Abbreviations and grading at Intoxica Record shop

London's collectors' record shop.
email us: intoxica@intoxica.co.uk

Abbreviations

Grading system

The records are individually cleaned with a high quality professional Loricraft record cleaner.
All LPs are graded both visually and audibly (by listening to them). Singles/45s/EPs are usually graded visually.
We place an emphasis on the aural grade ie what the vinyl sounds like over what it looks like, although we will note defects.
We try not to put records up for sale if they jump or stick, BUT this does not account for differences in turntable set up, so if you find a record jumps or sticks on your turntable we will refund you completely.
The quality of vinyl used, especially in USA pressings, can vary considerably. Some records, which may look mint, sound crackly because of the quality of vinyl used or the recording. This has been taken into consideration in grading. Such labels as Chess, Saturn and some Jamaican pressing and other small blues, jazz and soul labels are most notable.
Mistakes do happen. If you get a misgraded record return it to us and we'll refund your money (including all postage).

Example of how the lists are laid out:

(Name of artist, title, record label, country, year of relases, mono/stereo, extra details, sleeve grade, vinyl grade, price in GBP).
If there is only one grade the record is in a plain (non picture) sleeve and the grade is for the vinyl.

Abbreviations

Vinyl Descriptions:

• New: New
• Sealed: Record is in it's original seal and has not been played.
• Mint: Mint (as new). In perfect condition.
• EX: Excellent. The record has no major marks or audible faults. It has been played, but well taken care of.
• EX-: Excellent minus. The record shows some sign of having been played, but has very little lessening in sound quality. On an LP perhaps one or two tracks will have faint crackles or pops.
• VG+: Very good plus.The record has been played regularly. There may be visual marks on the disc that are beginning to sound e.g. crackles on several tracks.
• VG: Very good. The record has been played regularly and is showing signs of wear . There will be visual marks, and surface scratches, thus there will be audible pops and crackles. Or the pressing run may be poor, causing hiss.
• G. Good. The record has been played many times, affecting the sound quality with pops and crackles, because of surface scratches and wear. Or it may be related to a poor pressing (see above). Will be intrusive if the music is quiet, but will play.
• Any grade below Good, would indicate a record is not playable, because it may jump, stick etc. The vinyl would be effectively worthless, only of use as a collection filler.
  

Sleeve Grading & Description:

• co sl: company sleeve, plain paper sleeve with label logo matching the record eg Pye.
• p/s picture sleeve.
• New: New.
• Mint: As new condition. In perfect condition. The sleeve should appear to never had a record in it.
• EX: Practically as new, Clean. No writing, no ringwear, no splits, it has been used, but handles carefully. It may have minor blemishes and wear.
• EX-: As above, BUT possible minor creasing and/or slight edge scuff, very slight ringwear, small writing on back cover i.e. a name in pencil.
• VG+: Can include minor bending, visible ring wear, minor splits, small writing on sleeve. Normal wear and tear, but no damage to the visual beauty of the sleeve.
• VG: Sleeve wear is beginning to detract from cover art. Can include major creasing and/or splits (but not sleeve separation), major staining and ringwear.
• G: Sleeve deterioration bad. Can include sleeve separation, part of sleeve missing, major tears.
• All cut outs/ring wear/stains/writing on sleeve will be noted alongside sleeve grading:
• rw: ring wear, mark made on cover by the record inside
• CO / COC / COH: cut out / cut out corner / cut out hole - usually to denote record is out of print, a cut out is usually rectangular and the hole is usually hole punch sized.
• correction fluid: Tippex, Snopake etc
• DH: drill hole
• bc / obc: on back cover
• fc / ofc: on front cover
• POC: punched out center
• p/s: picture sleeve or picture cover
• PSOC: promo stamp on cover
• PSOL: promo stamp on label
• Sellotape/ tape: clear sticky tape ie scotch tape etc.
• sm: small
• SOC: stamp on cover
• SOL: stamp on label
• S/T: self titled
• STOC: sticker on cover
• STOL: sticker on label
• TOFC: tear on front cover
• TOBC: tear on back cover
• TOL: tear on label
• WD: water damage (stain)
• WOC: writing on cover/ written on cover
• WOL/XOL/#OL: writing on label/ X on label/ number on label

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