Vinyl Buying Guide: Grading & Pressings
A great record starts with music you love and a copy that suits your expectations. Use this quick guide when browsing our Used Vinyl and New Vinyl collections.
Read the record and sleeve grades separately
Our grading is based on the Goldmine standard used by Discogs. Here is a quick summary. Media condition describes the record; sleeve condition describes its cover. A worn sleeve does not necessarily mean a worn record, and a clean cover does not guarantee quiet playback.
- Mint (M): Absolutely perfect and never played, possibly still sealed. This grade is used sparingly; sealed alone does not establish Mint condition.
- Near Mint (NM or M-): Nearly perfect, with no obvious wear and playback free of imperfections. An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or cut-out holes.
- Very Good Plus (VG+): Light signs of careful use. Minor scuffs or very light scratches should not affect the listening experience. Sleeves may show slight wear; an LP cover may have a cut-out hole or cut corner.
- Very Good (VG): Noticeable wear, with surface noise especially in quiet passages, intros and fades, but not overpowering the music. Groove wear and scratches may affect sound. Sleeves may show writing, stickers or other more pronounced wear.
- Good / Good Plus (G/G+): Plays through without skipping, but with significant surface noise, scratches and visible groove wear. Sleeves may have seam splits, tape, writing or substantial ring wear. “Good” does not mean nearly new.
- Poor / Fair (P/F): Serious damage, such as cracks or bad warps, with skipping or repeating. Covers may have water damage, extensive splits or heavy wear.
Generic sleeve: A plain or standard company sleeve rather than artwork specific to the release. It describes the sleeve type, not a condition grade.
Visual wear versus playback wear
A light surface scuff can be mostly cosmetic; groove wear can cause distortion even when a record looks fairly clean. Visual grading cannot tell you everything about playback. Check any condition comments, and do not assume a copy has been play-tested unless the listing says so. Sealed records cannot be fully assessed without opening them.
Understand the pressing
Original pressing: An early issue from an album's initial release period. Different countries can have different original editions. Age alone does not establish better sound.
Reissue: A later release of an existing album. It may use different mastering, packaging or manufacturing from an earlier edition.
Remaster: A version made using a newly prepared master. A reissue may be remastered, but the terms are not interchangeable. Neither label guarantees a particular sound or an all-analogue source.
Record weight: Labels such as 180g describe the vinyl's weight, not a sound-quality grade. Heavier vinyl does not by itself guarantee quieter surfaces or better sound.
Check the details before choosing
Where supplied, our listing details include genre, format, label, country, year, media condition, sleeve condition and format description. Genre helps you explore; format and format description help identify details such as LP, speed, colour or edition. Label, country and year help distinguish releases. A listed year refers to the identified release, not necessarily the album's first appearance; country is release information, not a guarantee of where the record was pressed.
Choose by condition and the specific edition details, not weight or age alone. If a detail matters to you and is not stated, ask before ordering.
Ready to dig? Explore Used Vinyl for pre-loved finds or browse New Vinyl for your next addition.
