Static electricity

Just thought I'd chuck my two penneth in on the subject of static, and it's effects on record players or tone-arms to be more specific. There are a few posts here and there related to problems with static build whilst playing records causing crackles and pops. I have owned a few record players and have never experienced it myself.
If a record player is generating static because of the action of the rubber belt (think Van Der Graaf generator) or the stylus's friction in the grove it must be drained via an appropriate earth. The platter, spindle and bearing should be earthed and so should the tone-arm. Now to the main reason for this post, tone-arm earthing/ground. If the tone-arm ground is not terminated at the head-shell as Linn's and Rega's are, the the path for the static will probably be through the precision bearings causing microscopic pitting damage. Oh no, grumpy face. the next paragraph is cut from a bearing manufactures site. Static Electricity Static electricity usually emanates from charged belts or from manufacturing processes using calendar rolls (leather, rubber, cloth, paper). The current is carried from the belt to the pulley or sheave — from the sheave to the shaft — through the shaft to the bearing — and from the bearing to the ground.
Electric Arc Erosion Arcing, which produces high temperatures at localized points, results when an electric current passing through a bearing is broken at the contact surfaces between races and rolling elements. Each time the current is broken in its passage between the ball or roller and race, a pit is produced on both parts. Eventually the phenomenon known as fluting develops, (see photograph). As it becomes deeper, noise and vibration result.

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Static electricity