Sold Date: March 4, 2018
Start Date: February 20, 2018
Final Price: $24.99 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 204
Buyer Feedback: 3

Condition: Record: Excellent  

Jacket:  Excellent- still in shrink—open edge shows wear.

I am hesitant to rate any record unless they are factory sealed above VG++. Play tested on a Technics SL1200 MK5 w/ Shure V15 type IV. Sounds FANTASTIC!

I SHIP ALL OF MY RECORDS IN HEAVY DUTY CARDBOARD MAILERS PACKED IN BETWEEN THICK CARDBOARD. I TAKE CARE TO DO IT RIGHT SO YOUR RECORD ARRIVES IN THE SAME CONDITION IT LEFT IN! READ MY FEEDBACK AND BUY WITH CONFIDENCE. 

MY GOAL IS TO HAVE REPEAT CUSTOMERS. 

MASTER GOLDMINE’S GRADING GUIDELINES

BEFORE YOU CAN FIGURE OUT what a record is worth, you need to grade its vinyl, sleeves and labels. Play grading can be a definite advantage for a record that looks much worse than it sounds. When you’re visually grading records, use a direct light, such as a 100-watt desk lamp, as less direct lighting can hide defects. Think like the buyer as you set your grades. If you’re on the fence, go with the lower conservative grade under consideration. Records and covers always seem to look better when you’re grading them to sell to someone else than when you’re on the other side of the table, inspecting a record for purchase. And, if you have a Still Sealed record, subject it to these same grading standards, short of breaking the seal. MINT (M): Absolutely perfect in every way. Often rumored but rarely seen, Mint should never be used as a grade unless more than one person agrees the item truly is in this condition. There is no hard-and-fast percentage of the Near Mint value these can bring; it is best negotiated between buyer and seller. • Overall Appearance: Looks as if it just came off the manufacturing line. • Record: No scuffs or scratches. • Labels: No writing, stickers or spindle marks. Labels are perfectly placed. • Cover/Sleeve: No blotches, stains, discoloration, stickers, ring wear, dinged corners, sleeve splits or writing. 

NEAR MINT (NM) OR MINT MINUS (M-): It’s estimated that no more than 2 to 4 percent of all records remaining from the 1950s and 1960s are truly Near Mint. Many dealers won’t use a grade higher than this, implying that no record or sleeve is ever truly perfect. • Overall Appearance: Looks as if it were opened for the first time. Includes all original pieces (inner sleeve, lyric sheets, inserts, cover, record, etc.). • Record: Shiny surface, free of visible defects. No surface noise at playback. Records can retain NM condition after many plays provided the record has been played on a properly equipped turntable and has been cared for properly. • Labels: Properly pressed and centered on the record. Free of writing, stickers, spindle marks, blemishes or other markings. • Cover/Sleeve: Free of creases, ring wear and seam splits. Cut-out markings are unacceptable. Picture sleeves look as if no record was ever housed inside. Hint: If you remove a 45 from its picture sleeve and store it separately, you will reduce the potential for damage to the sleeve. 

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) OR EXCELLENT (E): Except for a few minor condition issues, these records would be Near Mint. Most collectors who want to play their records will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if it is toward the high end of the grade, sometimes called VG++ or E+. • Overall Appearance: Shows slight signs of wear. • Record: May have light scuffs or very light scratches that don’t affect the listening experience, or slight warps that don’t affect the sound. Expect minor signs of handling, such as telltale marks around the center hole (but the hole is not misshapen). Light ring wear or discoloration may be present, but barely noticeable. • Labels: Free of writing, stickers or major blemishes. • Cover/Sleeve: Outer cover may show some minor seam wear or a split less than one inch long along the bottom, which is the most vulnerable location. A cut-out marking may be present. Picture sleeves may show some slight creasing where it is obvious the record once resided (or still does reside). May show minor seam wear or a split less than 1 inch long along the bottom.

VERY GOOD (VG): VG records have more obvious flaws than records in better condition. That said, VG records — which usually sell for no more than 25 percent of their NM counterparts — are among the biggest bargains in record collecting, because most of the “big money” goes for more perfect copies. For many listeners, a VG record or sleeve will be worth the money. Many collectors who have jukeboxes will use VG records in them and not think twice. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape. • Overall Appearance: Shows signs of wear and handling, including visible groove wear, audible scratches and surface noise, ring wear and seam splits.  • Record: Lacks the original glossy finish. Groove wear is evident on sight, and light scratches are deep enough to feel with a fingernail. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially during a song’s intro and ending, but the noise won’t overpower the music otherwise. • Labels: May have minor writing, tape or a sticker. • Cover/Sleeve: Expect obvious signs of human handling and normal wear. Ring wear is expected in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the labels or edges of a record would rest. Seam splits may appear on all three sides, but they won’t be obvious. Writing or a price tag may be present. The cover may be dull or discolored, have bent corners, stains or other problems. If the record has more than two of these problems, reduce its grade.

VERY GOOD MINUS (VG–), GOOD PLUS (G+) OR GOOD (G): Good does not necessarily mean bad! A true G to VG- record still plays through without skipping, so it can serve as filler until something better comes along. If the record is common, you may want to pass it up in this condition. If you’ve sought for a long time, get it cheap and upgrade later. And sellers? Don’t expect big profits for records in these grades:  They bring 10 to 15 percent of the Near Mint value at most. • Overall Appearance:  Shows considerable signs of handling, including groove wear, ring wear, seam splits and damaged labels or covers. • Record: The surface sheen is almost gone, but the record plays through without skipping. Significant surface noise and groove wear.. • Labels: Worn, possible stains, heavy writing, or obvious damage caused by someone trying to remove tape or stickers and failing miserably. • Cover/Sleeve: Shows ring wear to the point of distraction, has obvious seam splits and may have even heavier writing, such as huge radio station letters (or the former owner’s name) written across the front to deter theft. Expect dinged and dog-eared edges. 

FAIR (F) OR POOR (P): These records go for 0 to 5 percent of the Near Mint value — if they go at all. More likely, these records will end up going in the trash, or having their covers, labels or discs turned into kitschy craft items like clocks, journals, purses, jewelry, bowls or coasters. • Overall Appearance: Beat, trashed and dull. Records may lack sleeves or covers (or vice versa). You may want to call a CSI unit to identify “the victim.” • Record: Expect the vinyl to be cracked, horrifically scratched and/or impossibly warped. The record will skip and repeat when you attempt to play it. • Labels: Stains, tears, stickers and damage are the least of your problems; the label may be missing some sections altogether. • Cover/Sleeve: So heavily damaged that you almost want to cry. Only the most outrageously rare items ever sell for more than a few cents in this condition— again, if they sell at all.

Spindle marks from the record going on and off the turntable are among many marks that can help determine a record’s grade. The labels also tell a story, and writing, stickers and damage all factor into grades.