Record Grading
IMPORTANT !!!!!
Grading on Used LPs is Cover First then Vinyl
Goldmine Grading Abbreviations:
Never opened.The record has no visible surface marks and plays without any background noise. The sleeve is as new with no creases or discoloration but may have very slight surface marks. The record may have one or two very light surface marks but these marks do not cause any problems and the record plays without any background noise. The labels may have one or two light spindle marks. The sleeve may have one or two small creases and/or there may be some slight discoloration or marking. The record may have one or two light surface marks. There may be occasional light background noise and/or one or two very light pops or clicks during play. The labels may have a few light spindle marks. The sleeve may have a few small creases and marks, and there may be some slight discoloration due to the age of the item. The record may have a few light surface marks. There may be occasional light background noise and/or occasional light pops or clicks during play. The labels may have a number of light spindle marks. The sleeve will have a few creases. There will probably be some discoloration and the edges of the sleeve may be worn. On laminated sleeves there may be some laminate lift or a small section of laminate missing from the front of the sleeve. The record has been played many times and will have a few surface marks. There will be some background noise and/or some occasional pops or clicks during play. The labels will have many spindle marks. The sleeve will have creases, together with edge and corner wear. There will be some discoloration and the edges of the sleeve may be a little tatty with one or two small tears. With laminated sleeves there will probably be some laminate lift and/or some missing laminate. The record has been played many times and will have a number of surface marks. There will be some background noise and/or pops or clicks during play. The labels will have noticeable spindle marks and wear to the spindle hole. The sleeve will have many creases, together with edge and corner wear. There will be discoloration and the edges of the sleeve will be tatty with a few small tears. With laminated sleeves the laminate may be coming away or have a large section missing. A small section of the sleeve may be missing (eg part of a flipback). The record has been played many times and will have many surface marks. There may be constant background noise and/or some significant pops and clicks during play. The record could also have small, but more serious marks that cause the stylus to jump during play. The labels will have noticeable spindle marks and may have tears, there will be noticeable wear to the spindle hole . The sleeve will be very creased, and will have significant edge and corner wear, possibly spine or seam splits. There may be discoloration and the edges of the sleeve may be tatty with a few tears. With laminated sleeves the laminate will probably be coming away or have a very large section missing. There may also be a small to medium size piece of the sleeve missing.
Abbreviations:
cc: cut corner
co: cut-out
coh: cut-out hole
hol: hole in label
is: inner sleeve
ins: insert
rw: ring wear (can be light or medium. if it's heavy, it will be noted)
shw: shrink wrap
soc: sticker on cover
sol: sticker on label
sr: sticker remains (glue)
ssp: seam split
stn: stain
stoc: stamp on cover
stol: stamp on label
taac: tape all around cover
toc: tape on cover
troc: tear on cover
tros: tear on spine
wd: water damage
wkoc: wrinkle on cover or corner
woc: writing on cover
wol: writing on label
Record Condition 78 RPM Grading
Condition Codes
The following codes are used to describe the condition of records on the list
Guidelines for assessing the grading / condition of used records (based on Goldmine Grading for Records)
GRADING
NEW Only used for records that are guaranteed to be new and unplayed
N- Looks as NEW with no evidence of play; this is the highest grade that we generally use
E+ Full gloss surface; looks as NEW but with a few very light handling marks
E Very clean, glossy surface with no visible signs of wear; may have some superficial or very light surface scratches or some minor surface marks which should be inaudible
E- Clean, reasonably glossy surface, but may have some minor surface scratches and first signs of visible wear
V+ Surface will have some gloss but the record will have moderate wear and may also have some moderate surface scratches and light to moderate scuffs
V Not much gloss remaining with moderate to heavy wear and may also have significant scratches and scuffs
V- Dull surface and likely to have significant surface noise from heavy wear, scratches and scuffs
G Completely dull surface and likely to have considerable surface noise from heavy wear, scratches and scuffs
