Some of the most rewarding rituals in a listening room are the slow ones. Choosing a record, giving it a moment of care, and settling in to listen.
The Nitty Gritty Model 2.0 is a manual vacuum record cleaning machine in a solid oak or classic cherry wood cabinet. It is made by Nitty Gritty Record Care Products, which has built record cleaners since 1981 and is now based in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Heritage
Nitty Gritty began in 1981, when audiophiles Ken Erickson, Michael Baskin and Elliot Buckler built their first machines in Ken's home in Montclair, California. In 1982 the machines were redesigned with an injection-molded head section and a vacuum slot shaped to produce a venturi effect, the arrangement the company still builds on today.
Nitty Gritty still calls itself an intimate little company devoted to hand-built machines, and the back cover of its catalog notes that the range is made in the USA.
Design and build
The 2.0 pairs a wood cabinet with plastic and a Lexan suction head. Its slot is lined with VAC-SWEEP fibers that scrub as the vacuum pulls fluid away, and Nitty Gritty fits it with the same vacuum motor it uses in the Mini-Pro 2. Waste fluid gathers in an internal tank.
Living with it
Everything here is done by hand. You wet the record, brush it in the direction of the grooves while turning it with the supplied record turner, then switch on the vacuum and rotate it slowly over the slot. Nitty Gritty describes its fiber-covered lips as shaped to minimize contact with the record while maximizing the velocity of the air.
The vacuum motor needs to breathe, so Nitty Gritty asks that the air vents on the bottom stay clear and that the vacuum is switched off after each record.
Choosing your Nitty Gritty
The 2.0 is the wood-cabinet twin of the black vinyl Model 1.0. For mixed collections with 45s and 78s, the Record Master 2 adds a built-in selector arm, and the Model 2.5 lets the machine turn the record for you. We're happy to talk it through, or you can browse the Nitty Gritty collection.
Specifications
| Type |
Manual vacuum record cleaning machine |
| Cleaning |
Wet scrub by hand, then vacuum extraction through the VAC-SWEEP-lined slot |
| Sides per pass |
One side per pass, vacuumed from underneath |
| Rotation |
Manual (included record turner) |
| Fluid application |
Manual (apply PURE 2 to the VAC-SWEEP, the record and/or the brush) |
| Vacuum |
Industrial-grade flow-through vacuum motor coupled directly to a venturi-shaped vacuum slot lined with VAC-SWEEP fibers |
| Record sizes |
12-inch LPs; 7-inch and 10-inch records with the record turner (rated for 7", 10" and 12") |
| Waste fluid |
Internal tank, drained through a rubber stopper underneath |
| Finish |
Solid Oak, Classic Cherry |
| Construction |
Wood and plastic cabinet; Lexan suction head |
| Cabinet |
15-inch cabinet (fits DC-1 vinyl and DC-2 acrylic covers) |
| Recommended fluids |
PURE 2 (all-purpose, for vinyl LPs and 45s); PURE 1 (alcohol-free, for 78s and lacquers); PUREnzyme+ (enzyme cleaner for heavily soiled records) |
| Session use |
Up to 10 records per session, then 15–20 minutes to cool |
| Warranty |
1-year Nitty Gritty limited warranty (VAC-SWEEP liners and capstan 90 days; commercial use 90 days) |
In the box with the Model 2.0, per Nitty Gritty's owner's manual:
- Nitty Gritty record cleaning machine
- 1 "velvet" record cleaning brush
- 1 four-ounce bottle of PURE 2 cleaning fluid
- 1 record turner
- 1 small whisk for cleaning the VAC-SWEEP
Questions
What is the difference between the Nitty Gritty Model 2.0 and the Model 1.0?
Both are manual Nitty Gritty vacuum cleaners that work the same way. The Model 2.0 has a solid oak or classic cherry wood cabinet, while the Model 1.0 has a black vinyl finish.
Which finish should I choose for the Model 2.0?
The Model 2.0 comes in Solid Oak or Classic Cherry at the same price, so the choice comes down to which wood suits your room and furniture.
Can the Model 2.0 clean singles and 10-inch records?
Yes. Nitty Gritty's record turner, included with the Model 2.0, is made for turning 7-, 10- and 12-inch records by hand over the VAC-SWEEP fibers.
Is there a dust cover for the Model 2.0?
Yes. The Model 2.0 has a 15-inch cabinet, which takes Nitty Gritty's DC-1 soft black vinyl cover or DC-2 smoked acrylic cover, both sold separately.
What does the Model 2.0 cost at HiFi Boutique?
The Nitty Gritty Model 2.0 costs $664.99 at HiFi Boutique in either finish, including sales tax, with free delivery in the USA. The velvet brush, record turner, whisk and a bottle of PURE 2 are in the box.
From our boutique to your listening room
HiFi Boutique is an authorized Nitty Gritty dealer. Delivery is free anywhere in the USA, and sales tax is included in the price.
