Vinyl Grading Guide

Duke Jordan : Flight To Jordan (LP, Album, RE, Gat)

Mint

These are absolutely perfect in every way. Mint should never be used as a grade unless more than one person agrees that the record or sleeve truly is in this condition. Brand new and sealed records are Mint.

Near Mint (NM)

NM records are shiny, with no visible defects. Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any “spindle marks” from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable. If played, it will do so with no surface noise. NM covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.

Very Good Plus (VG+)

Except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint. VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Spindle marks are ok.  A VG+ cover might have some very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom and may have cut corner. 

Very Good (VG)

VG records have more obvious flaws and lack most of the original gloss. Groove wear and light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail are evident. When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially in soft passages and during a song’s intro and ending. But the noise will not overpower the music otherwise. Minor writing, tape or a sticker may be present on the label or sleeve.  VG covers will have ring wear and seam splits. Someone might have written or it or stamped a price tag on it, too.

Below VG

Good or Good Plus does not mean bad! But it has significant surface noise and groove wear, and the label is worn, with significant ring wear, heavy writing, or obvious damage. A Good to G+ cover has ring wear to the point of distraction, has seam splits obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing. We don't stock records in this condition unless very rare. We don't stock records in Poor condition at all.

How does vinyl record grading work?

Every record we sell is graded on two separate scales: media condition (how the vinyl itself looks and plays) and sleeve condition (the outer cover). We use the standard collector grading scale, from Mint down through Good, so you know exactly what you're buying before it arrives.

What does VG+ (Very Good Plus) mean for a record?

VG+ means light signs of play, such as faint surface marks or a touch of background noise, but no skips and no impact on the listening experience. It's the most common grade for well-loved original pressings and represents a genuinely good copy, not a compromise.

What does Near Mint (NM or M-) actually mean?

Near Mint means a record that looks and plays like new, with at most the faintest handling marks under close light. It's the highest grade we use short of a factory-sealed Mint copy, and it should sound essentially silent on a good turntable.

How is a record's sleeve condition graded separately from the media?

We grade the sleeve on its own scale because a record can play perfectly while its cover shows shelf wear, and the reverse is also true. Look for ring wear, seam splits, and corner dings, these affect the sleeve grade but not the vinyl grade, and we list both so you can judge each on its own terms.

How can I check a record for scratches before buying?

Hold the record at an angle under a bright light and look across the surface rather than straight down, scratches and light marks show up far more clearly this way. A true scratch you can feel with a fingernail is more likely to affect playback than a light surface mark, which is often just handling wear.

What grading standards does Car Boot Soul Records use?

We grade every record in house before it's listed, media and sleeve separately, using the same scale collectors use on Discogs. If a record has any playback issue, however minor, we note it in the listing rather than let the grade alone speak for it.