DGG 2530 208 - KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN - MANTRA

MINT (M) : Absolutely perfect in every way. Played for testing or still sealed. Should be used sparingly as a grade, if at all.


NEAR MINT (NM): A nearly perfect record. Many sellers won't give a grade higher than this, implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect. The record should show no signs of wear. An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits, water stains or other similar defects. The same should be true of any inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like (or else these should be graded separately). Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a record shop and opened it.


VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+) : A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are ""OK"", but should be clearly pointed out. The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. An LP cover may have slight signs
of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation, staple holes or corner cut. In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, the VG+ graded item would be Near Mint. Very Good Plus records are highly acceptable to all but a few collectors.


VERY GOOD (VG) : Many of the slight defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches (deep enough to feel) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue). The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, a VG item DOES NOT have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.


GOOD (G), GOOD PLUS (G+): Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear. A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object.

FAIR/POOR: Do we really need to discuss this? Only the rarest of the rare items are even slightly acceptable in this shape, and even those sell for 1/10th the price of the same thing in VG or VG+