Hey there, come on in and pull up a stool. I've had folks ask me about this more times than I can count, especially new collectors who just picked up a stack of albums at a yard sale or online. Grading records and CDs the right way makes all the difference when you're buying, selling, or just figuring out what you've got in your collection. Around here, we stick to the Goldmine standard because it's straightforward, fair, and pretty much what everybody uses these days.
Let me tell you a bit about where it came from and why it matters.
A Little History on the Goldmine Standard
Back in the 1970s, record collecting was growing fast, but folks were all over the place on how to describe condition. One person's "excellent" might be another's "played out." Goldmine magazine, which has been around since the mid-70s covering collectible records, stepped in to fix that. They put together a clear grading system to help buyers and sellers speak the same language.
Over the years, it caught on big time. Now it's the go-to standard for places like Discogs, where millions of records get bought and sold, and even a lot of eBay listings reference it. Other sites and shops might tweak things a little, but Goldmine is the foundation. It applies to vinyl albums, singles, and even CDs, with some small adjustments for discs versus grooves.
Why Grading Matters So Much
Condition is everything in this hobby. A record can be rare as hen's teeth, but if it's scratched up or the cover's falling apart, the value drops way down. Same goes the other way: a common album in top shape can still fetch good money from folks who just want it to sound clean on their turntable.
Without a shared system, you'd have arguments all day long about what "good" really means. Goldmine keeps things honest. Sellers who grade conservatively build trust, and buyers know what to expect. I've seen too many new folks get burned buying something listed as "near mint" that shows up looking rode hard and put away wet. Stick to Goldmine, and everybody wins.
We always grade the media (the vinyl or CD itself) separate from the sleeve or jewel case when it makes sense. For vinyl, that's the record and the jacket. For CDs, it's the disc and the inserts or case.
The Goldmine Grades at a Glance
Here's the quick rundown of the main grades, from best to worst. I'll give a short tag for each, then dive deeper below.
- Mint (M): Absolutely perfect, often still sealed.
- Near Mint (NM or M-): Almost perfect, like it just left the store.
- Very Good Plus (VG+): Minor signs of wear, but still looks and plays great.
- Very Good (VG): Noticeable wear, some noise, but playable.
- Good (G): Rough shape, lots of noise, but gets through the songs.
- Fair (F): Barely playable, heavy damage.
- Poor (P): Basically trash, but might fill a collection gap.
Some folks add plus (+) or minus (-) to fine-tune, like VG++ for the high end of Very Good Plus. But the core is these.
Breaking Down Each Grade for Vinyl Records
Let's talk vinyl first, since that's what most folks come in asking about.
Mint (M)
Short take: Perfect in every way.
This one's rare as a honest politician. The record has never been played, usually still factory sealed. No wear on the vinyl, no marks on the cover, no nothing. We hardly ever use Mint unless it's brand new and untouched, because even opening it can knock it down a notch. If it's unsealed but truly flawless, some might call it Mint, but I reckon Near Mint is safer.
Near Mint (NM or M-)
Short take: Looks and sounds like new, maybe played once or twice.
This is the grade for records that have been cared for like family heirlooms. The vinyl is shiny, no visible scratches or scuffs you can feel with your fingernail. Might have one or two tiny marks from sliding in and out of the sleeve, but it plays clean with no noise. Cover is crisp, no ring wear, no writing, seams intact. Most serious collectors aim for NM when hunting favorites, whether it's a classic country album or some alt-rock gem from the 90s.
Very Good Plus (VG+)
Short take: Light wear, plays excellent with maybe faint occasional noise.
A VG+ record shows it's been played and loved, but not abused. You might see a few light sleeve scuffs or very faint hairlines that don't affect play. It should spin quiet most of the time, maybe a soft tick here or there in quiet spots. Cover could have slight ring wear, a little corner ding, or minor creases, but nothing major like splits or heavy stains. This is where a lot of great playing copies live, especially older stuff. Folks who spin their records regular are plenty happy with VG+.
Very Good (VG)
Short take: Obvious wear, surface noise noticeable but music still shines through.
Now we're into records that have seen some action. Lots of light scratches or scuffs, maybe some that you can feel. It'll have background noise, crackle during soft parts, but shouldn't skip or overpower the tunes. Cover shows ring wear, seam wear, maybe some writing or tape. VG is the workhorse grade for budget collectors. You can find tons of solid country or pop-rock albums here that sound just fine on a decent setup.
Good (G)
Short take: Heavy wear, loud noise, but playable without skipping.
A Good record has been through the wars. Deep scratches, groove wear that's visible, constant surface noise that gets in the way. It plays all the way through, no skips usually, but don't expect quiet backgrounds. Cover might have splits, heavy ring wear, writing all over. We sell these cheap as fillers or for folks hunting rare tracks who don't mind the racket.
Fair (F) and Poor (P)
Short take: Rough or worse, may skip or be unplayable.
These are bottom barrel. Warps, deep gouges, skips, loud pops that ruin songs. Cover torn, water damaged, you name it. Only good for super rare stuff where any copy is better than none, or maybe for parts like the sleeve on a collectible.
How the Grades Work for CDs
CDs follow the same scale, but it's mostly about the disc surface and playback, since they don't have grooves like vinyl.
- Mint: Still sealed, perfect.
- Near Mint: Disc looks brand new, no marks, plays flawless. Booklet and case pristine.
- Very Good Plus: Few light marks, plays perfect, maybe minor case scuffs.
- Very Good: More scratches, might have light noise or minor skips on bad ones, but generally plays through.
- Lower grades mean visible damage, skips, or the disc is foggy/scuffed bad.
For CDs, always clean them first before final grading, since fingerprints can fool you.
A Few Tips from Behind the Counter
I always tell folks to grade conservatively. Better to underpromise and have the buyer thrilled than the other way around. Look at the record under good light, tilted to catch scuffs. Feel for scratches with your fingernail. And if you're selling, play test when you can, especially lower grades.
If you're just starting out and want to build a shelf of clean spinners, check our cleaned and graded section next time you're in the shop.
Grading keeps this hobby fun and fair for everybody, whether you're chasing that pristine pressing of a favorite album or just filling out your collection on a budget.
Keep it spinning, y’all!