This is how we grade records:
Record first, then
cover (e.g. AAA/1).
If there is just one figure or letter (e.g.. 1),
this menas that both record AND cover are in condition 1 . It
doesn't meant that the record is without a cove or picture sleeve! 99% of our
records , incl. 7" and 12" singles, HAVE picture sleeves. The few
exceptions are always CLEARLY described (e.g. "NO-PS", i.e. having
"NO PICTURE SLEEVE", or as FLC/CS, meaning they come in a company
sleeve instead of a picture sleeve. We grade record and cover separately
(e.g. AAA/1)
only if the the grading of the record is not the same as the grading of the
cover!
VINYL RECORDS | |
| GRADING/QUALITY | |
| AAA | NEW
or AS NEW. This is the rare ultimate
dream condition. A record in such condition not only sounds
new but it also looks new.
An AAA cover naturally is as new, looking as if it just came from the printing shop, i.e. there are no creases, no damaged corners, no "ring wear", no writings, no stickers added later, no rubber stamp marks, no tears, no stains, etc. Records at this level of quality are extremely rare, especially if they date back to the era before 1980. These superb copies of course have a price that corresponds to their quality. Still, their price in most cases is still lower than that of any common CD from your local CD shop! |
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| 1 | EXCELLENT. Trouble-free
listening pleasure. Slight noise may occur here and there. Abrasion
marks, light, moderate or even clear, on the black vinyl, e.g.
from the protective paper sleeve, or fine scratches (which are
of the benign type, because they can be seen but not heard)
may occur. Sometimes a record we grade as condition "1"
may sound new but look used (also depending on the source of
light you use for looking at the vinyl), or it may look new
and sound used.
The difference between a "1" and "AAA" grading
often is merely visual, not acoustic. And to me the acoustic
quality is more important than the visual looks of the vinyl.
So I place more emphasis on sounds than on looks as far as the
vinyl surface is concerned. If you want a record that looks
new AND sound new, go for AAA. A cover or picture sleeve of condition 1 looks very nice and clean and will show only slight signs of wear.Please note that we grade a record primarily for listening quality. Therefore, even if the vinyl surface may shown signs of wear, we grade it as EXCELLENT, if it plays excellent. If you only want a record that looks AND plays as new, please let us know. |
| 1- (ONE MINUS) | GOOD.
The record will have noise here and there, but not throughout.
The cover will have one or two shortcomings, e.g. a small writing on the front or back, or a price
sticker that was torn off, leaving behind a white tear-off spot.
Or it may have a small tear, or a piece of adhesive tape or
a stain, etc. |
| 2 | SECOND-RATE.
It sounds tough, but I grade from the point of view of a perfectionist.
If it's not perfect or near perfect, to me it's second-rate.
To many other record-sellers and record-buyers, it may appear
as "great", because they never saw anything better
or because they don't have the critical eye of the perfectionist.
Anyhow, most people would call such a record/cover "quite
good", and some dealers would describe it as "Mint
minus"... The record may have slight
to moderate noise throughout or for the most part, and distortions
may occur. This is the quality most vinyl records have that
nowadays you will find (50s records: approx. 99 percent, 60s
records approx. 80 percent, 70s approx. 60 percent, 80s approx
40 percent, 90s records approx. 30 percent). The newer the records
the better their average quality, yet most people look for older titles,
and there it is difficult (and getting more difficult every
year) to find top quality
(and if so, then at the corresponding high and ever higher prices).
A cover or picture sleeve with a grading of "2" may show split-seam repairs using Scoth tape, or a name written on it, or a sticker, a rubber stamp mark, tears, (or a combination of these), and it will generally show more wear of course than a condition 1-minus cover. But still quite good! |
| 3 |
WORN. Noise will be clearly audible throughout. May be disturbing if the music is low-key.. Looks: clear signs of wear and tear on record and cover, e.g. unsightly, old, yellowish Scotch tape, major cover tears, large writings on the cover, ugly stains, etc. Cover makes a shoddy impression. |
| 4 | HEAVILY
WORN. Noisy. Scratches, too,
can be heard. Yet this record too will play from start to finish
- without getting stuck (no groove-repeat)!
Looks: lots of wear and tear on record and cover. Major tears and large writings may occur. Parts of the cover may be torn off. Major seam splits may occur. Miserable appearance. g A 7" single in condition 4 can still be used for the juke-box (we offer condition "4" records only in the case of rarities from the 50s and 60s) and please remember, condition "4" too has been tested by us and will play from start to finish. This is not a piece of trash! |
| 5 | TRASH.
A damaged record, e.g. warped so that part or all of it cannot
be played without needle jump. Or the record may cause the needle
to repeat or skip grooves. Or deep scratches make you hear that
terrifyingly annoying tac-tac-tac (a true torture for the ears
and mind!).
Maybe there is even a vinyl split. A cover in category
5 will typically be heavily soiled or damaged by water, fire, paint, etc.
It may have ugly writings or drawings, and part of the paper/cardboard
may be missing. More like junk paper. We don't have any records
in this category right now. Still, there definitely is a market
for records in this condition - top rarities offered at a correspondingly
low price.
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| You may have noticed that almost all
our records show condition AAA or 1. This is due to the fact
that we do not like to deal in mediocre stuff. Mediocre-condition
records are disposed of by selling them at cheapo markets and
to cheapo dealers. We only want the best quality in our website,
because we are a TOP SHOP.
WHY DON'T WE USE THE MINT/VERY GOOD/etc GRADING SYSTEM? Some of you may wonder why we do not use the MINT/VG, etc grading system. The reason is that our long years of experience with record dealers, auctions, record fairs, collectors have shown us that "ONE MAN'S MINT IS ANOTHER MAN'S VERY GOOD". Most of you who are serious collectors and dealers will know that. The grading world is a jungle. So we decided to go by our own system - all the more because most of our customers never even heard about the M/VG/G, etc system. And those of you who require a M/VG/G grading for a record they wish to buy, can get that at any time. We have many years of experience in grading records strictly and correctly! Also, I personally don't like a system that calls a bad record "VERY GOOD" and a very bad record "GOOD" and a piece of trash "FAIR". This is pure deception! POSTERS, LYRICS SHEETS, INSERTS We always mention such inserts in our weblist. If there is no mention of an insert or a bonus record contained in the LP, there is none!
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CDs - here we use three gradings levels | |
| QUALITY/GRADING | |
AAA | NEW OR AS NEW! |
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1 |
slight surface marks which, however, do not affect the sound quality or playability of the CD in any way whatsoever.
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1- |
clear visual surface marks which however do not affect the sound quality or playability of the CD in any way whatsoever. WE DO NOT SELL CDs THAT ARE LESS THAN PERFECT IN SOUND QUALITY!!! |
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All inserts, booklets and enclosures of course are complete and undamaged, unless specifically indicated!
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CASSETTE TAPES (MCs) | |
| QUALITY/GRADING | |
AAA | NEW OR AS NEW! |
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1 |
Booklet, insert or label may have slight imperfections (wear and tear, or writing of a name on it. EACH AND EVERY CASSETTE IS TESTED FOR FLAWLESS RUNNING AND SOUND QUALITY!
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