THE UPHOLSTERERS 7" Vinyl White Stripes Blood Card #126

$

543

This auction is for The Upholsterers "I Ain't Superstitious" b/w "Pain" 7". It is a blood card edition #126. It is in excellent condition except it is missing one insert.It's he Klomp business card that isn't here. Kind of a drag but still very cool. I hate to think it fell out. Issued by Sympathy in 2000.

Grading:

Near Mint (NM or M-)

A good description of a NM record is “it looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time.”  In other words, it’s nearly perfect.  Many dealers won’t use a grade higher than this, implying (perhaps correctly) that no record or sleeve is ever truly perfect. I seldom use it even though many records could be easily graded this way.

NM records are shiny with no visible defects.  Writing, stickers or other markings cannot appear on the label, nor can any “spindle marks” from someone trying to blindly put the record on the turntable.  Major factory defects also must not be present; a record and label obviously pressed off center is not Near Mint.  If played, it will do so with no surface noise.  (NM records don’t need to be “never played”; a record used on an excellent turntable can remain NM after many plays if the disc is properly cared for.)

NM covers have no creases, ring wear or seam splits of any kind.

These are high standards, and they are not on a sliding scale.  A record or sleeve from the 1950’s must meet the same standards from the 1990’s or 2000’s to be Near Mint.  This  is why they fetch such high prices, even for more common items. They must meet these standards to qualify!

Very Good Plus Plus (VG++) Grading records can get goofy. Thus somewhere between the highly subjective and the utilitarian grade of VG+ lies VG++. I use this for 95% of the records that could arguably graded M-. Better to err on the side of undergrading a record than creating disappointment.

            A good description of a VG+ record is “except for a couple of minor things, this would be Near Mint.”  Most collectors, especially the ones who play their records, will be happy with a VG+  record, especially if it is toward the high end of the grade (sometimes called VG++ or E+)

             VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience.  Slight warps that do not affect sound are ok.  Minor signs of handling are ok too, such as tell-tale marks around the center hole. But repeated playing has not misshapen the hole.  There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration but it should be barely noticeable

             VG+ covers should have only minor wear.  A VG+ cover might have some minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom the most vulnerable section.   A VG+ cover may have some defacing such as a cut-out marking.     

 Very Good (VG)

Many of the imperfections found on a VG+ record are more obvious on a VG record.  That said, VG records – which usually sell for no more than 25 percent of a NM record – are among the biggest bargains in record collecting, because most of the “big money” goes for more perfect copies.  For many listeners, a VG record or sleeve will be worth the money.

VG records have more obvious flaws than their counterparts in better shape.  They lack most of the original gloss found on factory fresh records.  Groove wear is evident on sight, as are light scratches deep enough to feel with your fingernail.  When played, a VG record has surface noise, and some scratches may be audible, especially in soft passages and during a song’s intro and ending.  But the noise will not overpower the music otherwise.  They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it was in better shape.

 Lower Grades are not applicable.  I GENERALLY do not sell records that do not meet the requirements of VG-