An LP in ‘mint’ or M condition is considered to be perfect. It means that it is usually sealed and has never been played.
If a record is advertised to be Unplayed or Sealed, it should be taken to be in Mint condition. It is sporadic to come across records which are in this condition. It is agreed upon only when multiple individuals agree that the record is in such state.
The record in ‘near mint’ or NM condition has been played no more than a few times. It appears glossy and has remained on a shelf between other vinyl.
Interestingly, many sellers will not use a higher grade than NM. Most often, NM is the highest grading found with most records. It is occasional to come across an authentic Mint graded vinyl. So if you are looking for the perfect LP, you should search for Near Mint records. They are shiny and don’t have any visible defects. There is no writing, markings, or stickers on the label. They don’t have any ring wear, creases, and seam splits. Besides, they are free from any spindle marks.
Spindle marks appear when the user tries to place the record blindly on the player. NM records are also free from any factory defects. If a record has been pressed off-centre, it cannot have NM grade. When played, it shouldn’t have any surface noise.
At the same time, of course, keep in mind that an NM record doesn’t always mean that it should have never played before. A vinyl that usually plays on a great record player can still be Near Mint after several plays also.
It is almost Near Mint, but you can tolerate very slight marks at the point where the record has been in and out of the sleeve. There can be very tiny signs that show a very light use of the vinyl. There is extremely low lessening in terms of audio quality. We can refer to it as ‘E’.
The key features here include the following:
A vinyl that has ‘very good’ or VG grade means that it has seen some use and is usable.
There is no significant deterioration in audio quality. There can be noticeable surface marks. The cover and other items can also have normal wear and tear.
A vinyl record in ‘Good’ or G condition means that it has been played extensively. You should expect the following from it:
We suggest you sell vinyl in Good condition, but not to buy it. You can sell only highly desirable units in this condition and at a bargain.
A record in ‘fair’ condition means that it is still in just playable condition.
If the record is in ‘poor’ condition, it means that it cannot play properly because of lousy surface noise and scratches. The cover can have some damages, and some items may be missing.
Both with Fair (F) and Poor (P) graded vinyl, trying to listen to them will be a disturbing experience. There can be significant skipping, noise issue, or repeating. The vinyl can have cracks, warps, and deep scratches.