How I grade records.
A record can look VG and play NM. That is why I refuse to squash everything into one media grade.
Most grading systems ask one grade to describe two different things. What the vinyl looks like and what it actually sounds like. Most of the time those things broadly agree.
Until they don't.
I grade every record in the collection three separate ways: LP Visual, LP Playback and Sleeve. They are deliberately independent, because the disagreement between them can tell you more about a physical copy than a single overall grade ever could.
Until they don't.
I grade every record in the collection three separate ways: LP Visual, LP Playback and Sleeve. They are deliberately independent, because the disagreement between them can tell you more about a physical copy than a single overall grade ever could.
Three Questions. Three Answers.
LP Visual
What does the vinyl actually look like?
Scuffs, scratches, hairlines, groove wear, warping, edge damage and other visible physical marks. I inspect both sides under strong angled light, ideally after cleaning the record first.
LP Playback
What does this copy actually sound like?
Surface noise, crackle, clicks, pops, distortion, mistracking, sticking and skips during real playback. This grade is about the physical copy, not whether I like the mastering, production or recording itself.
Sleeve
What condition is the outer jacket in?
Ring wear, rubbing, fading, creases, corners, spine, seams, splits, tears, writing, stickers, library marks, tape, water damage and general structural condition.
I do not average the three. If a record is visually VG, plays NM and has a G sleeve, that is exactly how I record it.
The record that exposed the problem
My copy of a-ha - Scoundrel Days is the reason this grading system exists in its current form.
Visually, the vinyl is VG. The scratches are obvious enough that calling it EX or NM would be nonsense.
But, put the needle down and it plays NM: exceptionally clean, with none of the crackle or obvious surface noise the appearance had led me to expect.
The sleeve is G, largely because it carries permanent library markings from a previous life, even though structurally it is considerably better than that grade might suggest.
So the useful description is not simply Media: VG. It is:
Visual
VG
Playback
NM
Sleeve
G
That disagreement is not a problem with the grading system. It is the useful bit.
The grading scale
One grade, five different things to look at
I use the familiar record-collecting scale, with EX = Excellent retained between NM and VG+ because I find it useful for records that are clearly better than VG+ but not quite Near Mint.
The useful way to read the scale is grade first. If you want to know what VG means here, everything that can be graded sits together under VG: the record itself, the playback, the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve and any other original material.
The same letter therefore describes a similar level of condition, but the evidence is different for each part of the copy.
The useful way to read the scale is grade first. If you want to know what VG means here, everything that can be graded sits together under VG: the record itself, the playback, the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve and any other original material.
The same letter therefore describes a similar level of condition, but the evidence is different for each part of the copy.
M | Mint
Mint is not “very, very good”. It is effectively untouched, and I expect to use this grade extremely rarely.
Vinyl record: Effectively untouched. Ideally still sealed or unplayed, or only removed from its sleeve once or twice, with absolutely no visible marks, sleeve scuffs, spindle traces or handling wear under strong light.
Playback quality: Reserved for a genuinely flawless, defect-free copy. In practice, once a record has been played and handled, NM will usually be the realistic top grade even if playback is exceptional.
Sleeve: Factory-fresh, with no creasing, rubbing, edge wear, corner wear, impressions, writing, stickers or other signs of handling.
Inner sleeve: Perfect and effectively untouched, with no splits, creases, handling marks, staining or wear.
Other material: Complete, original and pristine, with no meaningful signs of handling, storage or ageing.
Vinyl record: Effectively untouched. Ideally still sealed or unplayed, or only removed from its sleeve once or twice, with absolutely no visible marks, sleeve scuffs, spindle traces or handling wear under strong light.
Playback quality: Reserved for a genuinely flawless, defect-free copy. In practice, once a record has been played and handled, NM will usually be the realistic top grade even if playback is exceptional.
Sleeve: Factory-fresh, with no creasing, rubbing, edge wear, corner wear, impressions, writing, stickers or other signs of handling.
Inner sleeve: Perfect and effectively untouched, with no splits, creases, handling marks, staining or wear.
Other material: Complete, original and pristine, with no meaningful signs of handling, storage or ageing.
NM | Near Mint
Vinyl record: Almost perfect, but not necessarily untouched. It may have been opened, handled and played carefully. At most there may be exceptionally faint sleeve-removal or handling traces visible under strong light, but no meaningful scratches, scuffs or groove wear.
Playback quality: Exceptionally clean playback with no meaningful wear-related crackle, pops, clicks, distortion, skips or other faults.
Sleeve: Very close to perfect. Only tiny signs of age, storage or careful handling; artwork, edges, spine and corners remain exceptionally clean.
Inner sleeve: Original and extremely clean, with at most tiny handling or ageing marks and no meaningful structural damage.
Other material: Original and complete, with only the slightest handling or age-related evidence.
Playback quality: Exceptionally clean playback with no meaningful wear-related crackle, pops, clicks, distortion, skips or other faults.
Sleeve: Very close to perfect. Only tiny signs of age, storage or careful handling; artwork, edges, spine and corners remain exceptionally clean.
Inner sleeve: Original and extremely clean, with at most tiny handling or ageing marks and no meaningful structural damage.
Other material: Original and complete, with only the slightest handling or age-related evidence.
EX | Excellent
Vinyl record: Very clean. A few minor hairlines or light scuffs may be visible under strong light, but they are slight.
Playback quality: Clean and highly enjoyable. There may be one or two extremely faint or isolated noises, but nothing meaningfully distracting.
Sleeve: Excellent overall appearance with light handling wear, perhaps a small crease, impression or very slight corner or edge wear.
Inner sleeve: Clean and complete with light handling wear, perhaps a small crease or slight edge wear, but no significant split or damage.
Other material: Complete and very clean, with minor handling or storage wear only.
Playback quality: Clean and highly enjoyable. There may be one or two extremely faint or isolated noises, but nothing meaningfully distracting.
Sleeve: Excellent overall appearance with light handling wear, perhaps a small crease, impression or very slight corner or edge wear.
Inner sleeve: Clean and complete with light handling wear, perhaps a small crease or slight edge wear, but no significant split or damage.
Other material: Complete and very clean, with minor handling or storage wear only.
VG+ | Very Good Plus
Vinyl record: Clearly used but well cared for. Light scuffs, hairlines or minor scratches are visible, without heavy or extensive wear.
Playback quality: Occasional light surface noise or isolated clicks and pops may be audible, but they are minor and do not intrude on normal listening.
Sleeve: Light general wear such as modest ring wear, edge rubbing, small creases or minor seam wear. Still presents very well overall.
Inner sleeve: Clearly handled but well preserved. Light creasing, edge wear or a small seam split may be present without compromising its function.
Other material: Present and original, with light creasing, rubbing, edge wear or other minor signs of use.
Playback quality: Occasional light surface noise or isolated clicks and pops may be audible, but they are minor and do not intrude on normal listening.
Sleeve: Light general wear such as modest ring wear, edge rubbing, small creases or minor seam wear. Still presents very well overall.
Inner sleeve: Clearly handled but well preserved. Light creasing, edge wear or a small seam split may be present without compromising its function.
Other material: Present and original, with light creasing, rubbing, edge wear or other minor signs of use.
VG | Very Good
Vinyl record: Noticeable surface marks or scratches are readily visible. The record is plainly used, but the visual grade alone does not imply poor playback.
Playback quality: Noticeable but non-dominating surface noise, crackle or occasional pops may be present. The record remains comfortably enjoyable.
Sleeve: Normal obvious used wear: ring wear, edge or spine wear, creasing, minor seam splits, stickers, writing or similar defects may be present, but the sleeve remains functional and reasonably presentable.
Inner sleeve: Obvious use, with creasing, rubbing, writing or one or more seam splits, but it remains usable and substantially intact.
Other material: Present and usable but obviously handled, with wear, creases, marks, writing or other noticeable defects.
Playback quality: Noticeable but non-dominating surface noise, crackle or occasional pops may be present. The record remains comfortably enjoyable.
Sleeve: Normal obvious used wear: ring wear, edge or spine wear, creasing, minor seam splits, stickers, writing or similar defects may be present, but the sleeve remains functional and reasonably presentable.
Inner sleeve: Obvious use, with creasing, rubbing, writing or one or more seam splits, but it remains usable and substantially intact.
Other material: Present and usable but obviously handled, with wear, creases, marks, writing or other noticeable defects.
G+ | Good Plus
Vinyl record: Obvious, heavier scratching or wear across the surface, while the disc remains physically serviceable.
Playback quality: More regular surface noise and/or louder isolated defects are audible, but most or all of the record remains listenable. Any skip or damaged passage should be stated explicitly.
Sleeve: Significant wear, larger seam splits, heavier ring wear, writing, stickers, tape or other obvious defects, while still retaining reasonable structural integrity.
Inner sleeve: Heavily used, with larger splits, creases, tears, tape, staining or writing, but still capable of holding the record.
Other material: Heavily handled or worn but still substantially complete and usable; defects should be described individually.
Playback quality: More regular surface noise and/or louder isolated defects are audible, but most or all of the record remains listenable. Any skip or damaged passage should be stated explicitly.
Sleeve: Significant wear, larger seam splits, heavier ring wear, writing, stickers, tape or other obvious defects, while still retaining reasonable structural integrity.
Inner sleeve: Heavily used, with larger splits, creases, tears, tape, staining or writing, but still capable of holding the record.
Other material: Heavily handled or worn but still substantially complete and usable; defects should be described individually.
G | Good
Vinyl record: Considerable visible wear, scratches or groove damage. Condition is a major physical characteristic of the copy.
Playback quality: Continuous low-level noise or repeated pops and clicks are a clear part of the listening experience. Most of the record remains playable, but condition materially affects enjoyment.
Sleeve: Substantial wear, splits, tears, tape, writing, staining or other damage. Still identifiable and usable, but plainly worn.
Inner sleeve: Substantial damage such as major seam splits, tears, tape, staining or heavy writing, while enough remains for it to be identifiable and usable.
Other material: Significantly worn, torn, marked, taped or otherwise damaged, but still recognisable and substantially present.
Playback quality: Continuous low-level noise or repeated pops and clicks are a clear part of the listening experience. Most of the record remains playable, but condition materially affects enjoyment.
Sleeve: Substantial wear, splits, tears, tape, writing, staining or other damage. Still identifiable and usable, but plainly worn.
Inner sleeve: Substantial damage such as major seam splits, tears, tape, staining or heavy writing, while enough remains for it to be identifiable and usable.
Other material: Significantly worn, torn, marked, taped or otherwise damaged, but still recognisable and substantially present.
F | Fair
Vinyl record: Heavy wear, deep scratches, warping or other significant physical defects that suggest compromised playability.
Playback quality: Intrusive noise, distortion, repeated skips or other faults compromise playback through substantial parts of the record.
Sleeve: Poor structural condition with substantial tears, tape, writing, splits or damage, though enough remains to function as the sleeve.
Inner sleeve: Poor structural condition, with major splits, tears, missing sections or extensive repairs; only partly functional.
Other material: Serious damage, substantial missing areas or deterioration. Still identifiable, but condition significantly compromises the item.
Playback quality: Intrusive noise, distortion, repeated skips or other faults compromise playback through substantial parts of the record.
Sleeve: Poor structural condition with substantial tears, tape, writing, splits or damage, though enough remains to function as the sleeve.
Inner sleeve: Poor structural condition, with major splits, tears, missing sections or extensive repairs; only partly functional.
Other material: Serious damage, substantial missing areas or deterioration. Still identifiable, but condition significantly compromises the item.
P | Poor
Vinyl record: Severe physical damage, deformation or wear. The record is barely serviceable as a playable copy.
Playback quality: Only limited parts are reliably playable, or repeated skipping and sticking make normal listening impractical.
Sleeve: Severely damaged, torn, heavily taped, incomplete or otherwise barely functional.
Inner sleeve: Severely damaged or incomplete and no longer reliably functional as an inner sleeve.
Other material: Severely damaged, fragmentary or barely serviceable.
Playback quality: Only limited parts are reliably playable, or repeated skipping and sticking make normal listening impractical.
Sleeve: Severely damaged, torn, heavily taped, incomplete or otherwise barely functional.
Inner sleeve: Severely damaged or incomplete and no longer reliably functional as an inner sleeve.
Other material: Severely damaged, fragmentary or barely serviceable.
A grade is not the whole story
The five descriptions above cover condition, but condition and completeness are not the same thing.
An original lyric inner might be VG because it is creased and split. A poster might be NM but still be the wrong replacement poster. An insert may simply be absent. A centre label might carry somebody's name in biro without affecting either the vinyl's visual grade or its playback grade.
So I also record the facts that matter separately: whether an inner sleeve is original, whether inserts and extras are present, writing or stickers on labels, library marks, owner inscriptions, replacements and anything else specific to the copy.
0 | Missing / Not Original: is used for components such as an absent original inner sleeve, insert or poster. It is a completeness code, not a condition grade for the vinyl or outer sleeve.
U | Unknown: means genuinely not yet assessed. For playback, a record can also remain marked as Unplayed until I have actually listened to it.
Centre labels are described separately rather than receiving a headline grade. Writing, spindle marks, stickers, staining and similar details belong in the copy notes unless they indicate a physical problem with the record itself.
An original lyric inner might be VG because it is creased and split. A poster might be NM but still be the wrong replacement poster. An insert may simply be absent. A centre label might carry somebody's name in biro without affecting either the vinyl's visual grade or its playback grade.
So I also record the facts that matter separately: whether an inner sleeve is original, whether inserts and extras are present, writing or stickers on labels, library marks, owner inscriptions, replacements and anything else specific to the copy.
0 | Missing / Not Original: is used for components such as an absent original inner sleeve, insert or poster. It is a completeness code, not a condition grade for the vinyl or outer sleeve.
U | Unknown: means genuinely not yet assessed. For playback, a record can also remain marked as Unplayed until I have actually listened to it.
Centre labels are described separately rather than receiving a headline grade. Writing, spindle marks, stickers, staining and similar details belong in the copy notes unless they indicate a physical problem with the record itself.
A few house rules
The grade is shorthand. The copy is the story.
I am not trying to reinvent record grading for the entire world. This is simply the system that best describes the records in this collection.
The letters give me a consistent shorthand, but the notes explain the things the letters cannot: why something looks worse than it sounds, why a sleeve has been downgraded, what damage is actually audible and what scars simply tell you where the record has been.
Because ultimately I am less interested in whether a record can be squeezed neatly into one box than in what this particular copy is actually like to own and listen to.
The letters give me a consistent shorthand, but the notes explain the things the letters cannot: why something looks worse than it sounds, why a sleeve has been downgraded, what damage is actually audible and what scars simply tell you where the record has been.
Because ultimately I am less interested in whether a record can be squeezed neatly into one box than in what this particular copy is actually like to own and listen to.