Vinyl Grading Scale

All of our records, both vinyl and cover, are put through a strict multi-step grading process. We go into detail on our process in our FAQs

M

Mint

Vinyl is sealed inside album and has never been removed or handled.

NM

Near Mint

Vinyl has been inspected visually and found to have little to no scratches, scuffs, or smudges. NM vinyl is typically not play-tested.

VG+

Very Good Plus

Vinyl has been inspected visually and found to have faint, minimal, or small scratches, smudges, or streaks in low quantities.
OR
Vinyl has been play-tested and despite visible imperfections, contains little to no audible surface noise and no pops or skips.

Labels VG+ and below may have writing on them from prior owners

VG

Very Good

Vinyl has visible imperfections, but has been play-tested and contains no skips. VG vinyl may contain the following: occasional light to moderate surface noise, a few seconds of pops, cosmetic warp that does not affect playback. All VG vinyl has been play-tested before listing.

G+

Good Plus

Vinyl has visible imperfections, has been play-tested and contains light to moderate surface noise throughout and/or frequent pops. There are no skips on G+ vinyl. All G+ vinyl has been play-tested before listing.

Picture Disc

Picture Discs’ primary purpose is for display instead of actual play. Though picture discs can be played on a turntable, the sound quality is much lesser than that of a normal record, regardless of the condition. Because of this, picture discs are not assigned a grade.

Cover Grading Scale

M

Mint

Cover is still sealed in original shrink wrap. There may be small cuts or holes in the shrink but nothing big enough to expose a significant portion of the album.

NM

Near Mint

Cover is still in the original shrink wrap, but the shrink has been previously cut on the side to take out the record

OR

the record is sealed but the cover contains a notch, cutouts, or creases.

NM covers may have light signs of age on these exposed areas.

VG+

Very Good Plus

Cover is not in shrink, may have record store cutouts, light signs of age or creasing on edges and corners, but little to no noticeable ringwear, dirt, or discoloration. Any seam splits on VG+ covers will be less than 1”. VG+ covers may have small pen writing on them by prior owners.

VG

Very Good

Cover has light to moderate discoloration, ringwear and/or signs of age/ light water damage on edges and corners. Any seam splits on VG covers will be between 1” and 1/3 of a side. Covers graded VG and below may have large and intrusive writing on them from prior owners

G+

Good Plus

Cover has heavy ringwear, discoloration, tears or water damage and/or seam splits consisting of 1/3 to a full side. Record can still be securely held in a G+ cover

Generic

Occasionally, but most often in the case of specialty records like 12” Singles and Picture Discs, vinyl is released with a standard minimal cover occasionally with the record label or other general information on it. Replacements for these can be purchased to this day, and because they aren’t unique these are not assigned a grade.