Introduction

All records are graded visually under a strong light.  Regardless of value and age, the grading does not change.  We will play records upon request (Please allow a 24 hour turnaround). I use a system that is based on Goldmine, but cannot be labeled as that type of grading as they have not all been played.  First and foremost, I am honest and reliable.  My reputation is very important.  Grading records is very subjective.  What we view as "Very Good," others may view as "Good."  Also, please keep in mind that there are two different types of record buyers - listeners and collectors.  Most of the records sold online are for listening audience.  A true collector of fine, rare records will only be interested in the best of the best.  Most of these buyers must examine the item in advance of buying.  However, if a record it truly a collectible, it will be noted.  Many items in the very best of condition may qualify as a collectible because of its rarity.

Records and covers are graded separately and will be noted as such. We will use abbreviations, so please check them out below.  We will not sell Fair/Poor records under normal circumstances.

SYSTEM

Mint: 

This is a very rarely used condition.  The album/record must be sealed with absolutely no signs of wear.

Mint-:  Sealed albums/records that may show some shelf wear.  Opened albums will have original wrap. Record must look like it has not been played (original luster).

Very Good+: 

A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it.
Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".
The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play.
Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount.
In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good:  

Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.
Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

 Good (G), Good Plus (G+):

Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white).
A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

Abbreviations

Buying CD’s and Vinyl online can be daunting because of all the abbreviations that are used by sellers of music, especially collectable music. Here is a quick guide to most abbreviations and what they stand for:

Abbreviation Full Name + Notes (in Brackets)

2CD                      Double CD
2LP                       Double LP
2P                         Second Pressing
3LP/4LP               Triple/Quadruple LP
45                         45 RPM Record (Also known as 7 Inch Single)
78                         78 RPM Record
AC                         Acetate – The first item pressed to test the quality
alt                          Alternative
B/W                      Backed With
B & W                     Black and White
bk                           back
bl                            Blistering (vinyl has bubbled)
bo                           Book, booklet
BOC                        Bend on Cover
Boot                        Bootleg half abbreviation, half slang a bootleg is usually unreleased or live            material. An illegal copy of an existing record is called a Pirated copy.
B/S                         Box Set
BSS                         Bottom Seam split
BTC                         Bent corner
cass                       Cassette
cassing                    Cassette Single
Cat No or Cat #        Catalogue Number
CC                            Cut Corner (a Cut Out or promo item)
CD                            Compact Disc
CD sing                     Compact Disc Single
CD3                          3" Compact Disc Single
CD5                          5" Compact Disc Single
CDR, CD-R                CD Recordable
CD-RW                     CD Re-writable
CDs                          CD single (size not defined)
cnr                           Corner
Co                            Company (Usually refers to sleeve)
CO                            Cut Out (type of cut out not specified) Used since the 80’s for promo items and deletions.
CODH                       Cut Out Drill hole
comp                        Compilation
COPH                        Cut Out Punch Hole
COH                          Cut Out Hole
C/P                           Cut out Punch
cust                          Custom
Cvr                           Cover
CW                           Cover Wear/Worn
DAT                          digital Audio Tape
dbl, dble                   Double
DC                             Discoloration (on label or sleeve)
DCC                           Digital Compact Cassette
Del                            Deleted ( This means that the record label will not manufacture this release until further notice)
Demo                        Demonstration Copy
DHL                           Drill hole Through Label
DJ                             Disc Jockey (Usually in reference to a promo copy for DJ’s)
DVD                          Digital Video Disc
DVD                          A Audio DVD
edn                           Edition
EP                             Extended Play
EW                            Edge Warp (rarely used)
EX                             Excellent, refers to the condition of record
ext                            Extended
F                               Fair, refers to the condition of record
flexi, Flx                   Flexi Disc
FOC                           Fold out Cover
FOS                           Fold out Sleeve
G                               Good, refers to the condition of record
g/f, g/fold,              GF Gatefold
HCRW                       Heavy Cover Ring Wear
Imp                           Import
inst                           Instrumental
ind                            Indie
intl                            International
LE                              Limited Edition
Ltd                            Limited Edition
LP                              Long Playing Record
LPR                           Later Pressing (Not original)
M Mint (perfect)      Refers to the condition of record
mag                           Magazine
MB                             Minimum bid
M/C                           Music Cassette (tape)
MD                             Mini disc
NM                             Near Mint, Refers to the condition of record
NCR                           No Cover
No, #                         Number
No'd                          Numbered
NOC                           No Original Centre (mainly old European 45s with push out middles)
Obi                             Original Band Intact (refers to paper band on Japanese LPs)
OOP                           Out of print (Release is not yet deleted, but the record company is currently not manufacturing it)
Orig,                           ORG Original (pressing)
OSP                            One Sided Pressing
P Poor                        Refers to the of record (Rarely Used)
p/c,                            PC Picture Cover (pretty much the same as picture sleeve!)
p/s,                            PS Picture Sleeve
PD,                             pic disc Picture Disc
PO                               Poster
prog                            Progressive
Promo                        PR Promotional Copy
Quad                          Quadrophonic
RE                               RI Re-Issue
RE-R Re                      Release
Rmx                            Remix
RPM                            Revolutions per minute
RS / GS Rubber stamped /             Gold stamped
RW                              R/W Ring Wear
SACD                          Super Audio CD
SC                               Saw Cut (a form of cut out)
SCR                             Scratch (the record is scratched.
S/face, Sface             Surface
Slv                               sleeve
Sm                               Small
Pirate                           Illegal copies of officially released recordings.
SOFC                            Sticker on Front Cover
SOL                              Sticker on label
SS                                 Seam split (usually happens when distributor or manufacturer ships item
S/S                               Still Sealed
ST                                  Stereo
stkr                                sticker
stkrd, stkred, STK        stickered
SW                                Shrink Wrapped
TOBC                             Tear on Back Cover
TOFC                              Tear on Front Cover
TOIC                              Tear on Inside cover
TOL                                Tear on Label t/p, TP Test Pressing Tpl, Trpl Triple
TS                                  Tape Seam (Repaired with cellotape)
TSS                                Top Seam split
UNP Unplayed               Refers to the condition of record
Vid                                  Video
VG                                  Very Good, Refers to the condition of record
WD                                 Water Damage
w/                                  With
w/l                                 WL White Label
Warp                              WRP Warped
WOC                               Writing on Cover
WOFC                             Writing on Inside cover
WOL                               Writing on Label
WOS                               Writing on Sleeve
WP, WPD                        Warp, Warped