Vinyl Grading
Records Geek, LLC Official Vinyl Grading Standards
Records Geek, LLC strictly adheres to the globally recognized Goldmine Standard for grading the condition of all vinyl records, sleeves, and associated media offered in our inventory. Our commitment to transparent and rigorous grading ensures customer confidence in every purchase.
1. Mint (M) Condition
| Grade | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Mint | M |
Description: Absolutely flawless and perfect in every respect. The media exhibits no evidence of having been handled or played.
Application: This grade is used sparingly by our specialists and is generally reserved only for items confirmed to be factory sealed.
2. Near Mint (NM or M-) Condition
| Grade | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Near Mint | NM / M- |
Description: A virtually perfect record. The media has likely never been played, ensuring pristine fidelity without imperfections during playback. The vinyl surface must show no obvious signs of wear.
- Media Detail: No obvious signs of wear. Plays perfectly.
- Sleeve Condition: LP covers and inner sleeves must be free of creases, folds, seam splits, cut-out holes, or other noticeable defects.
3. Very Good Plus (VG+) Condition
| Grade | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Very Good Plus | VG+ |
Description: The media displays minor, cosmetic signs of previous handling by an owner who took exceptional care. Defects are surface-level and do not significantly affect the actual playback experience as a whole.
- Media Detail: May feature slight scuffs or very light scratches; slight warps that do not impact sound quality.
- Label Detail: May show minor discoloration or faint ring wear; spindle marks may be present.
- Sleeve Detail: May have slight signs of wear, or be marred by a minor cut-out hole, indentation, or trimmed corner.
4. Very Good (VG) Condition
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| Grade | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Very Good | VG |
Description: Many of the minor cosmetic defects found in a VG+ record will be more noticeable. Playback fidelity remains strong but will show clear evidence of use.
- Media Detail: Surface noise will be audible (especially during soft passages); light scratches may be deep enough to feel with a fingernail, affecting the sound; groove wear will start to be noticeable.
- Sleeve Detail: Covers may show pronounced ring wear, seam splits, writing, tape, or sticker residue.
5. Good (G) / Good Plus (G+) Condition
| Grade | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Good / Good Plus | G / G+ |
Description: A record in this condition is fully playable and will not skip, but it possesses significant surface noise, audible scratches, and visible groove wear throughout the playback.
- Media Detail: Significant surface noise and "ticks" will almost certainly accompany playback.
- Sleeve Detail: Covers or sleeves will have pronounced seam splits, especially along the spine or bottom edge. Significant visual defects such as heavy writing, tape residue, or ring wear will be present.
6. Poor (P) / Fair (F) Condition
| Grade | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Poor / Fair | P / F |
Description: Reserved for records that are cracked, badly warped, or which will not play through without skipping or repeating.
- Sleeve Detail: The associated packaging is heavily compromised, exhibiting severe water damage, split seams, or substantial wear and writing, offering minimal protective capability.
7. Specialized Sleeve Designation
| Designation | Description |
|---|---|
| Generic | Refers to a type of sleeve that is not specific to the original release (e.g., a plain white sleeve or a standard company sleeve). |
Sleeves designated as "generic" require no further grading, as the term clearly defines the non-original status of the packaging.