Collection: Nitty Gritty
Nitty Gritty Vacuum Record Cleaning Machines
Nitty Gritty Record Care Products is an American maker of vacuum record cleaning machines. Audiophiles Ken Erickson, Michael Baskin and Elliot Buckler founded it in 1981, and the first machines were built in Ken's home in Montclair, California. Today the company is based in Kennesaw, Georgia, and hand-builds a range that runs from fully manual cleaners to the two-sided Mini-Pro, along with its own PURE cleaning fluids, brushes and replacement parts.
From a California Living Room to a Record-Care Classic
Nitty Gritty was incorporated in December 1982. That same year the machines were redesigned around an injection-molded head section and a vacuum slot shaped to create a venturi effect, which speeds up the suction while keeping contact with the record to a minimum. The slot is lined with VAC-SWEEP, the company's "velvet lips": thousands of fine fibers that scrub the grooves as the vacuum pulls fluid and dirt away.
The company won a CES Award for Design and Engineering in 1985 for the Model 2.5Fi. The basic design has changed very little since then, though it has been refined over the years. In 2018 brothers Kevin and Steven Berg bought the company from Gayle Van Syckle, who had led it since Ken's passing in 1994, and moved the business to Georgia. The machines are still hand-built. The company describes its machines as proudly made in the USA.
What Makes Nitty Gritty Different
- Cleans from underneath. The record sits on a platform that never touches the grooves and is vacuumed from below, so a freshly cleaned side is never laid onto a dirty mat. The Mini-Pro goes further and cleans both sides at once.
- Direct-coupled vacuum. An industrial-grade, flow-through vacuum motor is coupled directly to the slot for strong, consistent suction.
- Compact footprint. From the first units onward, Nitty Gritty machines were designed to be simpler and more compact than other cleaners on the market.
- A complete system. Purpose-made fluids (PURE 2 for vinyl, alcohol-free PURE 1 for 78s, PUREnzyme+ for deep cleaning), brushes, dust covers, adapters and a full catalog of spare parts let owners maintain their machines over the long term.
Which Nitty Gritty Is Right for You?
Every Nitty Gritty uses the same vacuum-slot principle. The models differ in how much of the work the machine does for you. As a rule, "1" models have a black vinyl cabinet and "2" models have a solid oak or classic cherry wood cabinet.
Model 1.0 / 2.0
Fully manual
You apply the fluid, brush the record and turn it by hand over the vacuum slot. This is the most affordable way into Nitty Gritty, and it uses the same vacuum motor as the flagship Mini-Pro.
Record Master 1 / 2
Manual, built for mixed collections
Also hand-operated, but with a built-in 45/78/LP selector arm and both PURE 2 and PURE 1 fluid in the box. It's a natural fit for collectors with singles and shellac 78s.
Model 1.5 / 2.5
Automatic rotation
The Capstan Record Drive turns the record for you during scrubbing and vacuuming, while you apply the fluid by hand. A slide-out tray collects the waste fluid.
Model 1.5Fi / 2.5Fi
Automatic rotation + fluid injection
A hand pump feeds fluid to the cleaning strip, so the machine wets, scrubs and vacuums while the record turns. The 2.5Fi won a CES Award for Design and Engineering in 1985.
Model 2.5Fi-XP
Dual pump, two fluids
A dual-pump system dispenses two separate fluids, so you can run a two-step routine, such as an enzyme cleaner followed by a rinse, without swapping fluids. Available in solid oak or classic cherry.
Mini-Pro 1 / 2
Both sides at once
The flagship. An upper vacuum arm works together with the lower slot, so the Mini-Pro wets, scrubs and vacuums both sides of the record in a single pass with automatic rotation.
Quick rule of thumb: choose a 1.0/2.0 or Record Master if you don't mind a hands-on routine or want the lowest price. Choose a 1.5/2.5 or an Fi model to let the machine turn the record and apply the fluid. Choose the 2.5Fi-XP for two-fluid cleaning, or the Mini-Pro to clean both sides in one pass.
Buy Nitty Gritty from HiFi Boutique
HiFi Boutique is an authorized Nitty Gritty dealer. Shipping is free anywhere in the USA, and sales tax is already included in every price. Questions about which model suits your collection? Get in touch and we'll help you choose.
Nitty Gritty FAQ
Which Nitty Gritty machine cleans both sides of a record at once?
Only the Mini-Pro (Mini-Pro 1 in black vinyl, Mini-Pro 2 in oak or cherry). It has an upper vacuum arm as well as the lower slot, so fluid goes onto both faces and both are scrubbed and vacuumed in one pass. Every other Nitty Gritty model vacuums one side at a time from underneath, so you flip the record for side two.
What does "Fi" mean on the 1.5Fi, 2.5Fi and 2.5Fi-XP?
Fi stands for fluid injection. Instead of applying fluid by hand, you press a pump and the machine wets the cleaning strip and record while the Capstan Record Drive turns the disc, then you switch on the vacuum to draw the fluid and grime out of the grooves. The 2.5Fi-XP uses a dual-pump system that dispenses two separate fluids.
What is the difference between the "1" and "2" versions of a model?
The number before the decimal marks the cabinet. Models 1.0, 1.5, 1.5Fi, Record Master 1 and Mini-Pro 1 have a black vinyl cabinet. Models 2.0, 2.5, 2.5Fi, Record Master 2 and Mini-Pro 2 have wood cabinets in solid oak or classic cherry. The 2.5Fi-XP comes in oak or cherry only.
Which Nitty Gritty cleaning fluid should I use?
PURE 2 is the all-purpose fluid for vinyl LPs and 45s and contains a small amount of alcohol. PURE 1 has no alcohol and is meant for lacquer records such as 78s. PUREnzyme+ is an enzyme cleaner for very dirty used records, usually followed by a PURE 2 rinse. Nitty Gritty notes that using fluids other than PURE 1, PURE 2 or PUREnzyme+ may invalidate the warranty.
Can Nitty Gritty machines clean 45s and 78s?
Yes. The Record Master 1 and 2 have a built-in 45/78/LP selector arm. On machines with automatic rotation, a 45 RPM Disc Adapter positions 7-inch records against the capstan (not for the Mini-Pro). The 3-Way Adapter Kit is a permanent modification that adds spindle positions for 7, 10 and 12-inch records. Use PURE 1 for 78s.
How many records can I clean in one session?
Nitty Gritty recommends cleaning no more than 10 records per session and letting the machine cool for 15 to 20 minutes before continuing. Switch the vacuum off after each record and keep the air vents on the bottom of the machine clear.
What warranty comes with a Nitty Gritty record cleaner?
Nitty Gritty covers defects in materials and workmanship for one year from purchase. The VAC-SWEEP velvet slot liners and the rubber capstan drive wheel are covered for 90 days, and commercial, industrial or rental use is limited to 90 days. Keep your receipt, because a copy is required for warranty repairs.
Is HiFi Boutique an authorized Nitty Gritty dealer?
Yes. HiFi Boutique is an authorized Nitty Gritty dealer. Shipping is free anywhere in the USA, and sales tax is already included in our prices.