| Song A | Song B | Rarity | Legend | Artifact |
| Defect 1 | Severity | ||
| Defect 2 | Severity |
| Hot Item Factor (used to match current observed market price) |
| Value m- | Value vg+ | Value vg | Value vg- | Value g |
| $ | $ | $ | $ | $ |
Current Inflation Factor (IF) : 1.10
Current Genre Heat Factor (GHF) : 1.05
The G45 Oracle '60s Garage 45 Valuation Tool is designed to allow users to enter specific factors describing any '60s garage 45, in order to obtain a logically computed value estimate.
Users are required to enter 6 G45 Factors and up to 2 Defect Factors. These are weighted and processed exponentially together with an Inflation Factor (IF) and a Genre Heat Factor (GHF), to yield a current mint dollar value. From the mint value, vg+, vg, vg- and g values are derived. After the results are displayed, the user may alter any factors to instantly see the results of changes. The IF and GHF are maintained by The Oracle staff in consultation with members of G45Central forums, and are updated annually. IF and GHF were each set at 1.000 on October 1, 2013. Please note that the G45 Oracle is not suitable for valuations of acetates, lp's, ep's or genres other than '60s garage and teenbeat.
It is true that the values obtained by consulting The Oracle may sometimes differ from those observed in the open market. However, before accepting a market price at face value, it would be wise to consider the advice given by The Oracle. After all, the Oracle is neutral, dispassionate, well-informed, logical, thorough, flexible and most of all...isn't trying to sell you anything.
The Song A Factor represents the "greatness" of the A-side of the 45. This value can be estimated by the user. However it is recommended that the official Teenbeat Mayhem (TBM) garage-o-meter rating is used, to standardize results. The TBM rating is derived from a comprehensive vote tally undertaken by Mike Markesich and his cabinet of 12 experienced '60s garage enthusiasts. Therefore it represents a consensus opinion that is likely to reflect the preferences of typical buyers and sellers of '60s garage 45s. The Song A Factor has equal weight, and is interchangeable with the Song B Factor. Whichever side is greater, contributes 87.5 percent of the combined A/B Song rating. The other side contribues 12.5 percent. Song A and Song B are combined with Rarity, and processed through an exponential function to greatly expand the range of values, with higher ratings yielding very much higher values. Before passing through the exponential function, the two Song Ratings are adjusted to have a combined influence of approximately one half that of the Rarity rating.
Rarity is a complex concept that describes the relationship between availablity and demand. The influence of availability increases exponentially as the availability decreases, while the influence of demand is a constant factor. The result of this relationship is that the rarity of a 45 increases as the demand becomes greater than the supply. It also follows that a scarce 45 is not rare, if nobody wants it. This relationship between availability and demand must be taken into account when determining the Rarity Factor for consideration by The G45 Oracle.
Rarity has the strongest influence on the value of any '60s garage 45. Not only is the influence of the Rarity Factor inherently powerful in itself (almost twice as powerful as the combined Song Factors, before exponential expansion), but all other factors are locked in various ways to the value entered for Rarity. Some factors are locked to both Song A/B and Rarity.
Rarity values will be included in the G45 Database when it becomes available. Meanwhile, they have to be estimated by the user. Here are some basic rules of thumb covering the various values of the G45 Rarity Factor:
R1 - A 45 so common that there are not enough active collectors to exhaust the limitless supply. Always available somewhere, on various eBay sites or dealer lists. Perhaps so common that dealers don't even bother to list it. Example: Paul Revere & The Raiders Columbia 45s, Knickerbockers, Monkees 45s, Byrds 45s, Beau Brummels, Gants, Balloon Farm on Laurie, Strawberry Alarm Clock on Uni, some Seeds, Electric Prunes etc.
R2 - Common, but desirable major (or major regional) label 45 release. Also very common vanity label releases such as Beckett Quintet on Gemcor or Soothsayers "Please Don't Be Mad" and Invictas on Sahara. Usually always available on eBay or dealer lists for a few dollars. Example, Paul Revere & Raiders, Byrds or Monkeees with picture sleeves, Question Mark & Mysterians on Cameo, Standells on Tower, Shadows of Knight on Dunwich, Count Five, Barbarians on Laurie
R3 - Less common major label fare, or perhaps a major regional label release like Floyd Dakil on Jetstar. Also a suitable grade for the very common smaller label releases such as The Xtreems "Facts Of Life", Five Tymes on Bear, Romancers on Linda, Painted Faces on Manhattan, Hangmen on Monument. Usually available on eBay or lists, either immediately or after waiting for a few days. Major label examples include Sonics on Jerden, Denims on Mercury, Novas on Parrot.
R4 - Scarce major label, or relatively common smaller label releases such as The Ingredients on Toddlin Town, Jagged Edge on Gallant, Nightcrawlers on Lee. This grade is not always available on eBay or lists, but will usually show up within a week or two. Usually there will be some bidding competition. However, known quantities are still too high to estimate meaningfully. More examples include Sonics on Etiquette, The Ban on Brent, Moving Sidewalks on Wand, Caravelles on Onacrest, Bossmen on Dicto, Yesterday's Children on Parrot, Rob Roys on Accent, Remains on Epic, many Soma label releases.
R5 - Not quite rare, but very scarce major label, or scarce regional and vanity label 45s. Major label examples are the Unrelated Segments on Liberty, Gentle'Men "Come On If You Can" on Cameo, Banshees on Dunwich. Regional examples include more plentiful Fentons such as Underdogs and Headhunters, also Tonto & The Renegades, Wyld on Charay, many releases on Studio City such as Vaqueros, Bangar such as Gregory Dee, Sara, Titan, Panorama. Vanity label examples would include Moving Sidewalks on Tantara, Shags on Taurus, and most of the Audition label releases such as The Heard. Also the St.Clair label Swamp Rats 45s.
R6 - Starting to talk about the rare, stuff now. Most of the major label releases are out of this league, except for some notable exceptions, for example The Squires "Going All The Way" and the Underpriviliged on Smash. Some mid-range USA label releases might fit here, for example the Shady Daze "I'll Make You Pay" or Oscar Hammod. Likewise the red label J-Beck 45s by Zakary Thaks and Liberty Bell, and some of the midrange Fenton killers such as Cyclones, Legends and Mussies, Beaux Jens, and a host of rare minor label releases such as Innsmen on Wheels 4, Dawn 5, Briks on Bismarck, Apollo's Apaches, Intruders on Marlo.
R7 - Here we find the top echelon of major label releases, such as The Egyptians and Little Phil on Dot, Lyrics on Era and The Rooks on Mercury. A regional example would be many of the mid-range Paris Towers, together with a swag of similar examples such as the lower midrange Orlyns such as Graf Zepplin, upper mid-range Fentons such as Black Watch and Pyramids such as Huns. Vanity type examples would include Fabs on Cotton Ball, and Chants on B-Ware, Dirty Wurds on Marina, Outcasts - "I'm In Pittsburgh", Bards "Alibis", Illusions on Michelle, Bad Roads on Jin, James T. & The Workers "That Is All", Larry & The Blue Notes on Charay, Foggy Notions on Ginny, and Circus "Bad Seed".
R8 - At this point we can start making estimates of "known quantity", albeit very rough estimates. Rarity Level 8 should not be awarded to discs with known or suspected quantity of greater than 25 copies, in the hands of collectors worldwide. Rarity Level R8 is the highest level that should be awarded to a disc which may not be in high demand by collectors, regardless of the quantity known to exist. Higher levels are strictly for rare, high-demand 45s. Major label examples are few, Tropics on Laurie comes to mind. Regional examples are plentiful, including many of the top Paris Towers, Fentons, Pharaohs, Accents, Pyramids, upper mid-range Orlyns and the rarest Miramars. Minor and vanity label examples would include Esquires "Judgement Day", Kama-Del Sutra, Gentlemen on Vandan, Runaways "18th Floor Girl", Caretakers Of Deception, Gents on Duane, Spades on Zero, Paragons "Abba", Stoics on Brams, Nomads on Tornado, Chob and Burgundy Runn on Lavette and other G200 material.
R9 - 12 or less known copies, high demand. Think much of the G100. The rarest Orlyns, Grodes "Cry A Little Longer", Tremors "Wondering Why", Graveyard V "Marble Orchard", Randy Alvey "Green Fuz", Herd on Octopus, Bees on Liverpool, Denise (yellow label), Satori "Time Machine", Better Half Dozen, Wanderers "Higher Education", By Fives on Tomi, Piece Kor on Laray, Hush Puppies on Playboy, Adrian Lloyd on Charger, Botumles Pit, probably also the Keggs on Orbit would squeeze in here. There are hardly any major label '60s garage 45s in this category, with the exception of the Electric Prunes "Shadows" on Warner.
R10 - Strictly 4 or less known copies, high demand. Currently that would include The Vikings on Wam, Expressions on Tennalaga, Greg Barr on Cinema, Denise (red label), Just Too Much "She Gives Me Time", Hard Times "Mr Rolling Stone", Sands "Open Your Eyes", Liv'in End on Rickin, Raevins "The Edge Of Time", John English III & The Heathens, Young Men "Go Away Girl", Beer on Sgt. Golden, Blue Condition on Tersa, all the Sonics (Inc.) with picture sleeves, Knightsmen & Mymes on Ikon, Psychotrons ...and many others.
ROK - Strictly One Known Copy.
Rarity values 8.5 and 9.5 may assist in the valuation of very rare and in-demand 45s which just fall short of the strict requirements of Rarity Levels 9 and 10 respectively.
High Legend scores apply only to legendary and obscure '60s garage 45s. High Legend scores do not apply to Monkees, Byrds, Paul Revere, Count Five or other mainstream '60s garage acts. They all score a Legend rating of L1 (the lowest), regardless of musical greatness, commercial success or legendary status in the music industry. A high G45 Legend Factor requires a high degree of initial obscurity, followed by gradual discovery by collectors, compilers and enthusiasts over time, culminating in an elevated status due to an overwhelming consensus of merit. G45 Legend high scorers did not usually release LPs, instead remaining shrouded in mystery due to lack of commercial exposure. There are exceptions to this rule such as 13th Floor Elevators and Kenny & The Kasuals. Records by these groups are indeed legendary, but their 45s would not carry a G45 Legend Factor greater than 4 or 5, due to their lack of initial obscurity. The G45 Oracle only cares about the '60s garage 45 collector mindset, not about giving credit where it's due.
The Legend Factor has less influence on the final result than Song A/B and much less than Rarity. However, it is strongly dependent on Rarity, increasing greatly as rarity increases. In that way, The Oracle prevents a very common but highly Legendary 45 from becoming overvalued.
In general, a 45 should be awarded a Legend rating of approximately one half the value of its strongest song (Song A or Song B). That's the default position. However, Legend should be increased when the 45 has made an appearance on an early and highly regarded compilation series, such as Pebbles #5, Back From The Grave, Acid Dreams, Off The Wall or The Chosen Few. A great story can also enhance the Legend rating of a 45. This can be related to the recording artist, or to the later exploits of collectors or compilers. An example of this is the Denise 45, which was unheard for many years due to the secrecy of the owner of the only known copy. Appearances in the TBM Top 1000 label gallery is another Legend "plus" factor, as would be an article featuring the 45 in an early fanzine such as Rebel Teen, or a later publication such as Ugly Things. All these factors stimulate interest in the 45 from a collector viewpoint. We humbly suggest that a degree of Legendary status is also due to 45s which have appeared in the G45central G100 or G200. Legend should be decreased from the default value, if the 45 is relatively unknown or unremarkable. The following are examples of the use of the Legend Factor, to assist understanding of the way it can be applied.
L1 - The Estates - "Just Call Me Up" - have you ever heard of it? Neither have I.
L2 - The Redwoods - "Tell Me" - It's not very legendary. But their label, Phalanx, is.
L3 - The Tasmanians - "I Can't Explain This Feeling". A good but unremarkable effort by the same band who released the monster "Baby" on Conda. Of course that helps raise the Legend factor a little.
L4 - The Blue Boys - "I Know" - only recently discovered, but quickly gained a solid reputation. Given another 10 years, and appropriate exposure, its Legend Factor could rise much higher.
L5 - The Little Bits - "Girl Give Me Love" - like it or loathe it, it's the most obnoxious kiddie punker ever waxed. Unique style can enhance legend.
L6 - Preachers - "Who Do You Love" - seeing them play this live on Youtube cements their high Legend Factor
L7 - The Dovers - "The Third Eye" - Part of a winning set of four straight killer 45s by the Dovers. All without commercial success, providing fertile soil for the growth of a legend.
L8 - Gentlemen - It's A Cry'n Shame (Crimson Label pressing). One known copy, with crystal clear sound. The regular (and itself an L7) Vandan pressing is ok, but a little distorted and flat sounding, due to poor mastering
L9 - Spades - You're Gonna Miss Me (Zero) - an unbeatable combination of Legendary factors too numerous to list here. Lacking only the nth degree of initial obscurity, preventing a rating of L10
L10 - Denise "Boy, What'll You Do Then" (red label version) - A yellow label version was hidden from the world for many years by a reclusive CA collector, and was thought to be the only known copy. Occupied #1 on the G45 Legends list for years. Since then, other yellow label copies showed up, but a red label version with a different, superior take was later found to exist, making it a double 10 Legend.
L_OTS - Legend = Off The Scale. No 45s currently satisfy the requirements for this Legend rating. It is intended for 45s that may develop Off The Scale Legendary status among collectors in the future.
The Hot Item Factor is used to adjust the value of 45s in accordance wit a type of demand that is completely unrelated to the Legend Factor, or to the mindset of the typical '60s garage collector. This demand can be seen in the high values accorded to relatively common and unexceptional 45s which have recently been popularised on the mod DJ circuit. Because of this, some have called this factor the Moronic Factor. Currently the Hot Item Factor is input as an arbitrary dollar value which is added to the total by the Oracle AI Engine. Use sparingly and only for 45s whose value has been distorted by unusual popular demand.
A multi-purpose factor used to describe and rate the collectible physical attributes of the 45, with a rapidly accellerating exponential expansion. Here is a table that describes typical applications of the Artifact Factor, with Level 1 being the typically lowest Artifact Value, and Level 6 being the highest.
Level 1 - custom label, exceptionally cool or special design
Level 2 - promo insert, sticker, glued-on picture cover or original issue band photo included
Level 3 - multiple promotional inserts
Level 4 - black & white (or one color) picture sleeve
Level 5 - color picture sleeve, or b&w (or one color) sleeve with exceptionally cool properties
Level 6 - color picture sleeve with exceptionally cool properties
Because of the extremely varied nature of collectible attributes associated with labels, insert, sleeves, autographs and paraphernalia which may be included with 45s, the values awarded via the Artifact Factor are currently an arbitrary dollar amount entered via the dropdown. Picture sleeves can optionally be valued as a separate item from the vinyl, using the same S1/S2/R/L and Defect ratings, then added to the total via the Artifact dropdown. This is possible because a picture sleeve usually represents approximately half the total value of the sleeve+vinyl package.
The G45 Oracle has 2 Defect Factors available, each equipped with a Severity Level. Each Defect Factor has identical options, covering most if not all of the possible defects encountered when collecting 45s from the '60s era. All Defects have a negative influence on the value of a 45, which can be extremely severe in the case of Severity Level 10. G45 Defects are generally not related to the condition of the vinyl in the normal sense of wear and tear. Defects most often describe pressing flaws, warps, cracks or label tears. If a 45 has more than 2 such serious defects, we respectfully suggest that it has little value and should be kept as a curio or given away for free. The G45 Oracle is certainly not interested in providing valuations for such unfortunate abominations.
A special case for consideration is a defect affecting a 45 which is the only copy known to exist. In that case, the record "is what it is", regardless of defects. On the other hand, it's always possible that a defect-free copy will one day turn up, which would greatly diminish the value of the defective copy. Defects for currently "one-known copy" 45s should therefore be rated at perhaps one half their usual Severity level.
Pressing Flaw (10%-95% value reduction) can be any problem created at the time the 45 was pressed. Most often it is a problem with the vinyl, rather than the label. Severity Level 1-3 Pressing Flaws should be barely noticeable, and purely cosmetic in effect, such as a slight streak in the vinyl. Certainly nothing that affects the sound. Severity 4-6 Pressing Flaws are more serious looking problems, but still do not affect the sound. Severity 7-10 Pressing Flaws do affect the sound, and in the case of a Severity 10 Pressing Flaw, the record is unplayable and is devalued by 95%.
Off-Center Pressing (5%-50% value reduction) causes the tonearm to drift while the record plays. this can be annoying or disastrous, depending on the Severity Level. Severity Levels 1-3 cause slight visible tonearm drift, but do not affect the sound of the music to any noticeable extent. Severity 4-6 are more severe, but should not affect the enjoyment of the music, even though a slight speed variation may be evident. Severity Levels 7-10 cause severe tonearm drift, and noticeable variations in pitch as the record plays.
Off-Center Label (flat 15% reduction) occurs when the label has not been applied correctly at the time the record was pressed. The effect is purely cosmetic and does not affect the sound of the record in any way. In the worst possible case, the label may be so off-center that it extends into the playing surface and causes audible distortion. This should be treated as a Pressing Flaw Severity 7 or 8, and if the record is unplayable, Severity 10.
Label Misprint (flat 3 percent reduction). This is only slightly annoying and consequently the value reduction is minimal.
Labels Reversed (flat 25% value reduction). This is quite annoying especially for DJs. Although it is a pressing flaw, in many cases it only affects a few copies of the total press run. Those copies are therefore to be regarded as inferior and undesirable compared to the perfect ones. The Oracle will reduce their value by 25%.
Water Damage (10%-95% value reduction). Water damage most often affects the 45 label, and usually not the vinyl. However in some severe cases it is the reverse, or both. Severity Levels 1-3 are suitable for slight water spots and streaks affecting the label only. Severity Levels 4-6 are for more severe label damage, possibly causing some text to be distorted or unclear, but not to the point where the text is unreadable. Severity Levels 7-9 are for bad to extremely bad lable damage including partially torn and unreadable labels. Severity 10 is reserved for water damage so devastating that the vinyl itself is also affected.
Torn Label (8%-85% value reduction). Label tears can be caused by the removal of stickers or other causes. Most 45 collectors care a lot about the condition of the label. Even a very tiny match-head sized tear on an otherwise perfect label can be ugly and annoying. Severity Levels 1-3 are for mild flakes or tiny tears which do not affect the text in any way. Severity Levels 4-6 are larger, from dime-sized, up to the size of a quarter, and may affect the text slightly without rendering it unreadable. Severity Level 7-9 tears are large ugly tears which obliterate some parts of the text or label design. Severity 10 includes those wretched cases where more than half the label has been torn off.
Writing On Label (wol) (5%-50% value reduction) - Although not as bad as a label tear, writing on the label of a 45 is very undesirable. Severity 1-3 wol is reserved for neat initials or X's, or markings by promoters or radio stations which are not too overpowering and do not obscure the label text or design. Severity 4-6 wol is more offensive including felt pen markings and signatures, but not including deliberate or crude defacing of the disc. Levels 7-10 include the very worst examples, including defacing of the disc with ugly scribble, crude comments, or attempts to change the label design.
Many collectors of '60s garage 45s even object to signatures of the group members adorning the label, and would prefer a clean copy. A genuine signature on the label should still be marked as a Severity Level 1-3 Writing On Label Defect depending on its intrusiveness, compensated for by increasing the Artifact Factor rating by one or two points. Overall, the value could still show an increase.
Sticker On Label (5%-40% value reduction) - In the worst case, a large generic sticker on the label should be regarded as the same kind of defect as a label tear. Obviously, because the sticker could actually be hiding a label tear, right? Multiple stickers, or stickers which obscure text should be given a high Severity Level of 8, 9 or 10. Less offensive are small stickers which have been neatly applied by the record company, the artists themselves or radio stations for some promotional purpose. At least those stickers have some connection to the history of the 45.
Warp - (10%-95% value reduction) A potentially drastic Defect, that has a wide range of value reduction. The least offensive type of warp is a mild storage warp which is barely noticeable. This type of warp progresses gradually around the circumferance of the 45, and may only be noticeable when the record is spinning. If it does not affect play in any way, this type of gradual warp should be rated Severity Level 1-3. the same applies to a very mild "dishing" effect. Heavier storage warps and dishes should be rated 4-6, as long as they do not affect play. Anything which does affect play, should be rated 7-10, with Severity 10 being completely unplayable. More drastic are the edge warps which are usually caused by exposure to heat. Edge warps are more noticeable because they usually only occur on one side of the disc. Even a slight edge warp should be rated at least Severity Level 4. If the music is affected in any way, the Severity Level should be increased to at least 7. The Severity Level 10 edge warp rating is reserved for completely unplayable discs.
Hazy wax (5%-50% value reduction) - This Defect is a discoloration of the vinyl usually caused by storing the 45 in the heavy, crystal clear PVC sleeves that were popular in the 70s and 80s. This type of sleeve should never, ever be used for storing records, even if it is outside the record cover or other plastic sleeve. Throw them away, they will damage your records over time. Hazy wax can also be caused by other effects, such as heat. In any case the effect is ugly and in the worst cases does cause surface noise. Any surface noise associated with hazy wax is automatically Severity Level 10. Levels 1-3 should be barely noticeable visually.
Mouldy Wax (7%-70% value reduction) - Fortunately, many 45s affected by mould or mildew can be restored with wet/dry vacuum cleaning. Before rating a disc with mould or mildew stains, it should be vacuum cleaned and played to see if the damage is permanent. If the mould comes off, then the 45 no longer needs to be defect rated. However, if there is any visual trace of mould left after cleaning, the record should be rated with a Severity Level of 1-6, depending on the level of visual contamination. If the mould causes any surface noise, the Severity Level should be increased to a minimum of 7, with Severity Level 10 reserved for the worst cases of loud and distracting surface noise. If the record skips then the G45 Oracle refuses to value the disc at all.
Bubbly Wax (10%-95% value reduction) - A special case of Pressing Flaw, this type of defect is easy to rate, because its effects simply vary from very mild to very severe. Severity Level 1 is very mild, barely visible and not affecting play, and Severity Level 10 is uplayable. Rate accordingly.
Cracked Wax - (10%-95% value reduction) - A very serious defect causing a drastic devaluation. Some collectors are more averse to mild forms of this defect than others, however there's no question that the value is greatly diminished in all cases. The mildest form of cracked wax is a small crack of less than 1 cm, occurring in the deadwax area which does not extend into the playing area of the record and does not affect play. It can barely be noticed under a strong light. This represents Severity Level 1. Higher Severity Levels should be used as the size of the crack increases, up to Severity 3. If the crack occurs anywhere other than the deadwax or label area, then a minimum Severity Level of 4 should be used, even for the tiniest cracks, for example on the outer edge of the disc. Any crack which enters the playing area of the disc, even if not affecting play, should be rated Severity 5 at minimum. Severity 6 is for larger, single cracks which do not affect play. Severity Levels 7 and 8 are for small cracks which can be heard, but do not cause any skipping. Severity 9 is for more severe cracks including multiple cracks, but the record must still play through without skipping. Severity 10 is a crack which causes skipping or makes the record completely unplayable.
Buffed Wax - (10%-90% value reduction). An extremely annoying and insidious "defect" which is not actually a defect, but is an aspect of the condition of the vinyl. This effect is caused by polishing or buffing the surface of the record, in a futile attempt to "improve" the visual grade of the record, often with dishonest intent. The least severe cases (Severity Levels 1-3) are usually done by hand, with a polishing cloth, by an over-zealous enthusiast who lacks proper record cleaning equipment, common sense or experience. The effect can be seen under a strong light as a haze of circular micro-scuffs across the surface of one or both sides of the 45. These usually do not cause any significant surface noise, as they do not extend deeply into the groove. More severe cases (Severity Levels 4-6), may involve the use of a turntable to spin the disc, while a cleaning cloth is pressed onto the surface of the disc. This leaves a tell-tale haze or shine which reflects under a strong light. Again, there is usually little effect on the sound. Severity Levels 7-10 are reserved for the most insidious and dishonest type of buffing, where the record is attached to a lathe or circular sanding tool, and polished to remove gross scratches. This has occasionally been done by unscrupulous dealers in order to cheat prospective buyers, and leaves the record looking much cleaner than its actual grade (usually g minus or poor), but sounding atrocious. The names of these dealers live on in record collecting infamy (Buffer Bob, Larry The Polisher etc...)
Hole Drilled (flat 10% value reduction). A bullet-hole drilled in the label, to indicate the 45 was deleted from the record company catalog. Copies were sold off cheaply, and the bullet hole ensured that they could not be returned to the record company for credit. Happily, this Defect usually only affects the more common, major label releases. Although it's a little ugly, it is regarded by most collectors as one of the less troubling 45 defects.
Groove Distortion (8%-80% value reduction). This defect can be caused by faulty mastering or pressing, but more often it is the result of the 45 being played with a worn or poorly mounted stylus, or with too much tracking force. The distortion is a pervasive midrange crackle which often seems worst on loud vocal sounds. Some milder forms of groove distortion are more noticeable to certain listeners, with others failing to notice the effects. This is due to differences in hearing. The worst cases are usually so bad as to be obvious to all listeners. Sometimes groove distortion artifacts can be seen with a magnifying glass, as a random corrosion of the groove walls. A very hard defect to grade, because of the subjective nature. Severity Level 1 is barely noticeable. Severity Level 10 results in an unpleasant listening experience, due to very bad distortion.
Broken Wax - (10%-100% value reduction) - Potentially the most severe Defect of all, broken wax involves chips and chunks of wax actually missing from the 45, or a record that has been completely broken in two (or three or four). Severity Levels 1-3 are for small chips missing from around the centre hole of the 45, affecting only the label. Severity Levels 4-7 include larger chunks missing around the centre hole, or small chips on the edge of a 45, not extending into the playing surface. Levels 7-9 are for very large pieces broken off, but not rendering the record unplayable. A Severity 10 broken, unplayable disc is worthless, and thus attracts a 100% value reduction.