Collecting is a form of attachment that can be both healthy and unhealthy.

In the case of drum collecting,,,as long as it doesn't supplant the time needed with wife or gf go for it Falling Do

-kellyj

I've been really out of control with collecting snare drums! Speaking only for myself, it is incredibly fun, a form of therapy and certainly much less than drinking, smoking, drugs and long-term counseling! I've got over 30 snares, ranging from complete and ready-to-play, to many awaiting total refurbishing. It will give me something to do in my old age! Hey, wait, at 57 I may almost be there! Many of my MIJ snares are in cool colors or just flattering imitations of 60's American-made snare drums. I've got a Star snare, about 1961, that is a clone of the Slingerland RK, complete with 3-point strainer and butt. Now, how cool is that? Bottom line, is that I LOVE collecting, rebuilding, and even just staring at my collection!

I'm very fortunate that my girlfriend shares my drum enthusiasm!!

Love it! Another man smitten by the siren song of the snare!

I don't collect, but I've picked up a few vintage Slingerland snares in the last couple of years. For me, the fun is in the restoration. It is very time consuming and expensive to pick up complete vintage kits, but cheaper and easier to come by player snares in need of a good cleanup.

James

I don't. I have snares that go with my kits. I have one custom snare I had built for my kid. My snare numbers pretty much go along with the number of kits I own. I parting with my Rogers kit ... so, both of the matching snares will be sold. Never got in to collecting drums. I just like playing the things.

I got into it because of the character each snare has. When recording, I find that the specific sound of a particular snare can color the whole mood of a track. When playing live, each snare makes me play a bit differently because of the sounds I can draw from them. When on tour, snare/cymbal shopping gives me something to do in each new city. I like to tinker with sounds/tunings/drum combinations, and more drums means more possibilities. Plus, there's something about the thrill of finding an awesome snare and getting a good deal that is just satisfying to an American drummer...

I started out on snare drum, it was a 8 lug Slingerland black/brass badge sound king in black diamond pearl. It sounded much better than the Apollo snare drum that came with the Apollo drums I traded it for. I told that to the store owner and he said I could get the Slingerland snare and play it with my Apollos. I said, "naw, that's OK.. " A few years later I moved to a pro-grade Pearl set. It had a 6.5x14 snare.

Fast forward to now. I have a Gretsch RB 4160 snare. I play that snare with my Ludwigs and Yamahas. So I actually have less snare drums than I have drum sets.

I've never understood the desire to collect snare drums, I enjoy the sound of this one and am glad I can play it with whatever set I'm playing. Every now and then I toy with the idea of getting a Supra 402 because I love the sound of them.. But I'm completely happy with the sound of the Gretsch snare.

I do however enjoy owning various other musical instruments: Vibes, Hammond, Synth, Rhodes, Jazzmaster, Jazz bass copy.. They come in handy in a jam when there are others who want to play the drums.

I understand the collector mentality, though, being a comicbook collector from way back, and being into finding musical instruments. As much as the tonal variety exists on snare drums I am pretty sure the pull to collect snares comes from their compactness.

It passes,and over time after you realize how much money you,ve tied up,you WILL reduce the collection significantly.Thats why there is still so much gear for sale.It just goes around and aroundWalking