I haven't played "out" much in the last three years... or played "in" much, either. I have sold or traded off several snare drums. I have gotten only a few into the collection, all specific Rogers snares I wanted for one reason or other. I seriously doubt I would be adding any kits anytime soon. I have been too busy to devote much time to any drumming.

I also concentrate on 2nd or 3rd string fixer-upper level stuff. The A+ primo stuff always finds a way to get sold through one crisis/need or another. The stuff that I paid $100 for, put $50 in wrap on, and could sell for $150 just isn't worth the hassle so I get to keep it. The rare $50 score worth $500 bucks lasts until my wife has a freakout about paying off the card each month (and god bless her, she REALLY likes getting the card paid off every month), so in a weirdly perverse way, those kind of things are less interesting to me since I know they'll be gone soon.

I could not have expressed in a better way Clapping Happy2

I don't like collecting drums, I don't like having a kit or snare just sitting around. Sure, If I had several kits to choose from, I could use a different kit at different gigs, but why? Then I would have to decide which one to use. Several years ago, I had a few vintage kits and snares and I always wound up using the same kit because I liked the sound. The others just sat around collecting dust, so I sold them. Right now, two kits and a few snares are good enough for me, one to gig with and one to keep at practice.

I`ve always wanted to know where you guys have the space and time to store all of your priceless drum kits.I`ve always been in awe of how many sets you guys have.I live in a small house so i have to limit myself to two double drum kits and those total 19 drums between the two. I only gig out a small portion of one of them on a regular basis.Anyway...power to all the guys on this forum that are able to do it,but i have to draw a line in the sand when it comes to collecting these beauties.

I'm continuing my purchasing of great collector snares & above average player kits. I have lots of snares & 2 museum kits I won't use, but also many snares & kits I use on a rotating basis with all the different bands I play in. I average around 100+ gigs a year so it keeps it very very fun. So if any of you fine folks all are thinking of parting with anything, send me a PM & I'll see if I have it already. Down the road, it's a retirement investment for the next generation to enjoy. For now, I sure have got the bug and LOVE the sounds I get from all my vintage Ludwigs!:D

I'm with Gerald. I've got to play them if I get the opportunity. I hate looking at pictures of sets in the storage facility right now. When I'm home, I put them in corners of the room and enjoy even the occassional glance their way. Yaking 'em out a hitting them is the deal though, and I do it it when I can. I also use Excel to catalog them and decide if to move something out or take something in. I set it up as a workbook with various tabs along the bottom, including the tab showing the ones I kinda wish I had kept. Right now that tab only includes Rogers Dayton era flat grey sets in 22,13,16 configuration with steel grey ripple and blue onyx finishes. I might also add the Leedy 20,12,14 with Shelly Manne snare in red satin flame, but haven't yet. That was a cool kit too. Bass was a custom ordered set with 20 lugs.

Great responses, thanks for the conversation, VDF-ers! For me, space is a big part of this. I could store my drums in the garage - but that's the kind of environment I don't want to see them in. I have one kit with sentimental value (my wife will not let me sell them) one kit which is super, super rare - I could sell this any time at all with a phone call. One kit I am attached to; and is a collectors piece. Then I have my playing kit and that's the one I want to change to something Very Special. I want a new kit that will become a classic vintage kit. I am starting to realize that this means spending a decent amount of money. I am in Australia; everything costs more; and I don't want any old mass produced drum kit. $$$ :-Q

Hey Trout if you're serious about a new kit then may I suggest the new Premier drums that are coming out look beautiful. I think the company has had a big cash injection and is free to create beautifully handcrafted british made(as opposed to Asian) drums. Some of the finishes are gorgeous.

Thanks for that timely reminder. I'm looking for quality and that is a Premier hallmark, imho.