Grading Your Records

DeepGrooves uses the Goldmine grading scale, the industry standard for rating vinyl record condition. Grades apply separately to the record media and the sleeve/cover.

The Goldmine Scale

Grade	Code	Description
Mint	M	Perfect, unplayed condition
Near Mint	NM	Nearly perfect — minimal signs of handling
Very Good Plus	VG+	Shows some signs of play but sounds great
Very Good	VG	Noticeable surface noise, light scratches
Good Plus	G+	Plays through without skipping but with noise
Good	G	Significant wear, playable but noisy
Fair	F	Plays but with heavy distortion
Poor	P	Barely playable

Visual grading scale chart showing condition levels

Grade Descriptions

Mint (M)

Perfect condition. The record has never been played. Includes original shrink wrap if applicable.

Near Mint (NM)

Nearly perfect with minimal signs of handling. May have been played carefully but shows no wear. This is the highest grade for a used record.

Very Good Plus (VG+)

Shows some signs of play. May have light surface marks that don't affect playback. Sounds great with only occasional, light surface noise.

Very Good (VG)

Noticeable surface noise and light scratches visible. Groove wear becoming apparent. Still enjoyable but you'll hear some surface noise.

Good Plus (G+)

Plays through without skipping but with constant surface noise. Scratches and scuffs visible. Good for listening but not collecting.

Good (G)

Significant wear throughout. Heavy surface noise but plays without major skips. Often sold as "budget" copies.

Fair (F)

Heavy wear and damage. Plays but with significant distortion and possible skips. Typically only valuable for rare albums.

Poor (P)

Barely playable. Severe damage. Only valuable for extremely rare pressings.

Grading Sleeves

Sleeves are graded separately using similar criteria:

Grade	Sleeve Condition
Mint	Perfect, no wear
Near Mint	Minimal shelf wear
VG+	Light ring wear, slight edge wear
VG	Ring wear, seam splits under 1"
Good	Heavy wear, seam splits, writing

Setting Grades in DeepGrooves

Open the album detail
Tap or click Edit
Set Media Grade (the record itself)
Set Sleeve Grade (the cover/jacket)
Save changes

Ungraded Records

If you haven't graded a record yet, it shows as Ungraded in your collection. You can set the grade at any time from the album edit screen.