Grade Definitions
The 10-Point Grading System
Discjunky Records (eBay ID: dj98)

Mint

M,M10

Vinyl:  Nothing is perfect. Theoretically one could use this grade for a record that's still sealed & has never been played.

Cover:  Again, nothing is perfect. If you look hard enough, minor defects can be found on any cover.  Just in case there is a cover out there untouched by human hands... Remember, just because a cover is still in the shrink wrap, or even sealed, it's not necessarily mint.

Label:  Perfect, no spindle marks or wear, at all. This one seems most likely to be found Mint. I would also include placement on the record; it should not be off center. 

Play:  Theoretically, only a sealed record that has never been played.

Near Mint

M-, NM, NM9

Vinyl:  A record that looks mint, the cover has been opened and it was handled carefully and may have been played once or twice.

Cover:  A NM cover looks mint, except for one very minor detail, like a slightly dinged corner or a slightly bent corner from the continued shrinking of the shrink wrap. 

Label:  A NM label has only one or two very minor spindle marks, otherwise it's mint.

Play:  Plays & sounds like a brand new record should.

Excellent

E, EX, N-,
NM-, EX8

Vinyl: A record that most people would still call NM. EX vinyl may have some light paper scuffs, which have no effect on the play. Or there may be one very faint scratch that has no effect on the play.

Cover:  The cover should still have no wear, but it might have slight dings on more than one corner or very slight wear along the opening edge from removal of the record. 

Label:  An excellent label has a few small and light spindle marks, otherwise it's mint.  

Play:  EX vinyl should still play NM except for a small inconsequential tic.

Very Good Plus

E-, VG+, V+,
VG7

Vinyl:  A lot of people still call this grade NM. At this grade the normal wear begins to show, but only slightly. VG7 vinyl has multiple paper scuffs from sliding in & out of the sleeve, these have no effect on the play. There will also be some very faint scratches, the kind where the record has to be held at the right angle in the light to see. These will have no (or very minor) effect on the play.

Cover:  The cover may have slight ring wear where the ink is beginning to wear, but not in a complete circle & there's no other surface wear evident. There may also be some light wearing of the ink or light feathering in small spots around the edges, but not an entire edge. 

Label:  The label plainly shows a few spindle marks none really heavy, but there's no wear otherwise. 

Play:  A VG7 record will only have a few faint ticks or pops that are not noticeable unless you're listening for them.

Very Good

V, VG, VG6

Vinyl: Your average to slightly better than average used record. The vinyl has some obvious light scratches, but looks like it will still play without any problems or surface noise, and it still retains most of the original gloss. 

Cover: The cover has a complete ring, light overall surface wear and some of the edges may have the ink worn off completely, or it may have a couple lightly creased corners. 

Label:  The label has multiple spindle marks & light wear beginning to show around the spindle hole. 

Play:  VG6 vinyl still plays very good with only minor distracting noises in the quieter passages & between the songs.

Very Good

V, VG, VG5   

Vinyl:  Your average to slightly less than average used record. The vinyl has multiple light scratches, it looks like it might play noisily but plays better than expected. Still retains much of the original gloss.

Cover:  The cover has light ring wear, but the overall surface wear is also very obvious. There are edges that have the ink worn off completely, and may be weakening, but no splits, or very minor splits. 

Label:  The label shows obvious wear around the spindle hole, multiple spindle marks, and maybe some light overall surface wear. 

Play:  VG5 records still play well, with  minimal distraction from pops & ticks which are more into the main body of sound than a VG6. A VG5 record is still an enjoyable listening experience.

Very Good Minus

V-, G, G+,
VG-,VG4

Vinyl:  A very worn, but still playable record. The vinyl has multiple scratches of varying degrees of severity, it looks like it will play noisily and does. It still plays through without skipping. The background noise from the scratches & wear will not overwhelm the music. I generally will not sell (or collect) records in this grade or lower, unless they are very difficult to find any better. Commons in this condition go in the garbage. 

Cover:  The cover shows heavy ring wear & surface wear. There may be a split seam or two, or other minor damage, but the cover still holds the record in. 

Label:  The labels have obvious overall surface wear or ring wear, as well as wear around the hole & multiple spindle marks. 

Play:  A VG- record still plays completely through and at no time is the surface noise at a level that totally distracts from the music.

Good

G3,F,F3

Fair

F2, P,P2

Poor

P1, B1

Updated 3/14/04
Rev 4

Based in part on 10 Point Grading system of Neal Umphred.