Jazz Vinyl Catchup And Confusion Over Grading
Let’s catch up on some more rare jazz vinyl that sold recently on eBay.
John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This looked to be an original black label pressing. There were some questions about the deep grooves, since the picture wasn’t clear, but the seller confirmed that there were, indeed, deep grooves on both sides. This one was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $622.70. In the Jazz Collector Price Guide we’ve seen Giant Steps sell for more than $1,000 several times, so perhaps it’s a bargain, perhaps it’s just market changes, perhaps it’s unfamiliarity with the seller.
Jutta Hipp, New Faces, New Sounds from Germany, Blue Note 5056. This was the original 10-inch pressing. It’s one of those listings that confuses me a little on labeling of conditioning. The seller says it looks VG+, but it plays more like Ex and therefore it was graded as Ex. In my thinking I’ve always correlated VG+ with Ex, but it sounds like Ex is more like VG, based on this listing, which I assumed to be a downgrade, but perhaps I’m wrong and it’s an upgrade based on the next item below. The cover was listed in just G condition, which is never very good. The price was $247.50.
Another one for the $1,000 bin: George Wallington At the Bohemia, Progressive 1001. This was an original pressing listed in “Near Mint/Ex” condition for the vinyl. So here it appears that Ex means more like VG++ or M-. Perhaps my brain is just waterlogged from three days of constant rain, but it’s not quite making sense to me. I’m sure the readers will set me straight, so thank you in advance. The cover is VG++. It sold for $1,025.
I’ve always taken EX in the US to be a grade between Goldmine VG+ and NM (M-)–maybe above VG++ but below NM. But EX in the Record Collector UK system is more like VG+. So it can be confusing.
I use EX between NM and VG+….my confusion often is what exactly makes a VG+. It’s been all over the map with stuff I’ve bought.
Record grades are so vast and opinions are all over the map on what grades where. Buying and selling records on ebay is one of the most challenging things. As a seller, I try my hardest to grade conservatively, but one man’s opinion varies from the next. As a collector, I want the seller to give me the nitty gritty details.
The Jutta Hipp definitely has some interesting choices in grades. I watched this item and steered away from bidding because of the grades.