Ep395: Grading & Slabbing Vinyl with VMG - Vintage Media Grading

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

For decades collectors of comic books, coins & sportscards have protected their collectibles by having them professionally graded & slabbed. The team behind Vintage Media Grading (VMG) shares how their process can be a gamechanger for vinyl record collectors.

Topics include:

• Vinyl grading is tricky – why use VMG?
• VMG Grading comes from Goldmine standard
• Using best practices from Baseball Cards & Comic Book gradings
• Walking through the grading process
• Supplying info, provenance, etc
• What would get rejecting for rating?
• How other industries get graded (paintings, cards)
• Is there an appeals process for a grade?
• The difficulty in getting a “10” grading
• Grading is consistent no matter the rarity
• 12” records now, 7” and 10” under development
• Can they do double or triple LPs?
• What about inserts, special LP additions, etc
• Ability to change album details if new information arises
• Vinyl has much more complexity than other graded items
• VMG Focuses only on facts, cannot state assumptions
• How VMG labels promotional copies
• Their sources for determining authentic pressings and info
• Not relying on crowd-sourced materials
• Does VMG do play-testing?
• Hot-stampers may not be right for VMG
• The impact of the plastic case on records and covers
• Can the plastic case be opened?
• Autographed records, backstage passes, etc
• Will they work with acetates and test pressings?
• Working with international customers
• Best practices for shipping to VMG
• How are the records handled through the grading process
• Length of time the grading process takes
• Not just collectible records but personally important records
• Interview wrap up

Learn more at VMGVinyl.com

Extended, High-resolution & Commercial Free version of this interview available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

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If you like records, just starting a collection or are an uber-nerd with a house-full of vinyl, this is the podcast for you. Nate Goyer is The Vinyl Guide and discusses all things music and record-related