Record Grading For 45s & LP Albums
MINT (M) or (10): Record should appear to have just left the manufacturer without any handling. It should appear perfect and nothing but PERFECT! NO COMPROMISES! Label, vinyl, sound, all perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, no writing, tears or splits. One should rarely if ever use this grade since even most new records are not truly perfect. Be skeptical of anybody's list that is abundant with this grade.
NEAR MINT (NM) or MINT- (9): A record that is otherwise MINT but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that Do Not Affect Play (DNAP). Most new records fall into this catagory. May have a few smudges, some very fine sleeve marks, etc. (sleeve marks are those tiny scratches with no effect on sound) All glossy vinyl. Labels near perfect. Sounds great!!
VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS (VG++) or (8): Still a nearly new record. Played and handled sparingly. A few sleeve marks or fine scratches. Labels still nice. Good gloss. Should not have the slightest of gray in grooves. Still sounds great!!
VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) or (7): This record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. There are probably lots of sleeve marks or light paper scuffs and/or several fine scratches that Do Not Affect Play (DNAP). Slight warps that do not affect sound are OK. The record may have some gray grooves. It will have 50 to 80% gloss. Labels still real nice! Possibly a bit of dirt on them, etc. Overall, a fine copy. Sound quality of this grade is still excellent. No noticeable record noise.
VERY GOOD (VG) or (6): Many dealers treat this grade as junk which defies the meaning of "Very Good". These are still desirable records. This record will show signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster. It will still have some gloss. It has sleeve marks and numerous very fine scratches, or a few more serious scuffs and spindle trails from many spins on the turntable. A VG record may have some audible surface noise when played, although such noise should not overwhelm the music. Labels beginning to show signs of wear, but not serious.
VERY GOOD MINUS (VG-) or (5): Lots of fine scratches and almost no gloss or a few serious scratches or scuffs. Labels probably worn. Plays with noise that doesn't overwhelm the music. Gloss is possible, if the scratches are serious
GOOD PLUS (G+) or (4): Completely covered with fine scratches, a mix of fine and serious scuffs and scratches or other defects. May have some or no gloss left. Labels may be quite trashed, but will be generally readable. Plays with hiss, crackle or distortion, but not awful. Suffices as a good filler until a better copy comes along.
GOOD (G) or (3): Well-played with any number of defects such as complete loss of surface sheen, aggravating surface noise etc. but can still be played without skipping.
FAIR (F) or (2): A filler. Lots of serious scratches, many definitely audible. Noise is more prominent than the music. Just barely acceptable. Labels barely readable, but plays "OK". Worse than GOOD!
POOR (P) or (1): Looks like it's been stomped on by an elephant. Lots of problems: Possibly cracked. Probably doesn't play through. You're not sure you want to try. Unless it's rare, good only for target practice.
NOTE: I DON'T SUGGEST DOWNGRADING FOR DEFECTS SUCH AS WOL, SOL, #OL, SMALL STICKER STAIN, BB HOLE, ETC., BUT I DO SUGGEST YOU DESCRIBE THEM.
Record Grading For 78s
N. Pristine: Full Gloss, perfect clear surfaces (no chips, dings, scuffs, or scratches). Label bright and unblemished. A rare condition for any record that was popular with it's owner.
E+. Mint: One or two small scuffs. Solid gloss. Label is like new.
E. Near Mint: A few more light scuffs with a few small scratches. Mostly glossy. Very enjoyable listening. Label might be fading a little with some wear noticeable.
E-. Excellent: Some general, small scratching and scuffing to surface. No heavy scratches, digs, or gouges. Much gloss remains. Label starting to show a little more wear.
V+. Very Good: More small scratches and scuffs. A few more major scratches. Might have some of the original gloss remaining. More graying. Label shows a lot of wear, writing, scratches, etc. A common grade of popular, previously enjoyed 78s. Grade conditions above V+ should be considered above average.
V. Good: Well used. Might skip and may have greatly reduced sound output. Label may have been through a war. Might be legible on both sides.
V-. Fair: Original gloss all gone. Lots of scratches, scuffs, digs, and other assorted damage. Not much groove left. Might not play through.
P. Poor: Very little playing surface left. Might not track. Offered only if considered to be a rare find.
For more information about grading LPs & 78s, visit:
http://www.vjm.biz/78-and-LP-Record-grading.html
MINT (M) or (10): Record should appear to have just left the manufacturer without any handling. It should appear perfect and nothing but PERFECT! NO COMPROMISES! Label, vinyl, sound, all perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, no writing, tears or splits. One should rarely if ever use this grade since even most new records are not truly perfect. Be skeptical of anybody's list that is abundant with this grade.
NEAR MINT (NM) or MINT- (9): A record that is otherwise MINT but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that Do Not Affect Play (DNAP). Most new records fall into this catagory. May have a few smudges, some very fine sleeve marks, etc. (sleeve marks are those tiny scratches with no effect on sound) All glossy vinyl. Labels near perfect. Sounds great!!
VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS (VG++) or (8): Still a nearly new record. Played and handled sparingly. A few sleeve marks or fine scratches. Labels still nice. Good gloss. Should not have the slightest of gray in grooves. Still sounds great!!
VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) or (7): This record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. There are probably lots of sleeve marks or light paper scuffs and/or several fine scratches that Do Not Affect Play (DNAP). Slight warps that do not affect sound are OK. The record may have some gray grooves. It will have 50 to 80% gloss. Labels still real nice! Possibly a bit of dirt on them, etc. Overall, a fine copy. Sound quality of this grade is still excellent. No noticeable record noise.
VERY GOOD (VG) or (6): Many dealers treat this grade as junk which defies the meaning of "Very Good". These are still desirable records. This record will show signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster. It will still have some gloss. It has sleeve marks and numerous very fine scratches, or a few more serious scuffs and spindle trails from many spins on the turntable. A VG record may have some audible surface noise when played, although such noise should not overwhelm the music. Labels beginning to show signs of wear, but not serious.
VERY GOOD MINUS (VG-) or (5): Lots of fine scratches and almost no gloss or a few serious scratches or scuffs. Labels probably worn. Plays with noise that doesn't overwhelm the music. Gloss is possible, if the scratches are serious
GOOD PLUS (G+) or (4): Completely covered with fine scratches, a mix of fine and serious scuffs and scratches or other defects. May have some or no gloss left. Labels may be quite trashed, but will be generally readable. Plays with hiss, crackle or distortion, but not awful. Suffices as a good filler until a better copy comes along.
GOOD (G) or (3): Well-played with any number of defects such as complete loss of surface sheen, aggravating surface noise etc. but can still be played without skipping.
FAIR (F) or (2): A filler. Lots of serious scratches, many definitely audible. Noise is more prominent than the music. Just barely acceptable. Labels barely readable, but plays "OK". Worse than GOOD!
POOR (P) or (1): Looks like it's been stomped on by an elephant. Lots of problems: Possibly cracked. Probably doesn't play through. You're not sure you want to try. Unless it's rare, good only for target practice.
NOTE: I DON'T SUGGEST DOWNGRADING FOR DEFECTS SUCH AS WOL, SOL, #OL, SMALL STICKER STAIN, BB HOLE, ETC., BUT I DO SUGGEST YOU DESCRIBE THEM.
Record Grading For 78s
N. Pristine: Full Gloss, perfect clear surfaces (no chips, dings, scuffs, or scratches). Label bright and unblemished. A rare condition for any record that was popular with it's owner.
E+. Mint: One or two small scuffs. Solid gloss. Label is like new.
E. Near Mint: A few more light scuffs with a few small scratches. Mostly glossy. Very enjoyable listening. Label might be fading a little with some wear noticeable.
E-. Excellent: Some general, small scratching and scuffing to surface. No heavy scratches, digs, or gouges. Much gloss remains. Label starting to show a little more wear.
V+. Very Good: More small scratches and scuffs. A few more major scratches. Might have some of the original gloss remaining. More graying. Label shows a lot of wear, writing, scratches, etc. A common grade of popular, previously enjoyed 78s. Grade conditions above V+ should be considered above average.
V. Good: Well used. Might skip and may have greatly reduced sound output. Label may have been through a war. Might be legible on both sides.
V-. Fair: Original gloss all gone. Lots of scratches, scuffs, digs, and other assorted damage. Not much groove left. Might not play through.
P. Poor: Very little playing surface left. Might not track. Offered only if considered to be a rare find.
For more information about grading LPs & 78s, visit:
http://www.vjm.biz/78-and-LP-Record-grading.html