Audio-Technica AT6011 Anti-Static Record Brush

I bought this brush from Audio-Technica to replace an off-brand brush that was falling apart. The previous brush wasn't very old, but the bristles had started falling out after only a little use. This is a serious issue. A black bristle on a black record can cause a serious skipping problem and be very difficult to find. This new AT brush seems much better made. The bristles are softer than some other brushes I have used. It does a great job for regular dusting of the record surface; I generally give every disc a quick brush before play. I haven't had any problem with shedding. The flip-down bracket is nice and handy for storage. This brush is consistent with other items I have from Audio-Technica. They generally sell well-made, thoughtfully designed, affordable products for audio fans. A good brush is an essential item for any vinyl record enthusiast. If you have one in your life, this might be a very nice, low-cost gift. Even if they have tools with which they are happy, an extra is never unappreciated.

The brush is very easy to use and gets almost all of the dust out of your records. While it isn't the most suitable for records that need a deep clean, it can clean almost any record easily.

I had a long career in the audio industry, and now my kids are getting into playing records. These work well as a regular cleaner (I also got them the AT wet cleaner for occasional use). I picked up my first carbon brush in the 1970s, a Decca. This is as good and very reasonable.

What it's good for: to treat your clean records for superficial dust every time you play/flip. What it's not for: to remove heavy static or to clean heavily soiled records or treat record damage. How it cleans: It's the exact length of the media section of an LP. So you just put your record on the platter, turn it on, hold brush slightly pressing the soft bristles perpendicularly with light pressure against the surface of your turning record. It will collect the dust, give it 3 or 5 turns using the graphics on record label as a reference. Slowly slide it out in a diagonal when done, then shake and remove debris from brush over a trash can. Ease of use: It's ok. The handle tends to rotate very losely, so you have to hold it by the brush body and use a little practice not to scratch your record. At first I was holding it by the handle which was unstable. Also, if you press too hard or incline too much, the brushes are so soft that you may inadvertently start pushing the hard metal edge on your vinyl, so be careful and clean at eye level until you get the hang of it. Static removal: I haven't noticed this brush helping to significantly remove static or add any. I do have to use a Zerostat gun to remove static when it's too bad. The brush alone won't do. The handle does not really seem to be a handle, since it flips when you hold it. It may be to protect the bristles when not in use, or maybe to clean them. But it seems to do a poor job for either. So if you find out what it's for, let me know in the comments. Bonus pearls of wisdom: If you have bad static problems: get a Zerostatgun and learn how to use it (hint, just so you can avoid my learning curve: remove cap and trigger operates slowly, click indicates error, but I don't want to go off on a tangent here). The cap is for testing (it has a little light bulb inside that you can see light up through a small window to test the static generator). Use good plastic/archival sleeves. I also zap the stylus with the gun when it's really bad, after cleaning it, and it helps. Washing records with water and other methods (like cleaning them with wood glue) are also proven and useful, but you have to know what you're doing.

Excellent brush to keep your LP,s clean & in great condition and free of static. Highly recommend!

I've read people complaing about bristles in their records with anti-static brushes, not this specific brand. With that being said. You're using it wrong if you're brushing anything. Its meant to be held in place on your record with barely any pressure. If the sound is distorting as youre placing the brush youre putting too much pressure. It works amazing and keeps dust out of my record. I use a cleaning kit before applying the anti-static brush.

But does a great job of brushing off a record before playing. I've noticed a significant reduction in cracks and pops when using this compared to a natural brush, so it's doing it's job I would say. The feature of the handle/protector strap thing is nice, when you're done with the vinyl you move it back and forth over the brush and it dislodges dust and hair from the bristles. Overall for the price it's a good product that feels nice in the hands and does what it's supposed to do.

I wasn't sure if I was going to need one of these for my turntable. It's a basic Audio-Technica model and I haven't had issues with static before. I purchased this and it sat there for a few weeks. Then I purchased a new record, pulled it out of its plastic sleeve, started playing it, and heard tons of pops and cracks. I used the brush and they instantly stopped. I had another record with small white pieces from its deteriorated packaging and this took care of those. Just make sure you put your record in your turntable, start playing, and lightly use the brush by holding it perpendicular to the center. I thought I could brush a record by hand without it being in my turntable and it scratched it. They're just surface scratches that don't affect performance, but they're visible when the light hits it right.