Vinyl Record Evaluation: What Symbols and Abbreviations Are Used?

Content

Why is classification needed?
Record Collector and Goldmine scoring systems
Completeness
Explanation of abbreviations

In the digital age, vinyl records continue to conquer the world. Today, unique pieces are collected, passed around the world and highly prized, endowing the user with the sound of rare recordings. Knowledge of the vinyl grading system is an important part of a successful acquisition.

Why is classification needed?

Records have always been collected. Careful fingers of the masters carefully examined each disc, fearing to damage it and spoil the sound. Since 2007, ordinary users have also become interested in purchasing such media. A similar phenomenon was associated with the recording of modern music on gramophone records. Supply and demand grew rapidly, creating strong growth in the secondary market.

Today, carriers are sold by both collectors and people far from such a hobby.

Some sellers keep records carefully, others not too much, so it is so important to evaluate the records by asking them a reasonable price in the market for goods and services.

Assessing the condition of vinyl records will help the specified class code, with knowledge of which it is possible to determine without visual inspection and listening, what is the state of the paper envelope and the record itself. So, from the alphanumeric designation, music lovers can easily determine: whether the disc was in operation, whether it is damaged, whether crackling and other noises are heard during playback.

Despite the fact that the assessment system has international status, it is characterized by subjectivity, depending on the decency of the seller.

Record Collector and Goldmine scoring systems

In the modern world, there are two main systems for assessing the condition of vinyl. They were first cataloged by the English Diamond Publishing in 1987 and the American Krause Publications in 1990. Today they are used on many sites for buying and selling phonograph records, but some sellers also use rarer classifications.

Goldmine is a system used at the largest LP sales platforms. It implies a rating scale consisting of 6 possible states of the wearer.

The following letter designation applies:

M (Mint - new);
NM (Near Mint - like new);
VG + (Very Good Plus - very good with a plus);
VG (Very Good - very good);
G (Good - good) or G + (Good Plus - good with a plus);
P (Poor - unsatisfactory).

As you can see, the gradation is often supplemented by the signs "+" and "-". Such designations indicate intermediate options for assessment, because, as mentioned earlier, it is very subjective.

The important point here is the possible presence of only one sign after the gradation. The notation G ++ or VG ++ should put the record in a different category, and therefore are incorrect.

The first two markings in the Goldmine system scale characterize records of very good quality. Although the medium has been used, its contents have been carefully monitored by the former owner. The sound on such a product is clear, and the melody is produced from beginning to end.

Note that in most cases sellers do not assign the M code, stopping at NM.

VG + - also a good sign for a record. This decryption indicates a product with slight irregularities and abrasions that do not interfere with listening. The cost of such a model on the market equates to 50% of the NM state.

Carrier VG may also have scuffs, some kind of lettering on the envelopes, as well as audible clicks and pops in pauses and losses. The gramophone record is estimated at 25% of the cost of NM.

G - significantly inferior to the VG state, has extraneous noise during playback, the completeness is broken.

P Is the worst-of-state code. This includes records that are flooded with water around the edges, cracked records and other media that are unsuitable for listening.

The Record Collector system is similar in structure to the above model, it has the following categories in its arsenal:

EX (Excellent - excellent) - the carrier has been used, but has no serious loss in sound quality;
F (Fair - satisfactory) - the record is suitable for use, but has extraneous noises and abrasions, the completeness is broken;
B (Bad - bad) - does not carry any value.

The Record Collector has more vague reference points in its assessment, and therefore both very valuable specimens and media suitable only for "filling" the collection can get into the same section.

Completeness

In addition to the medium itself, other components become the object of assessment. The inner and outer envelopes, made in old editions of paper, and in new ones made of polypropylene, are highly valued in the absence of any damage and inscriptions, breaks.

Often, collectible items do not have an inner envelope at all, since over the decades of storage, the paper has turned to dust.

Explanation of abbreviations

Another criterion for evaluation - cuts that can be seen on the record itself. So, at all times, gramophone records of the 1st press, that is, published for the first time, were highly valued. The 1st press is denoted by the numbers squeezed out on the edge (fields) of the plate and ending in 1. However, this rule does not always apply.

For a more precise definition, it is worthwhile to carefully study the history of the album - sometimes the publishers rejected the first version and approved the second, third.

Summarizing the above, it is safe to say that collecting gramophone records is difficult and very painstaking... The knowledge of copies, honest and unscrupulous sellers comes over the years, allowing you to enjoy music produced from the source.

For more information on grading systems for vinyl records, see the video below.