records from skipping due to static.

Record Player is in a Bad Location

Sometimes a solution as simple as moving your record player can improve the vinyl experience.

If a record player is on an uneven surface, gravity can be working against you and this can lead to a record skipping.

Additionally, vibrations can lead to a record player skipping. Perhaps your record player is on a wobbly table or shelf in a high-traffic area. If so, consider finding a more stable solution.

Some record players are designed in a way that stabilizes the deck more so than others. Consider this option when you are shopping for an upgrade.

A Damaged Record Can Lead to Your Record Player Skipping

As Heartbreaking as this can be to come to terms with, a damaged vinyl can lead to your record player skipping. The silver lining in this instance is that the record player is not damaged. Depending on your situation the record player will cost a lot more to replace than an individual record.

What Damages to a Record Lead to a Record Skipping

A Warped Record Records are made of vinyl which is a malleable substance. The very nature of record is putting grooves into an object. As a result of this it is susceptible to further shpings and formings. For example, a record being delivered on a hot day sitting on your porch can warp if not packaged properly.

Another situation to avoid is buying a record on a hot summer day and allowing it to sit in the car for hours on end. This too, can lead to a record warping.

How to Fix Record Warps Thankfully there are a few situations you can do to try and unwarp a record:

• Place the record, in its sleeve, between two heavy books and allow it to sit for a few weeks. This is not a guaranteed solution but can work in some instances.
• Using a record weight stabilizer can help the record sit flat while it is playing. This tends to only work for small warps.

Scratches in the Record Unfortunately, this is the worst case scenario if your record is damaged and leading to skips. A scratch in the record will move the needle in a way that the record is not intended to. This is what leads to skipping in this particular instance. 

There is no way to fix a record if it is skipping due to a scratch. It’s time to look for a replacement copy.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many factors that may lead to a record player skipping. If you find yourself with an annoying record skip, stop and ask yourself a few questions:

• Is my record player skipping on all of my records?
• Is a record skipping at the same spot every time?
• How do I store my records? Are they protected on the shelf?

By running through those questions you can start to get a picture of why your record player is skipping. Is it the record, the record player, or the tonearm? 

Hopefully this article was able to provide some solutions to your pesky record skipping issue.

Happy listening!