Buying new gear is harder to justify to your wife.

I would have a hard time getting her to believe that there was any reason, other than pure lust/desire on my part, to purchase a top end new kit, or even new cymbal.

Buying vintage stuff on the other hand, well she should clearly see I am practically being a hero!

I am like the guys in the recent movie Monuments Men. Simply following the call to save priceless (all with an exact price) works of art made by the old masters, from falling into the hands of those who would most likely harm it!!

I am saving vintage drums as if Slingerlands were Picassos, and the other ebay bidders are likely Nazis. This is a moral obligation, and I am simply doing my part.

I am not a drum fancier, I am drum preservationist.

How can she argue with that?

A brand new 6k kit? I would either have to sell off some stuff first, or lie to her about how much it cost. The first is undesireable , the second possibly fatal! Wouldn't work anyhow, she would find out eventually.

I don't think that selling the 2 bass drums will please her. She will still see 5 drum sets!

My wife has a craft room and an actual hair salon in the house, she's ok with the 6 kits.

More good food for though thanks. Part of the problem is that we are busting out of this house. And as I said, vintage snare drum prices are not good here. I also hate the way you have to try and con a sale out Gumtree (like CL) and eBay - that is - try to get someone to make an offer so you don't pay 10% of your sale to eBay. The custom thing always sounds good until I picture the time it might take. I have so little of that with three kids and the day gig. I have a great local drum shop. I actually want to buy a kit from them. Just have to save up; sell two kits; maybe sacrifice a few snares. I'm going to try and cap the whole project at $4500. I think over that is a little too much for my budget. If I have to get someone to buy it in Singapore for me, so be it.

Then do what some guys do,when the wife want's them to sell off some drums.Ever look at Ebay or CL and the seller is asking a ridulously large sum of money for his drums?That's because ....he really dosen't want to sell them,and at that price,is very likely not to,but even if he does....it's winner,winner,chicken dinner.

So now he can say,look honey,I tried to sell them,,but all I get is low ball offers.I refuse to take a beating on selling them in this fluctuating market.Don't tell her how much you actually paid either.

Step 2,take her out to dinner and a movie/play and buy her a new outfit or piece of ***lery,and go buy your new kit,but keep it under 4 K,so it looks like you compromised.There's some real nice Ludwig,Gretsch,Yamaha and Mapex stuff out there for that coin.Cheers mate.

Steve B

All the money I spend on drums & cymbals is generated by selling stuff on Etsy. Lamps & furniture I design, mostly. Also, other percussion stuff. I've been trading up for years and have a small but significant selection.

This keeps the wife happy.