Ok, here's one for you......when did the vintage drum market tank like it has and why? The vintage guitar and amplifier market has continued to thrive, so why not the hobby we love?
What about the ones of us that paid a premium for what we now own, and what do we do to try and at least break even if we want to sell?
My view and of course it's personal is the rare drums are being hoarded and the junk is all that remains the ones worth anything do sell it just takes time
I believe it slowly began to decline when the economy went down beginning in late 2007. Many fewer people had disposable income or a job, or that matter, over the past 6-8 years. In addition, the ages of those who were around when these drums were first manufactured is increasing regularly, so the fondness among drummers for them is naturally going to be in decline for a while until another generation gets very interested. Also, collecting is cyclical in any area. Drums are a bit down now, but may well come back, particularly if the overall economic conditions improve. Again, collecting requires disposable income. So hold on if you can. If not, you'll have to take a bit of a hit.
Note in all this, the best stuff and the rarest still is getting big money. Look what has happened with kits equipped with an 18" bass drum, and of those the Gretsch drums in particular. Also Camcos. Camco prices continue to be very strong.
I think the guitar market is smaller than the drum market, for every collectable guitar there are 10 collectable drums, this helps to keep guitar value up.
back in the 50's 7 60's people were advised to buy and invest in stocks, rsp's, save their money. well I chose to buy collectables, coke machines, gum & peanut machines, pinball, barber chairs, jukeboxs, signs, any thing I could get my hands on, now i'm 65 and the bottom fell out. had the enjoyment of all the stuff, but I don't think i'm going to die rich!
I think the guitar market is smaller than the drum market, for every collectable guitar there are 10 collectable drums, this helps to keep guitar value up.back in the 50's 7 60's people were advised to buy and invest in stocks, rsp's, save their money. well I chose to buy collectables, coke machines, gum & peanut machines, pinball, barber chairs, jukeboxs, signs, any thing I could get my hands on, now i'm 65 and the bottom fell out. had the enjoyment of all the stuff, but I don't think i'm going to die rich!
Pinball? What machines you have. Love those from the 1970s. The artwork was amazingly cool. Most of it. Steve Austin the $6 million man, etc. :)
I think the guitar market is smaller than the drum market, for every collectable guitar there are 10 collectable drums, this helps to keep guitar value up.back in the 50's 7 60's people were advised to buy and invest in stocks, rsp's, save their money. well I chose to buy collectables, coke machines, gum & peanut machines, pinball, barber chairs, jukeboxs, signs, any thing I could get my hands on, now i'm 65 and the bottom fell out. had the enjoyment of all the stuff, but I don't think i'm going to die rich!
Actually that's incorrect there are far more guitars than drums, and far more guitarist than drummers, go to any GC/ Sam Ash store etc, look at the guitar player section then the drum section, the guitar section is always packed, even these stores sales numbers back this up.
Way more guitars than drums. Not even close. Every city has vintage guitar shops with hundreds of guitars.
As a guitar player with a 69 Strat, you go to them walls and you will find the equivalent of MIJ drums or modern construction via fret boards, pick-ups, and especially tremolo bridges.
They just don`t make them like they used to either. You aint gonna find an original Floyd Rose tremolo because the whammy bar is not removable and makes it difficult to put in a case. Amps. are not tube anymore, you`ll find analog and digital in vintage looking cabinets. MIJ assembled Fenders run on the better side because they did electronics with very good quality control.
As for numbers, count the drums not the kit because each one, like a guitar can be played individually. Marching parade and school drum lines included. It`ll be closer than you think.
Oh, Dude-Ludwig,....I think it`s because of the ease and quality of today`s electronic drums. At least a contributor.
Baby boomers cashing out, disposable income down, strong US dollar has slowed international buyers, etc.
Seems to me only the rarest/highly sought after finishes in the highest grade Ludwig do well. For Gretsch it's rb bop sets - even progressive jazz sets have taken a beating in value. Camco holds strong value, especially Oaklawn although many owners over play their hands so we see the same kits sitting out for sale for long periods of time at well above market rate.
Great time to buy most stuff and a rough time to be trying to sell. For those holding onto big collections that were hoping to cash in for retirements/etc, I feel for you!
