Our many experiences with a wide variety of record collectors impresses us with the need to supply  our customers with records that if used, are still fun to listen to, and our success in the past has been based on providing customers a listening experience of the highest possible order of audio enjoyment. Nothing is be gained from  the disagreeable experience of buying a record for any price, whatever price, and finding that there’s little value in the effort of obtaining the record, due to incorrect, or lack of, grading information.
We grade from top down to lower grade, and use the VPI  17.5 record cleaner and a high quality  analog playback system to check and double check for  any potential surface noise deviations. Conservative grading standards regarding surface noise, severity and duration, etc. are used. The record condition grades are  numerical for a more concise measurement of playability and expectations of  satisfaction with the listening experience. A detailed  awareness of past and current audiophile standards is a prominent basis in forming our grading decisions.
 Records with distracting amounts of surface noise don’t fit our picture, and these are not presented.


SPLIT GRADES
Finally, split grades such as 4 to 4.5 do not represent  a half grade split. The difference between a five grade and a 4.5 grade is 2 % or less, in some cases almost imperceptible marks, which would be an 0.01 deviation are rated as 4.5 to 5 within the site.
The model implied here is that there is extremely little deviation at the top, and
a sliding scale of audio distraction for each downgrade. In terms of a mathematical
scale for the audio distraction,  a 5 is Zero,  but a 3, is not 40 %  “worse” than Zero, it’s
probably at the most  15 or 20% “worse”.

Within the comment section for each record are some regularly used descriptive terms, supplied to help the collector understand better the grading for vinyl and jackets.

ADDITIONAL NOTATION
Little usage  -  Marginal appearance of handling. Highest assurance of quiet play.

Light Surface Marks  -  Despite careful handling, marks of no audio consequence appear. Very high assurance of quiet play.

Light play marks  -  Moderate signs of usage, overall respectful handling.

Play marks  -  obvious signs of handling, but judged to have an acceptable level of affect on enjoyment of the music. Surface noise is usually below the level of  “Marks.”

Marks  -  indicates signs of mishandling. (but not necessarily damaged) All records are audio graded, any marks that produce groove distortion that affects tonality or musicality too greatly are discarded.

SYMBOL CODE

(2)  =  double LP
Scfs  =  scuff on surface not affecting audio play.
R  =  Review Copy, white label promo.
1st or 1  =  1st Pressing. (Style incorporated herein, assume 1st pressing unless otherwise indicated.)
2nd  =  2nd Pressing, similar art and logo as original, but later edition.
TT  =  Transparent Tape Repair.
COH  =  Drill Hole in Jacket.
CC  =  Cut Out Jacket.
SWD  =  Slight Water Stain or Water Damage to jacket, usually repaired.
V.A.  =  Various Artists.
E.P.  =  Early Pressing, similar to a 1st Pressing.
ear  =  plastylite mfg mark.
DG  =  deep groove in label.
f/o  =  fold open.
Flat  =  no lip edge.
Frame  =  describes fold over jacket seam. (original construction)
b b  =  Emarcy label, blue ink back.
MJR  =  minor jacket repair.
"Copy" jacket  =  an assembled jacket, using color photocopy to create a similar art jacket to the original.

GUARANTEE POLICY
Record prices are discounted when the quality is compromised by previous usage. Records are graded aurally and visually, and are guaranteed to conform to grade assigned. Satisfaction for any problem encountered is offered in the form of replacement/credit/refund, or negotiation of a fair price based on the particulars involved. Please do not return records until the situation has been discussed. See returns@jazzrecordsecene.com
ENJOY THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE!
Shipping
JazzRecordScene.com uses the U.S. Postal Service to ship records, however special requests for other methods are available.