Buying vinyl: what do the abbreviations mean?

An M cover and a record in the VG condition? When buying vinyl, you always come across diffuse abbreviations. We'll show you what's behind the abbreviations.

Real quality symbol: The abbreviations for used vinyl records

Whether on Ebay, Amazon or in the record shop around the corner. With used records you can't avoid shortcuts. Most of these describe the condition of the vinyl and the cover:

• SS (Still Sealed): This abbreviation stands for a new and still welded plate.
• M (Mint): The vinyl is new and unplayed. The cover also shows no signs of wear.
• NM (Near Mint): The vinyl was played very rarely. So it hasn't lost any sound quality yet. The following applies to the cover: No visible signs of use and it was neither written on nor pasted.
• VG + (Very Good +): The record shows no significant loss of quality. In other words, the vinyl may contain small scratches and there may be a slight noise. The cover has small tears or wear, but is still in good condition.
• VG / EX (Very Good / Excellent): The vinyl was played more often and shows quality losses such as regular noise or scratching. The label and cover are in good condition, but may show signs of wear and tear.
• VG- (Very Good -): Frequently played record with mediocre sound quality. The cover is torn, labeled or slightly dirty.
• G (Good): The vinyl has lost a lot of quality. Distortion or major scratches may occur in some places. The label and cover are badly damaged or dirty. They can also be labeled.
• F / P (Fair / Poor): The record can just be played, but with very poor sound quality. The cover is badly damaged or even torn.
• Please note: The cover is usually viewed separately from the record: With NM vinyl with an M cover, the record has already been played, but the cover shows no signs of wear.

Other abbreviations: Information about the record pressure

With vinyls there are not only abbreviations for the condition of the record. Many sellers also provide information about the pressing or the type of cover. You will also find many of these on new records.

• OG (original): The record is a first edition or an original press.
• REISSUE (re-release): The record is a licensed re-release of the actual work.
• PROMO (Promotion): This is a promotional record. These were mostly distributed by DJs or radio stations for advertising purposes.
• PC (Picturecover): The record contains the corresponding original cover in color.
• LC (hole cover): The cover contains a "hole" in the middle. These records mostly come from the old machines.
• WOC (Writing on Cover): The cover has been labeled or pasted by the buyer. Most of these are names or archive numbers that can no longer be removed.
• CO (Cut-Out): The cover is cut off at one corner or it has a small hole. Mostly it is rejects or imported goods.

Your old records can be digitized at any time. In this practical tip, we explain exactly how this works.