Know How Your Collection Stacks Up and What It's Worth! How?
Read the Grading Guide below and then get
The Official Records Price Guide by Jerry Osborne
right here!

Mint (M): Absolutely perfect in every way - certainly never played, possibly even still sealed. (More on still sealed below). Should be used sparingly as a grade, if at all.

Near Mint (NM or M-): A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect. The record shows no obvious sign of   wear. A 45 rpm sleeve has no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.
     An LP jacket  has no creases, folds, seam splits or any other noticeable similar defect. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same is true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves, and the like. Basically, Near Mint looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.

Very Good Plus (VG+): Shows some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sign are OK.
     The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but is should be barely noticeable. The center hole is not misshapen by repeated play.  Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turn-up corners, or a slight seam-split. An LP jacket my have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.
     In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good (VG): Many of the defects found in a VG+ record are more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise is evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during the song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.
     Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+): Good does not mean bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear.
     A jacket or sleeve has seem splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. If it's a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it.

Poor (P), Fair (F): The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and/or writing. The LP jacket barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, and written upon.
    Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.

Still Sealed (SS) : Let the buyer beware, unless it's a U.S. pressing from the last 10-15 years or so. It's too easy to reseal on. Yes, some legitimately never-opened LPs from the 1960s still exist. But if you're looking for a specific pressing, the only way you can know for sure is to open the record. Also, European imports are not factory-sealed, so if you see them advertised as sealed, someone other than the manufacturer sealed them.

Hiss, pop, skip!  Yes, the sound of good ole vinyl!

Many of us, especially collectors, treasure our vinyl record collections.  But we may not have taken care of them as well as we should have over the years.   So when we take them off the shelf or dig them out of the closet to play, we may hear the hiss or a pop or a skip here and there.  Have no fear!

Before you begin to spruce up your vinyl,  buy a supply of inner sleeves.  More on this later.

Unless you can actually feel the scratch or pit in a vinyl record, chances are they can sound like new again.  Here is what worked best for me to keep those records shiny and close to brand new.

Take a soft damp cloth with some mild soap (BY NO MEANS USE ALCOHOL!).  Holding the record with your thumb on the edge of the record and your middle finger on (or in for 45's) the hole, gently wash each side of the album.  Now, holding the record by the edge with the palm of both hands, run the record quickly under luke warm water making sure all the soap is washed off.  If you can run the record under the running water in a circular motion, do so.  If not, try not to submerge the label under water for too long.  Wipe the record dry with a soft, lint free cloth.

Now that you have your vinyl record lookin good, are you going to put it back in that old, dusty, torn, yellow inner sleeve?  I should say not!  Purchase a supply of spanking new paper sleeves - 12" or 7".  These are always readily available at SleeveTown.com for a very reasonable cost.

For albums, once you've placed your record in it's new inner sleeve, place the inner sleeve in the album cover opening first. This will prevent dirt and dust from easily getting onto your records again.

Now if you really want double protection for your albums, you can also purchase Polyethylene outer sleeves.  These are also available at SleeveTown.com for the same cost as the paper inner sleeves.  Place the inner sleeve containing the album into the plastic sleeve, again the opening first.  Your record and album cover are now well protected!

Note that these instructions not only apply to albums, but to all vinyl.  The protective sleeves are available for 12" & 7" records.

Your record collection has given you a lot of pleasure over the years.  Care for it, and it will give you pleasure for many years to come!