Grant Green Grant's First Stand vinyl LP Blue Note Jazz 4064 RVG Deep Groove

$

175

Up for sale is a Grant Green "Grant's First Stand" vinyl LP released on Blue Note Records in 1961 (BLP 4064 | RVG / Deep Groove). Grading as follows:

Jacket: VG+ :: Jacket is in beautiful shape. Glossy laminate cover is nice and clean, showing only light signs of shelf wear and/or ring wear. No seam splits. Spine is in beautiful shape. There is a name blacked out on the back with a marker (see pictures) and some very light damage to the one corner, but overall this is in top notch condition. Comes with original Blue Note sleeve in beautiful EX condition, only some very faint yellowing on the edges.

Record: VG/VG :: I'm grading a conservative high VG/VG on this record. It's been play-tested on a Panasonic Technics SL-1600 outfitted with an Orthofon OMB Cartridge and a Pro S needle. Both sides are in beautiful condition, with nice gloss and free of any major wear or scratches. Groove wear is very minimal and only visible under bright lights. Dead wax lead-in and out on both sides is very clean. Labels are extremely clean and virtually free of any wear. There is one very light scratch on Side 2, Track 1 that has a tick on 4 or 5 passes. Upon very close inspection you can find a few areas on each side with some very faint light pitting, which causes some light pops but it's not overbearing or overall distracting to the listening experience. The dynamic range is warm, and vibrant, with no distortion on either the high or low end of the spectrum. Overall the playback is brilliant, with only some light surface noise/pops throughout each side, but again I don't find it overbearing. I could honestly see some people grading this record VG+/VG+, but again I like to air on the side of caution. Overall this is a beautiful listen, if I had to give it a # grade I'd say 8.5/10. 

If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to Message me. Thanks for looking!

Goldmine Grading System:
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.

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 be absent; 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 have 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 are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind.

NOTE: These are high standards, and they are not on a sliding scale. A record or sleeve from the 1950s must meet the same standards as one from the 1990s or 2000s to be Near Mint! It’s estimated that no more than 2 to 4 percent of all records remaining from the 1950s and 1960s are truly Near Mint. This is why they fetch such high prices, even for more common items.

Don’t assume your records are Near Mint. They must meet these standards to qualify!

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+)
or EXCELLENT (E)
A good description of a VG+ record is “except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint.” Most collectors, especially those who want to play their records, will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if it 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 the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale 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 very minor seam wear or a split (less than one inch long) at the bottom, the most vulnerable location. Also, a VG+ cover may have some defacing, such as a cut-out marking. Covers with cut-out markings can never be considered Near Mint.

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 a 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.

Minor writing, tape or a sticker can detract from the label. Many collectors who have jukeboxes will use VG records in them and not think twice. They remain a fine listening experience, just not the same as if it were in better shape.

VG covers will have many signs of human handling. Ring wear in the middle or along the edges of the cover where the edge of a record would reside, is obvious, though not overwhelming. Some more creases might be visible. Seam splitting will be more obvious; it may appear on all three sides, though it won’t be obvious upon looking. Someone might have written or it or stamped a price tag on it, too.

Good (G),
Good Plus (G+)
or Very Good Minus (VG–)
These records go for 10 to 15 percent of the Near Mint value, if you are lucky.

Good does not mean bad! The record still plays through without skipping, so it can serve as filler until something better comes along. But it has significant surface noise and groove wear, and the label is worn, with significant ring wear, heavy writing, or obvious damage caused by someone trying to remove tape or stickers and failing miserably. A Good to VG– cover has ring wear to the point of distraction, has seam splits obvious on sight and may have even heavier writing, such as, for example, huge radio station letters written across the front to deter theft.

If the item is common, it’s probably better to pass it up. But if you’ve been seeking it for a long time, get it cheap and look to upgrade.

POOR (P)
and Fair (F)
Poor (P) and Fair (F) records go for 0 to 5 percent of the Near Mint value, if they go at all. More likely, they end up going in the trash. Records are cracked, impossibly warped, or skip and/or repeat when an attempt is made to play them. Covers are so heavily damaged that you almost want to cry.

Only the most outrageously rare items ever sell for more than a few cents in this condition — again, if they sell at all.

Shipping Information

U.S. Media Mail – FREE to contiguous United States (typically arrives within 2-8 business days of SHIPPED date).
U.S. Priority Mail - $8.00 (to contiguous United States, available upon request)

International Shipping (LPs only):
Single LPs - $20.00 Flat-Rate via USPS First Class Mail International
Double LPs - $22.50 Flat-Rate via USPS First Class Mail International

NOTE:  Media Mail to Alaska/Hawaii may take up to 4-5 weeks.

All Records Are Well Packaged In a Cardboard Record Mailer With The Record Shipped Behind The Cover In A Plastic Sleeve, with a re-enforcing cardboard sheet inside.

Returns

Returns are for defective merchandise only. I will not do a return if you think I mis-graded a record. I do my best to fully disclose any and all issues with any records I sell, and I am fully confident with my grading.