The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds Ep395: Grading & Slabbing Vinyl with VMG - Vintage Media Grading
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
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