The vinyl recordsFar from losing value, in many cases they increase in value over time. Others do so as soon as they cross the store. That is why it is essential to know how to calculate their value.
Do you want more information? In that case, in this guide you will find all the keys to appraise vinyl records.
Related: Best quality-price record players
How is a vinyl record valued?
When valuing a vinyl record, you have to analyze some aspects that we are going to see next:
1. Notes for classifying a vinyl
He state of conservation of a vinyl is one of the elements that most influences its price. Therefore, the first thing to do is Check that it is not scratched, by running your finger over its surface. If you feel the scratch with your finger, it will most likely come off, although this is not always the case.
It should also be noted that sometimes you hear noise on vinyl records even after cleaning them. On the other hand, you have to check that the record is clean totally flat and not bent, as it sometimes becomes deformed due to improper storage for a long time.
Another aspect to analyze is whether the disk is preserved in its original inner sleeve. And when the discs come with booklets, stickers or posters, their price is higher.
The most reliable thing is to be able to physically access to the disk to check its condition, but this is something that cannot be done when purchasing online. Well, there is a reference table internationally accepted standard that serves to determine how the disc is preserved.
All discs have Two notes, one referring to the cover and another to the album vinyl itself. According to this, vinyls can be classified as follows:
MINT (M): It means that the disk is perfect, as if it had just been manufactured. There are no stickers on the cover or labels. with addresses, writing or any other element.
NEAR MINT or NM, M: The disc has almost no defects, apart from minor wear and tear, and should sound noiseless. The cover has only light signs of aging and wear., with some unimportant marks and a good impression.
EXCELLENT or EX or VG++: Minor wear and tear is observed on the vinyl., and maybe some friction but it is not important. Your cover is almost perfect, with some marks but no ink wear. There may be some small wrinkles in the corners, which may also be white and somewhat worn.
VERY GOOD PLUS or VG+: You see a wear with superficial friction on the vinyl, which has a lot of shine but defects that can be seen. These defects should not produce noise.
On the cover we find a completely clean case, which may have some minor writing. Although the printing is clean, there is more than just ageing visible. The cover may be slightly yellowed, but there is no water damage, stains, or mildew. There is minor wear to the spine or seams, and the corners may be slightly bent. A VG+ cover will not have more than 3 of these defects.
VERY GOOD or VG: The state of conservation of the vinyl is goodIt may not look great, but it sounds fine. There will usually be some noise. It will look used, but it will have a nice shine.
The cover will be used, and the seams may be coming apart. There will be some wear to the vinyl, and the ink will have started to wear off. The cover will have a “falling snow” look. When the snow is all over the cover, it will be lower than VG. The cover may have some writing on it, and will be aged and yellowed.
GOOD or G: The vinyl will look used, dull and greyish, but it should have a good sound. You will hear surface noise and there will be a loss of dynamics, but no jumps. Overall its sound will still be good.
Instead the cover will be in poor condition, with splits along the seams and writing in large letters. Although it will be almost destroyed, some of the printing will still be visible.
When the print is heavily used, it will be considered a cover POOR and therefore worthless.
2. Vinyl editions
Yes ok The first edition of a famous record will usually have more value, it is important to be careful with this, because each country will have its own edition.
Generally, the highest priced edition will be the one from the country in which the record was first released. That is, the original edition (later ones are called reissues).
It should be noted that The price of vinyl is limited by the number of copies which was made at the time it was issued. The smaller the print run, the higher the appraisal.
3. Vinyl Years
In some decades more vinyls were released than in others. Mainly, more were produced from the sixties to the eighties than from the nineties to the two thousand. That is why their price is not as high, since there are more copies.
4. Exclusive characteristics of vinyl
Another aspect to keep in mind when valuing a record is whether it is exclusive or rare, something of vital importance to collectorsThe more it is, the more expensive the disk will be.
There are many reasons why vinyl can be rare and have a higher value: for example, it is an acetate disc, an illegal recording (bootlet) or a vinyl with an authentic dedication of the artist.
Calculate the value of your vinyl with the following method
There is a step by step very simple with which you can find out the value of your vinyl record. Here's what you have to do:
1. Gather your discs in a quiet place with bright light
Find a Clean and well-lit work area, both natural and artificial. It is best to have a halogen flexo on hand.
2. Check what version your disk is
We have already seen that The version of the album is very important in its valuation. Albums are often pressed in batches. So a record pressed 20,000 times a few years ago won't be as valuable as one pressed just 100 times decades ago.
For know what version of the disk is you have to do the following:
- Find the catalog number.
- Search for the differences between the different labels.
- Search for clues in the runout area, which is the inner circle that is closest to the cookie.
3. Analyze the state of the disk according to the Goldmine standard
You must carefully check the condition of the vinyl, and analyze how both the disk and the cover are, according to the Goldmine standardThis is when it is important to have the right light.
4. Take note of the versions and conditions of the vinyl
It is essential Keep a file of each disk and note how it is preservedThere are free tools that help in this task.
5. Use a price guide to compare the version and condition of the disc
Nowadays there are many free digital resources that help you do this task, using sales information. This will allow you to finally calculate the value of your records.
Where to buy and sell second-hand vinyl records?
To sell vinyl records the best thing is go to a specialized store. You may get less money for them here, but you are guaranteed to sell them and you don't waste time. If you want to buy second-hand vinyl, you can also go to these record stores.
But there is another option that is gaining a lot of popularity, which is the web pages, especially for finding records that cannot be easily located in the area in which we live. There are now really good websites where you can The evaluations are made by experts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Finally we will answer some of the Questions you might ask yourself When appraising a vinyl record:
How do I know the value of my vinyl record?
For this you can search for specialized pages on the Internet, where you can check the real value of your record based on its label, year, condition and reference number.
Is a vinyl more expensive because it is older?
No, a vinyl record will never be more expensive just because it is older.A record from decades ago may have little value, and yet one that is 10 years old could have a very high price due to having had a small print run.
Why are there vinyl records with the same LP but different prices?
This is because First editions usually pay very well, especially when they are imported. On the other hand, there are limited editions which appreciate in value as soon as they leave the store, and the key is knowing how to find them. A limited edition of a record can be several times more expensive than the regular edition.
As you see, appraise vinyl records It is not as complicated as it might seem at first. Furthermore, as we have mentioned, there are online resources today that make this task much easier.