Record grading - LPs |
Grade |
Record |
Sleeve |
NM |
The record has no significant surface marking and plays without any background noise. There may be faint traces of a spindle mark on the labels.
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The sleeve is as new with no creases or discoloration but may have very slight surface marks.
|
EX+ |
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.
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The sleeve may have one or two small creases and/or there may be some slight discoloration or marking.
|
EX |
The record may have a few light surface marks. There may be occasional light background noise and/or a few 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 owing to the age of the item.
|
EX- |
The record may have some light surface marks. There may be occasional 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.
|
VG+ |
The record has been played many times and will have a few surface marks. There may be some background noise and/or some occasional pops or clicks during play. The labels may 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.
|
VG |
The record has been played many times and will have a number of noticeable surface marks. There may be some background noise and/or pops or clicks during play. The labels may have noticeable spindle marks and wear to the spindle hole.
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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).
|
VG- |
The record has been played many times and will have many noticeable 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 may 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.
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The following grades will only be used for extremely rare items and a detailed description of the exact condition will be provided.
|
G |
Good |
Good |
F |
Fair |
Fair |
P |
Poor |
Poor |
B |
Bad |
Bad |
|
All gradings are visual unless a 'Play grade' section is included in the description of the item. Although visual gradings are normally
accurate, very occasionally items may have audio flaws that are not immediately apparent from visual inspection alone.
If an LP was originally issued with special features such as a specific type of sleeve, poster(s), insert(s), photo(s)
etc and these features are neither mentioned in the description nor shown in the photos then they are not present or included with the item.
Original inner sleeves will be used wherever possible. Where the original inner sleeve is missing or damaged it will be replaced with an alternative. We don't ever knowingly sell records that jump, stick or skip unless this is clearly stated in the description. All flaws such as significant damage, warping, foxing, jumps, sticks, sticker removal tears, library stamps, writing on the sleeve or labels will be detailed in the description and/or shown in the photographs of the item. Please bear in mind that you are buying a second-hand item that could be up to 60 years old, so don't assume that it will be in perfect, as new condition unless this is very clearly stated.
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