Amoeba Music

Like New / Sealed
Sealed/Unopened CDs that are still in their original shrinkwrap.

Very Good CD
Opened and used CDs that have no visible marks on the playing surface. Booklet may have some very light scuffing or bending, but nothing more than would be expected from normal usage.

Good CD
Often indicates that the playing surface has some light marks or scuffs, though the disc should play perfectly. This grading may also be used if the booklet or any other part of the packaging shows greater than normal wear.

About Our CDs
Unless stated otherwise in the item description on the detail page, your CD will come to you with all original artwork, case and covers. In most cases we will not specify a digi-pack versus a jewel case. Our CDs come from the huge overstock of our retail stores and are often marked in some way to prevent their resale at full price, such as a hole-punch through the upc barcode, a cut through the jewel case or a pen mark or other small marking, stamp or sticker on the package itself. These marks do not affect play in any way.

Mint (M)
Mint (M) means, basically, that the record is unused. Some purists might say that the only MINT LP is a SEALED LP, though, ultimately, it means that there is not a single spindle mark on the label, not a single finger print on the disc, not a single crease on the jacket* and the inner sleeve is still crisp.

Near Mint (NM)
Near Mint (NM) means, that is basically pristine with a very light example or two from the above description. Very Good Plus (VG+)

Very Good Plus (VG+)
VG+ ss a very well cared-for, but used, LP. There will be only very light wear to the jacket and the vinyl. No "scratches" on the vinyl, no ring wear* on the jacket, and minimal creasing and spindle marks. The jacket will have no spine splits.

Very Good (VG)
Very Good (VG) is a used record that has seen some action. There may be some ring wear on the jacket and more overall wear to the vinyl. Vinyl will likely have some moderate sleeve scuffing and light scratches.

Very Good Minus (VG-)
Very Good Minus (VG-) is a record that has significant wear but should play OK, though a bit noisy. Ring wear on the jacket, scratches on the vinyl, etc. are common.

Good (G)
Good (G) actually means, “pretty bad.” This grading generally indicates poor condition on a good title. There is likely to be heavy scratches, major ring wear and stains on the jacket, etc.
 

*jacket = record cover.

*ring wear = when, through pressure and movement, the inner record has worn a ring of wear in the artwork of the jacket.

E+
Highest grade used. A record with no visible signs of wear.

E
Record has slight signs of handling and use but groove wear should be barely detectable and grooves should still be glossy and black.

E-
Light groove wear with grey rubbing and light circular gray grooves starting to appear, but record should still retain glossy black grooves for almost all of the surface.

V+
Grey wear, handling and groove wear more apparent, but much of the groove area will still have black.

V
Record is approaching an overall grey surface with uniform wear, but will still play well even though the level of surface noise and distortion could be distracting.

V-
Record has wear throughout, and was subject to continual playing to wring more sound out of it, so even the grey is in a more advanced state of deterioration with groove walls disappearing.

P
This grade generally indicates poor condition on a good title.