The amount of people who play drums now versus say 1961 must be proportionately a lot lower. There is no Wipeout or Take Five, etc. coming from the radio that made kids instinctively look for the nearest set of sticks.

Accordingly and as implied in one of the posts above, when the baby boomers die out there will be a huge hole in the vintage drum market (guitar, etc too).

That hole may be filled to some extent by up and coming markets like Asia who will have a real appreciation for good American stuff versus the good but souless stuff they spew out.

The best way to deal with this--as said--is just have fun. Quality woods and hardware will always have that intrinsic value. Things like vistalites are more susceptible to fad and one should be leery. If you are risk adverse, sell the OBP Downbeat set and keep the BDP one. Same sound without the scary premium for a finish--that's a market whimsicality, versus the BDP which is purely based on the constituent properties of the drum alone and the wrap (as long as original) only plays a contributing role to the value.

You have to consider that drum collecting is not for most people, especially for an investment. The number of people desiring to own a vintage drum is very small indeed. Think about it, we personally know many of them because they frequent this and other like forums. The value of the drums can only go up if there is an increase in the number of drum collectors. Will that happen? That's seems hard to say, but definitely it's related to the baby boomer generation. Anytime one tries to make money on their money there is the risk of losing some of the principal.

The problem I see with investing in a certain segment is that once you amass a large volume, when it comes time to get out, the only way to do it quickly is to discount the whole lot. Wanting top dollar for each item is like being in the retail business, you have to wait for a buyer unless your selling it for less than it's worth. After your gone and the kids get the drums, do you think they are going to sit on this forum or ebay dickering with buyers to get what we think they are worth? Unless they are drum collectors, I doubt it. I think it's best to collect for the enjoyment of it!

Like many who responded, I haven't collected Ludwig snares, foot pedals and even a single valve bugle as investments. When I discovered a couple of years ago that my original 1963 Hollywood kit has some "vintage value" I became interested in vintage drums and the history of Ludwig. As a result I have bought items that sort of reflect some of the company's milestones. I enjoy restoring them and playing them. Having said that, I do try to pay a reasonable price for items I buy so that I'm not dumping money down a hole.

As far as future value, has anyone else noticed an increased use of drums in TV ads? It seems to me that in the past six months I have seen numerous ads where drums are involved. The best one was the Lexus ad where the car supposedly runs over actuators that play snares, hi-hats and bass drums, but there have been others as well. Maybe there's a new marketing fad starting that will enhance the future value of vintage drums. ??

I think a reason why prices have continued to go down on drums for sale on Ebay is partly because, over the last couple of decades, most of the really "good stuff" has been snapped up already. What we are seeing on EBay now are the leftover, mis-matched orphans and "fixed-up" kits in "unusual" dimensions and configurations.

Ask forum member, mlvibes, what he sells Gretsch bop kits for to Japanese buyers and then get back to me! Mind Blowi

The really good stuff is in Limbo at the moment....waiting...

I think a major point has been missed on why it is and will remain a buyer's market. I feel the reason it is a buyer's market is because the average American has less disposable income to spend on "frivolous" items like drum collections. The gas pump, health insurance premiums, pretty much everything that China is buying up in bulk, food, etc. are all absorbing the money that used to sit in the cookie jar buying up collectable anythings. I am not even forty years old and I can honestly say that while I have had pay increases at work, I have less disposable income today than I had five years ago. I make more now but had more "extra" money then. I believe this is the case for the majority of working Americans. I see the vintage drum market slowly losing 'members' and becoming an even more exclusive group of people. Also, as was already mentioned, we will more than likely see a greater amount of our gear being shipped across the pond when the collectors or their heirs decide to cash out, simply because they will have the loot to buy it up. These niche collectable groups will mirror the economy and until we start making stuff in America again, our continual transition to a service based economy will not support these groups.

I am not wealthy by any stretch so this comment is not made looking down my nose. I read all the time on here guys stating they would love to get a kit, but don't have the money. This is happening now. It will only get worse and worse.... Sell now, cut your losses if in it for the money. If not, keep banging and hope your kids find some Asian buyers when you are pushing up daisies!!

toodles

drumhack :Santa::2Cents:guitar2singerguitar2

Surely I,am no collector or anywhere near an expert on this subject, I am just an old drummer. The economy is not going to get any better for a long while. Selling a drum collection to "overseas clients is not the answer, it will enrich our pockets" but there is a point to that statement, overseas clients already have most of our money now, and I would certaintly not want to sell all our vintage drum treasures away.

While being a player is surely an addiction to our instruments, and earns some a living wage, being a collector is also an addiction but this addiction is more or less ( except for hobbyist ) a job so they should earn a living wage also during these hard times. Both players/collectors/sellers are earning less and less for their labors, so like home foreclosures we can hold on or short sell. That may not be an option to some drummers/collectors but at least it would keep the vintage drums in country and hopefully be sold to other drummers that live in the good old U.S.A.

Black Oyster Pearl or other kits with wanted wraps will always be collectible but these wraps will also draw less money.Also, It will be a long time until the baby boomers lay down to rest ( I hope ) so hang in there youngsters, You will be around when the economy improves. For old guys like me, well, my kids will inherit my small collection and I have told them I will come back to haunt them if they give them away.

Inflation is eating away at disposable income and will get a lot worst in coming years.

just my two cents

Both 510 & plexi69 have good points.

Tom

"Ask forum member, mlvibes, what he sells Gretsch bop kits for to Japanese buyers and then get back to me!"

that's precisely my point. one needs to be an expert knowledgeable vintage drum collector to be able to get that kind of money. so what are your kids going to do? they will be selling to another savey collector who will whittle them down.

there is only 1 sure investment buy low sell hi then there i always the rarer the more money jut like a diamond always worth its weight one of the sure investment anything thats is significant say like a ringo star abbey lane holly wood in champagne we wont go there

I think when you see the economy in California doing well that the national outlook will be rosy.Drums are great investment after you go thru the learning curve and lose enough money to know value when you see it then it gets fun.I think for a side bar way make some money it is great.Most of the people I know who collect and play also are garage salers at heart and know quite a bit about antiques as a whole.I have lost a few fortunes in my life but that is what takes to do it if you are not going to quit.Anyway life is short and happiness is inside out not outside in.Have a wonderful holiday season and a better new year.

Here's what I think,

Vintage Drums are always gonna be collectable. Sooner or later they will all be collected up. Then, the prices will skyrocket. It was about 3-4 decades ago. We had 5-64-66 mustangs on our lot restoring the interiors on them at once. Now I havent seen one in a yr or so. They are getting scarce and the prices are skyrocketing. Not to mention corvettes, hemis, etc.........

Sooner or later restorable kits wont even be available, and all you'll be ablle to buy is already restored kits for a insane price. mark my word......