MINT CONDITION DEFINITION ALBUMS MANUAL
MINT CONDITION DEFINITION ALBUMS PLUS

These vinyl records can be great for the record collector on a budget as they typically are worth 25% of the near mint value. VG records have the same issues VG+ records have, but more drastic. Generally, light ring wear and a small scuff on the seams of the cover are acceptable, but nothing more. VG+ covers should be absent of any major wear. The center hole around the label should still be a perfect circle.

MINT CONDITION DEFINITION ALBUMS MANUAL

These records can even have slight warps or signs of manual handling. VG+ records may have light visible scratches that are barely noticeable and don’t affect sound quality. A good way of thinking about VG+ is near mint with a few minor signs of wear.

MINT CONDITION DEFINITION ALBUMS PLUS

Very good plus is where most records that are well taken care of fit. That’s why an old NM record is so valuable. The same standards apply to old records as apply to new ones. When it comes to age, the older the record, the more difficult it is to be considered near mint. NM records could have been played before, but they must be played on a high-quality turntable that would not have contributed to groove wear. The record itself should also appear to be shiny as if it has never been played. There’s no surface noise or spindle marks present whatsoever. Near mint records should play as if they’ve never been played before. The album picture sleeve is without fades, cracks, or creases and can be factory sealed, though that’s not always required. Near Mint (NM or M-)Ī near mint record should look like it was just purchased that day.

Even unopened records suffer from wear and tear due to transportation, shelving, etc. It’s worth noting that just because a record has not been opened doesn’t mean it’s in mint condition. Of course, since the record has never been opened, the surface should be perfect as well, which is implied.

The album cover should be flawless with no bends, scuffs, or wrinkles. Mint condition implies the record has never been played and is still in its factory seal. Mint condition vinyl are very rare records in absolutely perfect condition. There’s a joke in the vinyl community that mint record has the rarity of a unicorn – always spoken about but never actually seen. Luckily, vinyl websites like Discogs and Goldmine have established a standard that most resellers follow. Sellers grade their records by their own judgment. It’s worth noting, that sometimes this system can be subjective, so there’s not a 100% consensus on how each record should be graded. The vinyl grading system is comprised of six major categories:Įach grade has a distinct implication.

Mint condition definition albums