An Idiot's Guide To Acetates

[Cover-up]

Just got a few 10" acetates bought blind (or deaf, more specifically) and I wanted to pick the collective brains on here, since I had a few questions.

1) When there's no artist listed on the label, is there any easy way to tell if a track is unreleased or who the artist is, without having a 30 year encyclopaedic knowledge? Tried Googling a few titles but either nothing comes up, or tons of irrelevant stuff.

2) When a track HAS been previously released, would collectors still want an acetate if it was an original first pressing?

3) How would you tell if an acetate was an original from the studio OR a track cut onto acetate by a DJ who wanted a track to play out? Would these always be EMI-DISC pressings?

4) Do the labels on acetates give any clues to the age or content? Obviously if it says Motown, then it's probably Motown. I heard there was a fad for cutting new tracks onto the flipsides of old acetates. And cutting new tracks onto old stocks of acetates...

5) Is there a recommended way to clean acetates? I heard reports saying just don't...

Any info, help or amusing anecdotes much appreciated.

[Guest Stuart T]

Don't use water to clean them, acetates are hydroscopic or something and will absorb it and be ruined. Acetates lose their smell as they get older. New acetates smell strongly. Old labels on acetates take on a waxy appearances due to the leaching (presumably of acetone?) into the label. Checking that its unrealeased is dead hard if you don't know who or what it is! Acetates are often blank on one side but sometimes have an alternate take which may cut out after a few bars when the engineer realises that they got the wrong one. I believe that the ones with extra spindle sized holes are "demo" copies, the hole demonstrating a flawed blank, and the without holes may mean its a master copy.

[pikeys dog]

I thought the extra holes were used for pinning the acetate in position on the 'lathe' - otherwise the disk would just spin uncontrolably when any amount of pressure was applied on the cutting tool

[Guest Netspeaky]

Just got a few 10" acetates bought blind (or deaf, more specifically) and I wanted to pick the collective brains on here, since I had a few questions.

1) When there's no artist listed on the label, is there any easy way to tell if a track is unreleased or who the artist is, without having a 30 year encyclopaedic knowledge? Tried Googling a few titles but either nothing comes up, or tons of irrelevant stuff. The only way I can see you have a chance of finding an obscure track has been released is to put a sound bite, someone my know it.

2) When a track HAS been previously released, would collectors still want an acetate if it was an original first pressing? Just ask any Motown collector for your answer

3) How would you tell if an acetate was an original from the studio OR a track cut onto acetate by a DJ who wanted a track to play out? Would these always be EMI-DISC pressings?Depends how old it is and No it wouldn't always be EMI-DISC.

4) Do the labels on acetates give any clues to the age or content? Obviously if it says Motown, then it's probably Motown. I heard there was a fad for cutting new tracks onto the flipsides of old acetates. And cutting new tracks onto old stocks of acetates...Boots of acetate same arguements as boot of vinyl disc.

5) Is there a recommended way to clean acetates? I heard reports saying just don't...Can't help with this one

Any info, help or amusing anecdotes much appreciated.

[Steve G]

A lot of acetates are two sided, especially with indie releases where the group manager would get a few cut and tout them round labels etc....also remember a story about Tom Moulton saying that he didn't want to get rid of one sided acetates because the other side could still be used.

[Pete S]

I thought the extra holes were used for pinning the acetate in position on the 'lathe' - otherwise the disk would just spin uncontrolably when any amount of pressure was applied on the cutting tool

You're right, they are.

[Guest Stuart T]

I thought the extra holes were used for pinning the acetate in position on the 'lathe' - otherwise the disk would just spin uncontrolably when any amount of pressure was applied on the cutting tool

I've had duff information then, but from a bloke who was cutting me an acetate, he said the extra hole was a sort of quality thing, but that would make total sense if it had a purpose like that. I guess his lathe didn't have the extra spindle? It used a wopping great big clamp so not sure what was inside but I didn't see him lining up the hole. Think Ortofon made it. Can't remember for sure but I think he showed me a great big mastering acetate (16"?) that cost a lot of money and I'm sure that didn't have the extra hole, which is why he showed it to me, I think.

[Gene-r]

Actually, there's no harm whatsoever in cleaning acetates with water, but spirits, even lighter fuel, MUST be avoided. These will just tarnish the acetate and make it play terribly.

I actually used bleach on an acetate that was caked in shite. Certainly cleaned it well, and it also sounded better as a result!

Edited March 23, 2006 by Gene-R

[Pete Morgan]

You're right, they are

I have a 78 rpm emi recording machine which i bought in 76, and i also have blank discs . The 2nd hole was on the platter even with these ;to keep the platter in place in the cutting phase.

should anyone be interested in obtaining a 78 rpm emi recoring machine ,complete with 10 inch and 18 (?) inch blank acetates.. ( needs a few new valves plus a cranking handle for the run out grooves) contact me off list.

It Is more a museum piece than a working piece.. looks good , knobs and dials similar to a 50,s sci fi movie !!!

I once cut Jimmy Mc Farland , Lester Tipton and living color on 78 rpm , before it died !

Pete Morgan

[Cover-up]

Thanks for the info everyone - once I've cleaned them up, I'll post up some soundclips. Considering I bought 11 with no idea what they were, 3 were a VERY pleasant surprise...