Record Gradings - info Req Please

[Jo Law]

Hello people--i need some assistance regarding record gradings--to cut a long story short im trying to do a deal but having problems explaining that condition plays a huge part in the price of a record--ok then lets say if a tune is worth 1k in mint condition what would a vg+ be worth or even a vg the person i am dealing with seems unable to understand that condition is of paramount importance when pricing-------cause its a scarce record he thinks it should be top dollar-------- can someone please give me a scale for a 1k record in mint condition going down to vg-------thanks jo

[Chalky]

here's something I posted a while back when this subject came up, either here or on the RSF.

Think it's either Record Collector or Goldmine whose guide it is..someone like that. Don't think most dealers work to this guide though

Grading Records

Visual or play grading? In an ideal world, every record would be played before it is graded. In the real world, the time involved makes it impractical for most dealers, and it's rare that you get a chance to hear a record before you buy, especially if it is mailorder.

How to grade your records:

Look at everything about a record, the playing surface, the label, the edges, the cover. Then give it a grade based on the following criteria:

Mint (M): Absolutely perfect in every way, certainly never played, possibly even still sealed.

Near Mint (M-): A nearly perfect record. The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling. An LP jacket should have no creases, folds, seam splits or any other noticeable defect. The same should be true of any inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves, etc.

Very Good Plus (VG+): Generally worth 50 percent of the Near Mint value. A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experience. The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight ring wear, lightly turned-up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP jacket may have slight signs of wear or may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.

Very Good (VG): Generally worth 25 percent of the Near Mint value. Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

Good (G) and Good Plus (G+): Generally worth 10-15 percent of the Near Mint value. A record in Good or Good Plus condition will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear. A sleeve or jacket will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

Edited January 14, 2006 by chalky

[Chalky]

I notice they don't include Ex or Ex+ which roughly speaking would be 75% of mint value looking at how they are pricing Vg etc. Certainly doesn't work like that in the real world.

Edited January 14, 2006 by chalky

[Jo Law]

here's something I posted a while back when this subject came up, either here or onj the RSF.

Think it's either record coillector or Goldmine..summat like that. Don't thinki most dealers work to this guide though

Grading Records

Visual or play grading? In an ideal world, every record would be played before it is graded. In the real world, the time involved makes it impractical for most dealers, and it's rare that you get a chance to hear a record before you buy, especially if it is mailorder.

How to grade your records:

Look at everything about a record, the playing surface, the label, the edges, the cover. Then give it a grade based on the following criteria:

Mint (M): Absolutely perfect in every way, certainly never played, possibly even still sealed.

Near Mint (M-): A nearly perfect record. The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling. An LP jacket should have no creases, folds, seam splits or any other noticeable defect. The same should be true of any inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves, etc.

Very Good Plus (VG+): Generally worth 50 percent of the Near Mint value. A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experience. The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight ring wear, lightly turned-up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP jacket may have slight signs of wear or may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.

Very Good (VG): Generally worth 25 percent of the Near Mint value. Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

Good (G) and Good Plus (G+): Generally worth 10-15 percent of the Near Mint value. A record in Good or Good Plus condition will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear. A sleeve or jacket will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

Thankyou chalky youre a star------jo

[Richard]

Have pm'ed you, hope it helps

Edited January 14, 2006 by richard

[Jo Law]

thanks for info re pm richard--just what i needed--------------- jo

[Ted Massey]

I can never get my head round the fact that with most dealers Vg is really Fucked

[Chalky]

I can never get my head round the fact that with most dealers Vg is really Fucked

VG = really f*cked at excellent prices

[Larsc]

I notice they don't include Ex or Ex+

Ex is a UK fantasy. There is no such thing in the real world

Would have been nice if there was only one standard set of gradings

[Guest Russ Smith]

Ex is a UK fantasy. There is no such thing in the real world

Would have been nice if there was only one standard set of gradings

I worked in a record shop years ago and a mate came up with the genius grading Poor + !!

In fact vg should be Poor... Another chestnut of a grading term is "fair" which translates to fairly F**ked

[hipshaker 05]

the one that gets me is "plays mint" ..... which often means it looks like a bag of shit but sounds ok.

generally i find US sellers gradings to be more reliable than UK ones.

[Guest]

No help at all, but the one that gets me is the U.S. one "VG" which roughly translates to "cleaned at some point with half a brick". I won't buy records from the US anymore unless I hear them first.

[Larsc]

generally i find US sellers gradings to be more reliable than UK ones.

To top it off I just got a "Mint" copy from a very well known UK dealer. On a good day I would possibly accept it as a vg+, but really it's vg.