All of the music I’m selling (45-rpm vinyl records, 12-inch vinyl records, and cassettes) consists of my own collection. They have all been played and enjoyed by me for many years. There are several hundred I will be selling, and prior to listing I will be playing them one last time to assess the quality. Before playing the vinyl records, they will be refreshed using a professional cleaning system.

All of the 12-inch singles and LPs have the original jackets and protective inner sleeves. Most of the 45s did not have the original jackets, as I kept them in record racks. I have provided poly-lined protective jackets for those without the originals, and all of the records will be shipped with outer protective polyethylene (Mylar) sleeves.

Most of the cassettes have their original cases and jackets. I will provide hard plastic cases for the few that don’t.

In assessing the quality of my records, all of which were both visually graded and play-graded based on both the Goldmine and Jerry Osborne systems, and priced accordingly, I believe I am fairly critical in rating them. Vinyl records, particularly the 7-inch 45-rpm singles, are, and always have been, problematic. Static is a part of their nature. Even when they are played infrequently and are well cared for, you’re going to have at least some static on these records, and the amount of noise depends on your equipment and on the record itself. Not all record players/turntables have the same size stylus (needle casing), and not all records are made the same; different record manufacturers use different grades of vinyl and use varying groove sizes. I used a high-quality turntable with a very sensitive cartridge.

Most of my 45s have at least a minimal amount of static, a few have some surface pops, but all play properly with no skipping or sticking. In most cases, there are no major scratches, cracks, dents or warping, unless specifically stated on collectible items. Considering the age of the collection, and the fact that it has endured 8 major moves (1 cross-country and another out-of-state), I think it is actually well preserved.

With cassettes, the quality assessment is easy. They are either new (unused and still sealed) or used. All of my cassettes are used. The grading chart I use for vinyl records is as follows:

SS – Still sealed, unopened and unused.
M – Mint condition, totally flawless inside and out, including original cover.
NM – Near Mint, surface is totally clear of marks, label and cover look like new.
VG+ -- Very Good Plus, minimal surface noise and visual imperfections, plays exceptionally well. Cover (if any) looks used, but is in very good shape.
VG – Very Good, moderate surface noise and visual imperfections, occasional popping, plays very well. Cover (if any) looks more worn.
VG- -- Very Good Minus, significant surface noise, mainly hissing, plays properly, superficial surface marks. Cover (if any) has noticeable damage.
G – Good, heavy wear, inferior sound quality, excessive noise, small amount of skipping. Cover (if any) has major damage. Record offered only when collectible.

SHIPPING OF VINYL RECORDS