A 1925 L&L Triumphal snare sold for 53K a while back, I was told that that was the "unofficial" world's record for a non-star-owned snare drum...I've heard of a few 1935-36 L&L Anniversary BBs going for 23K and 27K. Your L&L Top Hat & Cane snares go for 7500.00-10,000.00...Leedy Autographs of the Stars snares go for 7K+....Joe Morello's gold plated snare sold for 18K a few yrs. ago. Original Gladstone snare drums go for 20-35K. The Gladstone drumset sold recently for top dollar.
Mike Curotto
A 1925 L&L Triumphal snare sold for 53K a while back...I've heard of a few 1935-36 L&L Anniversary BBs going for 23K and 27K. Your L&L Top Hat & Cane snares go for 7500.00-10,000.00...Leedy Autographs of the Stars snares go for 7K+....Joe Morello's gold plated snare sold for 18K a few yrs. ago. Original Gladstone snare drums go for 20-35K. The Gladstone drumset sold recently for top dollar.Mike Curotto
Certainly agreed, but those are the exceptions. In general drum collecting is pretty cheap. We can either view that as rank snobbery from those in the more elite class of vintage guitar and violin aficionados or consider it a blessing to be able to pick up a cool vintage kit for well under 1k. I prefer the latter view myself.
The fact is that it just does not take the same level of artisan skill to build a drum as it does to build a guitar or violin and drums are not as intimately connected to the player as string instruments. That doesn't mean there are not some really special snare drums, bass drums, etc. that just have that "IT" quality, but it is certainly not the same as stringed instruments. I, for one, am fine with that reality. I like to walk up to the storage rack and consider which snare drum will make me happy today. Of course, I also have to consider which one will be most appropriate for the job. Being able to purchase a great snare drum for a few hundred dollars makes that a real possibility for most musicians. If all the vintage snare drums were in the $800+ range, this would be a very different hobby.
Does anyone remember around 10-15 years ago at the Chicago Show,the 1935-36 L&L Anniversary BB that was up for sale for $1,500 or whatever low price it was,but people wouldn't buy because it didn't have tube lugs?
Can't remember who ended up with it..JOLO?
Does anyone remember around 10-15 years ago at the Chicago Show,the 1935-36 L&L Anniversary BB that was up for sale for $1,500 or whatever low price it was,but people wouldn't buy because it didn't have tube lugs?Can't remember who ended up with it..JOLO?
I bought a 1935-36 Anniversary Black Beauty at the Chicago Show about 6-7 yrs. ago.
Mike Curotto
"...If all the vintage snare drums were in the $800+ range, this would be a very different hobby...."
If that were the case I'd be in hog heaven!
Mike Curotto
There is also the fact that there are far more guitarists than drummers driving the market. Also, it's way easier to display a guitar on your wall than a drum kit.
