Steve Roach - EMPETUS   c.1986 Ambient music on synth-sequencers Catalog No. FOR-LP036 NOT a cut-out --- purchased by an aficionado in 1986 Ships FREE! Use our combined items shipping
This has had a few or so plays before being stored away flat in a box of with dozens of other LP's.  Forsaken for nearly thirty years after the advent of the CD, it's now back out of the closet.  The  jacket is still like new, even without the shrink film and has an EX+ grade as it does have a couple minuscule scuffs at edge corners (see photos).  The vinyl is NM in quality, both sides. Inner sleeve is indestructible ploy film and is in absolute perfect condition.
Vinyl condition (visual) - Side 1: NM Vinyl condition (visual) - Side 2: NM Jacket condition: EX+  NO shrink film Inner sleeve condition: NM (poly sleeve) Other inserts: Does Not Apply Special notes: None

Once again, everything is VISUALLY GRADED.  We do not have the facility or equipment to play-grade each album.  Without top notch equipment we run the risk of further compromising sometimes very old (and valuable) recordings.  Albums graded very high visually are pretty much a sure thing to play great
The photographs are of the ACTUAL item for sale. LP's are carefully packed in sturdy corrugated cardboard mailers. We ship USPS using MEDIA MAIL for the best rate value.  Alternate means on request. Use your shopping cart and have 7 days to purchase multiple items from us. Make a single payment and your order ships in a single package. Check out my !  New album titles added daily!

VISUAL GRADING SCALE WE USE
(M) Mint - The record is in factory-new condition.  Absolutely perfect in all respects, with no surface marks or deterioration in sound quality. NOTE: Age of the album has nothing to do with its "grade".  The jacket and any extra items like inserts, etc. are verified present and in perfect condition.  Records advertised as "Sealed" should be Mint. Those classified "Unplayed" but opened must be validated as meeting "untouched by human hands" status.  Even the act of inserting the disc or removing it from the paper sleeve may cause scuff marks on the vinyl.

(NM) Near Mint - A nearly perfect record in every respect.  It should exhibit no obvious signs of wear.  The vinyl is bright and shiny.  A minor scuff or two is permissible but no scratches.  The jacket should have no more than the most minor of defects, such as almost invisible ring impression or other minimal signs of slight handling.  There should be no folds or seam splits, corner crushes anywhere, or other noticeable similar defects.  Artwork should be as close to perfect (without defect or age deterioration) as possible.  Similar criteria applies to the inner sleeve also.  No CUT-OUT holes, either, in any of the parts comprising the album.  An LP in Near Mint condition looks as if you just bought it NEW, brought it home from the record store and opened the shrink wrap.

(EX) Excellent - (or VG++) The record shows some signs of having been played.  Some minor paper scuffs may be present.  A very light, difficult to visually detect hairline scratch or two may permissible, but nothing that is significant enough to effect the quality of play.  The vinyl is bright and shiny and without warps.  The label clean and unblemished.  The jacket may have slight circular disc impression but no ink wear, or may have slight corner creases, no wrinkles or puckers, seam splits, or writing anywhere on the label, jacket, or sleeve.  Artwork should be clean and unworn and without ink wear. No taped repairs can be allowed in this grade.  No CUT-OUT holes, either, in any of the parts comprising the album.

(VG+) Very Good PLUS - The record show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner, who took good care of it.  Vinyl still has great luster but the record surfaces may show signs of wear visible to the naked eye.  May have slight scuffs or very light scratches as long as they don't affect one's listening experiences.  Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".  Spindle hole should be round and not significantly worn.  The jacket (and sleeve) must be clean and free from stains.  Small writing or marking is acceptable.  The back of the jacket usually gives away clues to the albums age.  Flat white areas will be somewhat off-white in the yellow cast, yet no stains or mildew from moisture are present.  Some minor wear to the seams or spine, but no tears or holes through.  The corners may be slightly dog eared (fraying) yet no creased bends, defacing the artwork. In essence, a VG+ jacket  should have no more than 3 flaws mentioned. 

(VG) Very Good - This is a record that is GOOD ENOUGH, meaning it's not really going to look very good, but it will STILL play very good.  The vinyl will not have the deep black luster of NM grade.  The record will have been played many times, and there will always be some surface noise.  Despite noticeable surface marks and the occasional light scratch, the record should exhibit no major deterioration of dynamic range and sound quality, overpowering the surface noise.  There should be no skips.  The label may exhibit some tears, tape marks, larger writing, or other blemishes but should still be very easily legible.  There may be some wear or deformation of the spindle hole.  The jacket will look worn, used.  There may be some seam splitting.  There will be some ring wear, where the jacket art ink has begun to wear off (this gives the jacket a look of being "snow-speckled" where the white paper shows through the worn ink).  If the artwork looks snowy all over, it is less than VG condition.  There may be some writing on the jacket (still, no LARGE letters in felt tip marker).  There may be corner crushing or creasing, or gouges or scratches blemishing the jacket art.  Colors will not have the saturation and an overall yellowish cast may be present as a sign of age deterioration.

(G) Good - Often-played, with a less lustrous, grayer vinyl.  Deeper scratches and wear causing distracting surface noise.  The record will still play through without any skips.  Will also have some loss of dynamics caused from grooves being worn.  Good means that it will play with some form of decency, so one can still enjoy the music even though you can still hear noise caused from the wear.  Labels may be significantly defaced or damaged.  On the jacket, several (but not all of the following flaws will apply: Seam splits, large marker writing, major seam splits, significant ring wear, damaged corners, tears, cuts, gouges, masking or duct tape seam repairs, or other flaws and damage.  Again, probably only useful to fill a collection niche until something better can be found. 

(F) Fair - The record has been played so often and mishandled so much that the sound quality has completely deteriorated.  Deeper scratches, wear and skips cause continuous, major distracting "surface noise".   These disks are basically trash and only useful as inexpensive "placeholders" in a collection until a better quality item comes along.  The jacket  and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration etc.  The jacket at this grade level is typically held together with tape to keep the disc from falling out.  Again, basically trash.

On a scale from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Perfect) the above grades are equal to: MINT = 10, Near Mint = 8, Excellent = 7, Very Good Plus = 6 , Very Good = 5 , Good = 2