MediaTreasury

Record Grading Guidelines

We play grade each record for the best possible listening experience.   This takes a lot longer, but we feel it provides the customer with a more accurate description (plus, it's fun to listen to all kinds of music!).  We grade conservatively; when grading - the lowest grade is used for the record.  This means that if one side of a 45 is graded an "8" and the other side is graded a "5", the 45 will be graded a "5".  For albums, the lowest grade for a track is the grade for the entire album.  Don't even get me started on grading boxed sets - it's daunting! 

• SS  Still Sealed Or if an import, vinyl has no imperfections, gloss is 100% full and blazing.  Label has no wear or noticeable imperfections.  Label displays ultra bright, original color.  Note:  Since we can't actually grade still sealed albums, once opened are not returnable or refundable.
• 9  Mint Vinyl has no noticeable imperfections, gloss is full.  Absolutely no noise.  No label wear should be evident, no major imperfections.  Label should display full, original color, but may have a spindle mark or two.
• 8  Near Mint (NM, M-) Vinyl has a few minor imperfections, gloss nearly full.  Record should play without surface noise.  Label wear, if any should be barely detectable.  May have a few minor label imperfections.  Label should display full, original color, although it may be somewhat subdued.
• 7  Excellent (EX, VG++) Vinyl has a few minor imperfections, should still display some gloss.  Record may play with some very light surface noise, but nothing distracting.  May have slight label wear and/or some label imperfections, but nothing major.  May exhibit slight fading of label color.
• 6  Very Good + (VG+, EX-) Vinyl has noticeable, but not major imperfections, may display some original gloss.  Record may play with some slight surface noise, but nothing that impedes the sound.  Label can show some wear, but cannot have large areas of wear.  Can have some noticeable label imperfections.
• 5  Very Good (VG) Vinyl has several moderate and/or one or two major flaws.  Vinyl gloss may not be evident.  Record may play with some slight surface noise, but nothing that overwhelms the sound.  Label may show wear, heave several moderate and/or one or two major imperfections, such as writing, tears, stains, etc.  Label may be somewhat faded or discolored.
• 4  Good (GD, VG-) Vinyl has some major imperfections.  Record may play with noise, but no skips.  Label may be worn, with some major imperfections.  Label may exhibit definite fading or discoloration.  We will only use this category when a record is very rare.