One thing that's for sure, they are not making anymore of the many collectable sets out there!

It's impossible to say. Before the big boom of interest in "vintage" drums, thanks to the internet, they were just considered old drum kits, and were kicked around for $300 a set. Now, thanks to the "trend" of vintage drum collecting, prices were up for a while, and now we're seeing that sudden inflation start to deflate. As the generation of people who grew up with these kits start dying off, is there going to be any kind of lasting appeal to these old drums? With nostalgia gone, will they be held up as "drums from the golden era of music" by younger musicians? Will there be some sort of resurgence of interest when the drums from the 1960s/70s hit the century-old mark? Who knows? It sure doesn't seem as though they would appreciate as much as any other kind of investment. It's all a gamble. One thing is for certain, though: they appreciate in value rather quickly if you buy them for cheap and sell them for closer to their normal selling prices, but that goes for anything you buy used that's in good shape.

If you like your kit, keep it. If you're looking to sell your kit, sell it when an offer strikes your fancy. I don't think waiting 10 years for it to be worth another $150 is a good use of the storage space, and you never know if in those 10 years there will be a trend of dogging on vintage gear and they will suddenly be worth next to nothing.

I think the next big vintage craze will be for the 80's top of the line drum kits especially from Japan. I firmly believe that the vintage drum market corresponds with the mid to late 40 somethings and older market. As that market takes in new recruits, the nostalgia for the kits that were sold in the 80's will grow as well. Hell, I remember buying a Tama Swingstar in the mid 80's for $500 or so dollars and thinking it was an awesome drum set. I sold my late 60's Slingerlands which I though were just junk to finance the ****ty ass SwingStars. I have no interest in ever repurchasing those drums, but, I would have interest in a Tama Superstar if the price was right. Same goes for Pearl and Yamaha. Hell, I have an original Tama Imperialstar from around 1982 that sound incredible. I would play them out more except I cannot stand the finish (Gold Placer).

Investment in vintage drums for appreciation is relatively new in the collecting field.Like anything else,quality vintage drums will always command a premium esp.the unmolested ones.Either way... it`s one big crap shoot as to what the market will do so enjoy your beautiful vintage gear now and let the chips fall where they may in the future.

Wayne

Thats very studious. But for the benefit of the thread could you quantify your average findings. Have they gone up, or stayed the same?

I think the trend will be gradually upward over time, with dips along the way. Prices peaked at the same time housing peaked, 2007-8. When the economy tanked, all collectibles got soft. They have recovered somewhat and I see lots of Rogers stuff going for as much as ever, but they have to be very nice.

The wildcard in all this is what will happen as the baby-boomers age out. They will be selling, and their buying will decrease also. What remains to be seen is whether the next generation will develop the same enthusiasm for 60's drums. If so, the market for those years will remain strong. Otherwise, it will decline and level off a little lower than it is now. Imho.

Looking at classic car auctions may provide a clue: they rose and dropped at the same time and have now recovered, hitting new highs the last few years. The buying is being propelled in part by younger people coming in to the game. They are aware of the history and significance of generations of cars that were made decades before they came of age. And they want them.

Will that happen with drums? Time will tell.

As far as drums being an investment, I never have seen them as a long term place to store capital. The gains are small, on a relative basis, and the market is easily moved.