Catalogue - Grading information

Keyword search


Order results by
Print catalogue

Kernow Classics is committed to quality and service.  We have devised our own strict criteria for grading records and their sleeves so that customers can buy with confidence.  

Visual checking of records is not in our opinion sufficient to ensure that records are graded accurately - many a 'click' or 'tick' can thereby go unnoticed.  In contrast with this common practice elsewhere, each of the records Kernow Classics offers in its catalogue has been played through in its entirety and listened to attentively.  We are therefore confident that the grading of each record within the catalogue reflects accurately its playing condition.  We use a Linn Sondek LP12 with an Adikt cartridge which gives phenomenal sound.

Record condition
Excellent: as silent a surface as one is ever likely to find

Very Good: might have light marks or small pressing blisters leading to a not quite silent surface. Might have occasional intermittent clicks or knocks (in my grading a click is quieter than a tick. A knock sounds like a faint bump)

Good: soft clicks possibly repeating, lasting generally less than thirty seconds or giving occasional intermittent ticks. This category also includes wear commensurate with age; I am assuming that most fifty-year old LPs will have been played many times, possibly with less than perfect equipment. If this is the case, one will encounter some distortion at climaxes!

Fair: contains one or more deeper or longer scratch resulting in repeated ticks bordering on the irritating

Poor: contains one or more deeper or longer scratches resulting in repeated ticks which do irritate

Sleeve condition
Excellent
Very Good
Some slight creasing or slightly loose laminate. Could be slightly faded
Fair
Sleeve could have some slight tears, be sellotaped, or be faded (wear commensurate with age)
Poor
Very worn sleeve possibly with very poor repairs
Tatty
Exactly what it says!