Making the grade: How To Grade Your 45 RPM Records. Free Grading Guide.

The 45 RPM Record Collecting Hobby uses a grading system known as the VJM Grading System. The VJM Record Grading System is an internationally-used and recognized system for grading both 45s and LPs. It is used by virtually all jazz, blues, personality and most pre-war record dealers and collectors alike, with an easily understood sequence of letters to show grades and a system of abbreviations to show faults and damage. The first grading system to be adopted by jazz record collectors was devised by the publishers of Record Changer magazine in the 1940s, and the system now known as the VJM Grading System is a refined version of the former, introduced in the early 1950s.

Grading for beginners

Like coins, stamps, sports cards, movie posters, and everything else that people collect, these are valued according to condition. Because human beings prize things that glitter, the more like new an object is, the more collectors will pay for it. Seems simple enough, right? WRONG! Because arguing about condition actually means negotiating price, buyers and sellers often have a hard time agreeing on grade. But, fortunately, standard terms exist that everyone agrees on (what those terms mean is another story). Sadly, it takes years of looking at thousands of variations before you can truly become a knowledgeable grader. So how do you know what grade it is in if you are new at making the grade? Let me suggest that you start simple and then hone in on the final grade.

First let's look at some general terms that could be used to describe the condition of these things, then we'll cover some specialized terms that dealers and collectors use.

PERFECT

We all know what this is, something in brand new condition. A brand new record that has never been played is probably in PERFECT, like-new condition. The term for perfect condition is NEW. Although some dealers will try to convince you that 30 or 40 year old records are not graded as strictly as newer ones, I would not believe it if I were you. When it comes to PERFECT, new is new, period.

ABOVE AVERAGE

If someone bought a record, played it once or twice, and then carefully filed it away, it is in ABOVE AVERAGE condition. We refer to records in above average condition as EXCELLENT (abbreviated E or EX).

AVERAGE

The term collectors use to describe AVERAGE condition is VERY GOOD (or VG for short). Since records were meant to be played and handled, those that have been played and handled are in average condition. Minor shelf scratches, grey grooves, minor writing on the label... these are things that are typical from normal use and is both common and acceptable in a VG condition record.

BELOW AVERAGE

Records that you owned when you were six years old are probably in BELOW AVERAGE condition because you probably beat the @@#$!! out of them. And they look it! The record is still complete with heavy groove wear and probably lots of scratches from careless storage. You probably wrote your name in big black letters on the label to make sure no one else could claim your prized possession as their own. In other words, records in BELOW AVERAGE condition are ROUGH! Collectors describe records in below average condition as GOOD. Actually, there's nothing good about it other than the fact that you have a copy to keep until a better one comes along.

POOR

Better known by the technical term "crap" first coined by a dealer named Steve Geppi. A record in poor condition looks like it was rescued from the trash can of history...and probably was. You know you have handled a poor condition record when you rush to wash your hands afterwards. Poor means TERRIBLE...it may not even play!

Now that you know the five basic ranges of condition, it's much easier to focus in on exactly what the real grade is. Try it yourself. Take a stack and grade them. Is the first one just like the day you bought it except for a tiny spec on the label? Then it's not PERFECT, but you could certainly say it's ABOVE AVERAGE. Put it in the ABOVE AVERAGE stack. Does the next one in the stack look played and re-played? Put it in the AVERAGE stack. Continue sorting into basic grades. When you are done, refer to the following detailed grading descriptions. Start at the lowest grade and work your way up. Think in terms of report grades A+ to F with AVERAGE being a C, or a 10 scale from 0 to 10, with AVERAGE being a 5. The one that sounds closest to the grade of the item in hand is the actual grade.

Now let's look at the technical grading terms collectors use to describe condition. At trade shows and on eBay you will see these grades and grade-codes used to indicate grade. Memorize them, learn what they mean, and then you can start MAKING THE GRADE like a pro.

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Report Card Grade: A+

VJM Grade: N : Store Stock New
10 Point Grade: On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 10.
As new and unplayed (there are virtually no 78s that can categorically be claimed to be unplayed).

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A

N-
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 9.
Nearly New, but has been played. No visible signs of wear or damage.

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A-

E+
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 8.
Plays like new, with very, very few signs of handling, such as tiny scuffs from being slipped in and out of sleeves.

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B+

E : Excellent
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 7.
Still very shiny, near new looking, with no visible signs of wear, but a few inaudible scuffs and scratches.

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B

E-
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 6.
Still shiny but without the luster of a new record, few light scratches.

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B-

V+
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 5.
Average used condition 45 in which scuffs and general use has dulled the finish somewhat. Wear is moderate but playing is generally free from distortion. Surface noise not overly pronounced.

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C+

V : Very Good
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 4.
Used. Moderate, even wear throughout, but still very playable. Surface noise and scratches audible but not intrusive.

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C

V-
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 3.
Quite playable still, but distortion and heavy greying in loud passages. Music remains loud in most passages. Surface noise and scratches well below music level.

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C-

G+
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 2.
Grey throughout but still serviceable. Music begins to sound muffled. Heavy scratches

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D

G : Good
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 1.
Seriously worn and scratched, but music level is still higher than surface noise.

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F

G- ; F ; and P
On a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 0.
The VJM system has these designations for records in extremely poor condition. We do not place these on the 10-point scale because records in this condition have little or no value. In cases where the record is extremely rare, it would be worth the D price.

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GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS

sfc = surface
lbl = label
nap = not affecting play
scr/scrs = scratch/scratches
lc or lam  = lamination crack
cr = crack
gv/gvs= groove/grooves
hlc/hc = hairline crack
wol = writing on label
sol = sticker onlabel
fade = faded label
eb = edge bite
ec = edge chip
ef =edge flake
cvr = cover
s = stereo
rc= rim chip
rf = rough;
aud/inaud = audible/inaudible
lt = light

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