You find two copies of the exact same collectible record.

Same artist. Same album. Same label. Same catalog number. Same matrix. Same pressing.

One costs $50.

The other costs $150.

Why?

Very often, the answer is condition.

For collectors, identifying the correct pressing is only half the job. Once you know exactly which version of a record you have, you need to determine how well that particular copy has survived.

That's where vinyl record grading comes in.

Terms such as NM, VG+, VG and G provide collectors with a common language for describing condition. But grading isn't simply about looking for scratches. Playback, groove wear, labels, jackets, seams, inserts and other defects can all matter.

And when you're buying an original, early or rare pressing, the difference between two grades can represent a substantial difference in collector value.

Here's how vinyl grading works—and what those letters actually mean.

Why Vinyl Record Condition Matters

Vinyl records are physical objects.

Every time a record is handled, played, stored or transported, there is an opportunity for wear.

A record manufactured 50 years ago may have survived:

• thousands of plays
• different turntables
• worn styluses
• parties
• moving boxes
• attics
• basements
• record-store bins
• multiple owners

That history is part of collecting vintage vinyl.

But it also means genuinely clean examples of desirable older pressings can be much harder to find than worn copies.

This is why two examples of the same pressing can have very different market values.

The pressing establishes what the record is.

The grade describes the condition of the copy you actually have.

Both matter.

What Is the Goldmine Vinyl Grading Scale?

One of the most widely used grading systems in record collecting is the Goldmine grading standard.

You'll commonly encounter grades descending approximately like this:

Mint (M)
Near Mint (NM or M-)
Very Good Plus (VG+)
Very Good (VG)
Good Plus (G+) / Good (G)
Fair (F) / Poor (P)

Many current marketplaces use the Goldmine Standard.

But there's something important to understand:

A grade is not a substitute for a detailed description.

Two VG+ records can have different minor imperfections.

One might have a few harmless sleeve scuffs.

Another might look beautiful but have occasional light surface noise.

The grade gives you a general condition category. A good listing tells you the specific details.

Mint (M): Essentially Perfect

Mint is the highest grade—and it should be used extremely sparingly.

A truly Mint record should be essentially perfect.

No scratches.

No scuffs.

No groove wear.

No handling damage.

No defects that would prevent the record from being considered pristine.

Does Sealed Automatically Mean Mint?

Not necessarily.

This is an important distinction.

A sealed record may never have been played, but the seal prevents you from inspecting the vinyl itself.

Manufacturing defects can exist inside a sealed jacket.

The record could potentially be warped.

The jacket might have corner damage or other storage wear even though the shrink remains intact.

Vintage records can also be resealed.

So sealed describes the packaging status.

Mint describes condition.

Those aren't automatically the same thing.

For genuinely collectible vintage records, buyers should consider both.

Near Mint (NM): The Collector's High Bar

Near Mint is generally the highest realistic grade collectors regularly encounter for opened vintage records.

A Near Mint record should show very little evidence of handling or play.

The vinyl should appear exceptionally clean, and playback should be correspondingly clean.

The jacket should also be exceptionally well preserved if it is being graded NM separately.

Think of Near Mint as:

“This record has survived remarkably well.”

Not:

“Pretty good for its age.”

Age doesn't lower the grading standard.

A 1970 record doesn't become NM simply because its wear is understandable after more than 50 years.

The grade describes its present condition.

Very Good Plus (VG+): Where Many Quality Collectible Records Live

VG+ is one of the most important grades to understand because many attractive vintage records fall here.

A VG+ record has been played and handled, but it was generally cared for.

You may see:

• light surface marks
• faint scuffs
• minor cosmetic wear
• slight label wear
• other limited signs of previous use

The key distinction is that the defects shouldn't significantly interfere with the overall listening experience.

In practical terms, a VG+ record can show light signs of use, but those flaws should generally have only a limited impact on playback.

For many collectors, a strong VG+ copy can offer an appealing balance between condition and price.

This becomes particularly relevant with expensive original pressings.

A collector who doesn't want to pay the premium for an exceptional NM copy may be very happy with a properly graded VG+ example.

Very Good (VG): A Playable Record With Noticeable Wear

This is where the wording can confuse newcomers.

Very Good sounds better than it actually is on the traditional grading scale.

A VG record is clearly used.

You may encounter:

• visible scuffs
• light scratches
• groove wear
• audible surface noise
• ticks during playback
• more noticeable label wear

Surface noise can become especially apparent during quiet passages, intros and fades.

But a properly graded VG record should still be usable as a listening copy.

For common albums, collectors may prefer to wait for something cleaner.

For genuinely scarce pressings, however, VG can be perfectly acceptable.

If you've searched for a particular original pressing for years and rarely see one for sale, a VG example may be far more interesting than having no copy at all.

Rarity changes how collectors tolerate condition—not what the grade means.

Good and Good Plus (G/G+): Heavily Used

Here's another grading term that sounds misleading.

In everyday language, “good condition” sounds positive.

In vinyl grading, Good means significant wear.

A G or G+ record can have:

• substantial surface noise
• numerous scratches
• obvious groove wear
• repeated ticks
• heavily worn labels
• substantial jacket wear

Under Goldmine-style grading, a Good record should generally still play through, but the listening experience will clearly reflect its condition. 

Why would anyone buy one?

Rarity.

If only a handful of copies of an important pressing regularly appear for sale, even a heavily worn example can have collector interest.

For a common record available everywhere in VG+ condition, a G copy may have little appeal.

Again:

Condition and scarcity work together.

Fair (F) and Poor (P)

At the bottom of the grading scale are Fair and Poor.

These records may have severe problems such as:

• deep scratches
• skipping
• repeating
• serious warping
• cracks
• severe groove damage
• major jacket damage

For ordinary records, copies in this condition often have little collector value.

Extreme rarity can change that.

There are records scarce enough that collectors will buy damaged copies simply because obtaining a better one may be extraordinarily difficult.

But those are exceptions—not the rule.

What Does VG++ or EX Mean?

If you've shopped for collectible records, you've probably encountered descriptions such as:

VG++

EX

EX+

NM-

These can be useful seller shorthand, but they aren't all formal grades in the standard Goldmine ladder.

For example, VG++ generally communicates that a seller considers the record better than a typical VG+ copy but isn't comfortable calling it Near Mint.

EX, meaning Excellent, is also commonly encountered, particularly outside the standard US Goldmine terminology. Some sellers use it as a condition somewhere around the upper end of VG+ or between VG+ and NM.

The important point is:

Don't buy based on the modifier alone.

Read the actual condition description.

If a seller calls something VG++, the useful information is why.

Are there two faint hairlines?

Does the record play exceptionally cleanly?

Is there minor sleeve wear?

Specific descriptions are more useful than increasingly elaborate combinations of plus and minus signs.

Grade the Record and Jacket Separately

A common mistake is thinking an album has one condition grade.

It really has at least two major components:

Media condition

and

Sleeve/jacket condition

You could have a beautiful NM record inside a jacket with ring wear and a seam split.

Or you could find a nearly flawless jacket containing a heavily played VG record.

That's why serious listings often show grades such as:

VG+ / VG

Usually, this means the vinyl is VG+ and the jacket is VG—but always verify the seller's stated format.

Other components can matter too:

• original inner sleeve
• lyric sheet
• poster
• booklet
• postcards
• stickers
• OBI strip
• other inserts

For collectible releases, completeness should be described separately.

How to Visually Grade a Vinyl Record

Good grading begins with good inspection.

Clean the Record First

Dust can hide defects.

It can also make a clean record look much worse than it actually is.

Use appropriate vinyl-cleaning methods before making a final condition judgment.

Use Strong Directional Light

Normal room lighting can hide hairlines and scuffs.

Hold the record under a strong light and slowly tilt it.

Let the light travel across the grooves.

Marks that were nearly invisible may suddenly become obvious.

Inspect Both Sides

Never assume Side B matches Side A.

One side may be considerably cleaner.

Look Beyond Scratches

Check for:

• scuffs
• groove wear
• warping
• pressing defects
• spindle marks
• label damage
• writing
• stickers
• residue

A record can appear relatively clean at first glance while still showing evidence of substantial use.

Visual Grading vs. Play Grading

Looking at the record tells you a lot.

Listening tells you something different.

A visually attractive record can sometimes produce unexpected surface noise or distortion.

Conversely, a record with harmless-looking cosmetic marks may play extremely well.

That's why play grading can be especially useful for valuable collectible records or whenever visual inspection leaves uncertainty.

Listen for:

• repeated ticks
• pops
• crackle
• distortion
• groove wear
• skipping
• repeating
• excessive noise during quiet passages

When selling an expensive pressing, a note such as “visually graded VG+, play tested” can provide useful additional information.

How Condition Affects Vinyl Record Value

This is where grading connects directly with our previous discussion of vinyl value.

Condition can dramatically affect what collectors are willing to pay.

Goldmine-derived marketplace guidance has traditionally used rough relationships such as:

VG+ — around 50% of NM value

VG — around 25% of NM value

G/G+ — around 10–15% of NM value

These are guidelines, not pricing formulas.

Real markets are messier.

A rare record may retain more value in lower condition because collectors have few alternatives.

A common album may lose far more value because clean copies are easy to find.

That's why you shouldn't take a hypothetical $200 NM price, apply a percentage and assume you've discovered the exact value of your VG copy.

Instead, look for actual sales of the same pressing in similar condition.

The Most Common Vinyl Grading Mistakes

Overgrading

Collectors naturally want their records to be in better condition.

But optimism isn't grading.

If you're deciding between two grades, conservative grading usually creates more trust than choosing the higher one.

Grading for Age

“Excellent for a 50-year-old record” isn't a condition grade.

A scratch doesn't become less of a scratch because the record is old.

Ignoring the Jacket

A clean disc doesn't make a heavily damaged jacket NM.

Grade them separately.

Calling Every Sealed Record Mint

Sealed and Mint describe different things.

Depending Only on Visual Inspection

For inexpensive records, visual grading may be sufficient.

For valuable collectible pressings, playback information can become much more important.

Ignoring Inserts

A beautiful record missing an important original poster or inner sleeve isn't equivalent to a complete copy.

Should You Buy a VG+ Record or Wait for Near Mint?

There isn't one answer.

If the album is common and NM copies regularly appear at reasonable prices, waiting may make sense.

But suppose you're considering an uncommon original pressing that rarely appears in clean condition.

A properly graded VG+ copy may be an excellent collector record—and considerably less expensive than the rare NM example.

For extremely scarce records, even VG can be worth considering.

This is one of the differences between collecting records and simply buying perfect-looking records.

Sometimes the pressing is the priority.

Sometimes condition is the priority.

The best collectors understand both.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does VG+ mean on a vinyl record?

VG+ means Very Good Plus. The record has been played and may show light signs of handling, such as minor scuffs or surface marks, but those defects shouldn't significantly affect the overall listening experience.

Is VG+ better than VG?

Yes. VG+ is a higher condition grade than VG. A VG record generally shows more obvious wear and may have noticeable surface noise during playback.

Is Near Mint better than VG+?

Yes. Near Mint should show very little evidence of use and is significantly closer to pristine condition than VG+.

Is Excellent or EX better than VG+?

There is no universal answer because EX isn't part of the basic Goldmine grading ladder. Different sellers use it differently. Read the seller's detailed condition description rather than relying on EX alone.

Is a sealed record automatically Mint?

No. Sealed describes an unopened record. The vinyl inside cannot be fully inspected, and the jacket can still have storage wear. Vintage records can also be resealed.

Should the vinyl and cover have separate grades?

Yes. The record and jacket can be in completely different condition and should be evaluated separately.

Does record condition affect value?

Absolutely. Condition can have a major effect on collector value, particularly when comparing copies of the exact same pressing. Scarcity and demand also influence how much of a premium cleaner copies receive.

Can a scratched record still be valuable?

Yes. A rare pressing can retain collector value even in lower condition. A heavily worn copy of a common record, however, may have very little market value.

Condition Matters—But Identify the Pressing First

A beautifully preserved record isn't automatically valuable.

And a worn record isn't automatically worthless.

Condition only makes sense after you've identified what you have.

The best approach is:

Identify the pressing. Grade the vinyl. Grade the jacket. Check completeness. Then compare similar copies.

That sequence helps you avoid one of the biggest mistakes in record collecting: comparing the price of a Near Mint rare pressing with a worn copy that merely has the same album title.

At Rock Vinyl Records, we focus on collectible vinyl across rock, metal, jazz, reggae, hip-hop and other genres, with condition clearly described so collectors can make informed buying decisions.

Explore original, early, rare and collectible vinyl at RockVinylRecords.com.