Grading of Stock

Grading of stock can be found in Info... (Condition)

Mint

Never been played.

Near Mint (NM)

A nearly perfect record. The record should show no obvious signs of wear.

Excellent (Ex)

A excellent record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The centre hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play.

Very Good (VG)

Many of the defects found in a VG record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with 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. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only one or two of them.

Good (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.