Used Vinyl Grading Guide: How to Read Record Condition (M, NM, VG+, VG, G)
Every used record sold at Freeson Rock carries two grades: one for the record and one for the sleeve. They are graded separately, because a perfect record can easily sit in a worn sleeve, and vice versa. Here's how to read them before you buy.
The scale, from best to worst
- M – Mint: never played or impossible to tell apart from a new record. Rare on used vinyl.
- NM – Near Mint: no marks visible to the eye, plays like new.
- VG+ – Very Good Plus: a few light signs of use with no real effect on playback. The most common grade for a good second-hand record.
- VG – Very Good: visible marks and audible surface noise, mostly in quiet passages and between tracks. The music stays in the foreground.
- G+ / G – Good: constant background noise, but the record plays from start to finish. Good for filling a gap in your collection on a budget.
What about the sleeve?
The same scale applies: corners, seams, ring wear (the round mark left by the record), writing or stickers. Two special notes may also appear on our listings: Generic sleeve (the record comes in a plain sleeve) and No sleeve.
Our advice
- If you plan to play it often without worrying about surface noise, go for NM or VG+.
- For a first listen or a hard-to-find album, VG is often an excellent value.
- Not sure about a specific record? Come see it in store at 1477 Mont-Royal Ave. East, or write to us.
Got records to sell?
We use this same scale when we buy records. Freeson Rock buys single records and whole collections in Montreal, paid in cash or in store credit with 20% more. Appraisal in store or at your home. See how to sell your records or read where to sell your records in Montreal.
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