The vintage market is hurting at the moment because of the economy and also the fact that the real prime US vintage gear is not abundant like it once was.Its in climate controlled basements or the top shelf [out of reach] of drum shops with signs that say DO NOT TOUCH!...So,the price is through the roof and not exactly affordable for the working stiff...Now the MIJ gear has its weakness like chrome,fragile hardware,cheap wood shells with little attention to detail,etc....BUT,the Yammys are a cut above all that and should be awarded thier place among the drums we desire from the States and EuropeClapping Happy2Sumo Dude

Good points all,Gadd I believe also used a 15" 16" hanging floor combo,but I see more 14" 16" floor hangers,even from that era.

Yeah I think there was a definite impact, at least for some drummers, by who was playing their drums. Not being employed in the industry as a marketer of their drums, I can't say exactly how much impact there was. I will say this, about RC Yammies, Steve at the time was the world's highest paid studio drummer and was really respected by people in the Jazz, studio, and Pop circles. It may be difficult to determine the number of sales that are a direct result of his playing them, but there are other drummers who were also high-profile and who chose RC's because Steve played them, Dave Weckl comes to mind. Drum sales probably make up a nice portion of overall sales for Yamaha, but they obviously sell tons of other musical gear, including pianos, guitars, band instruments, etc. Gadd played Pearl fiberglass in the 70s.. Anyway I think there is a bit of a domino effect that happens when a drummer plays drums and many people are listening. A few of the studio drummers got them, some had more of a name, like Andy Newmark and Dave Weckl, and then their endorsements (along with the accompanying good quality in the product) also contributed to selling the new drums.

But back to the subject, this is a case wherein a drummer who has an endorsement deal with Yamaha grabs a vintage set, and more focus is placed on them. Would value increase by that alone? Perhaps. Perhaps not, conjecture is only that, until we see some numbers. But the other factor in value is rarity. That is something we can say for sure, there's a limited number of Yamaha sets in 20/12/14 configuration of that era. They're good quality, but previously were hampered perhaps, slightly, value-wise, by their being Japanese drums made in the early 70s or late 60s.

Vintage Yamaha drum value may have been hampered by association with other Japanese drums that were generally regarded as inferior in quality. So the value could only be gained by some of them by cool factor or mojo factor, like a teisco or other guitar made in Japan. I'm just saying there are some factors that would contribute to value increase: 1) Rarity, or limited numbers. There will never be more of them out there. Have you noticed how much more common early 70s Pearl or Star or other stencil brands are than Yamahas? All of them are no longer made. 2) More exposure to the fledgling drummers, who find out they're out there, can't afford Gretsch, and start actively looking for them. Jimmy Fallon show gets pretty good ratings on late night, and Questlove and his drums get lots of screen time 5 nights a week. 3) desirable configuration (20,12,14) and good quality, and cool wrap finishes offered back then.

As to whether your conjecture that they won't go up is right and my conjecture that they will is, that remains to be seen. It is true, as Wayne says, the economy isn't supporting an increase in value of much at all right now.

It will be interesting to watch the market and find out. I'm not going to act like I can predict the future but I'm as good as the next person at looking at some things. I'm glad I stumbled onto the player's set as I consider myself, like many of you, to be students of vintage instruments. I'm enjoying the learning experience.

I think all here know my stance on MIJ drums and the value they are enjoying at the moment. Many of these old stencil kits are never going to be more than a curiosity and I know this. The values will remain relative to what they are now. However, Yamaha is a different beast altogether and all drummers know this, whether they like them or not. They have always been associated with much higher quality than the rest. Star and old Pearl stencils are what they are, beginner kits with cool wraps. However, these days they are enjoying somewhat of a look from other professional drummers because they have a sound that cannot be found in any other drums. The thicker, 6 and 9 ply mahog shells have a very distinct tone, and the thinner 3 and 5 ply shells have a low, rumble and boom that nothing else does. And they are inexpensive at the moment.

My WMP set, for instance, having been modified, have a very cool vibe, and look good doing it. Do they rival old 3 ply Ludwigs...? No. Not the same at all. Do they rival old 3 ply Gretsch....yeah right. Slingerland, seeing as this is the maker they were going after, they share a lower tone and boom with them, but a totally different sound.

Now, Yamaha, on the other hand, they are built with quality woods, birch, maple, and African Mahogany. Different all the way around. Yamaha will always be known as more of a high end drum. Look at what we have today in the Japanese built drums, not the Taiwan or Korean made, just the top of the line kits. They rival and in many cases kick butt on American built kits all the way around in build, heavy duty hardware, like Gretsch and Ludwig American built gear, they are top notch. TAMA, they hold top resale and always have. Yamaha, same thing. Now, look at Pearl. They are the Chrysler Corp of the Japanese drum market. Some of their gear is top notch, the Japan made stuff, yet it drops dollar like a fat stripper on Monday night. Tama, only the low-end, and it doesn't lose much, Yamaha? No, they hold and command top resale value.

Yamaha did not build 1000 kit a week in the 60s and 70s, like the Star/Pearl stencils, as they DID NOT participate in the stencil market, as best we can tell. This is why they will increase in value. They are well built, they are cool looking and they sound great. Stencil gear, eh...only after you tweak the daylights out of it does it begin to sound good. But the guys that know what they are doing with these old cans will bring some of trhem to the forefront of their respective market. The stencil drums are not in the same league, no matter what anyone tries to push, as Yamaha, TAMA and the Japan built Pearl Masters. However, Pearl did not make many mid-line and very few pro kits in the vintage era we are discussing here. Star, now some of the gear that bore the Star badges, later in the run, toward the big switch, were quite good quality. I personally do not like the thicker shells, you all know that. I love the sound of the pre-67 thinner shells. Yamaha did not use thick lauan shells, as far as I know, except for the very budget minded sets of the lower end series, and very few of those are surfacing compared to the birch/maple variety.

Now, are the vintage kits going to gain in value due to Q-love playing them? It may have an impact on the price of them. However, what will, and is, having a more direct impact on the price of them is rarity, condition and quality. Yamaha drums are top quality, that is why they will continue to increase in value, not merely because a Hip-Hop artist and TV show are carrying them. Everywhere you look, DW is in your face. Ludwig, not so much anymore. Gretsch, you see them, Pearl sometimes, TAMA yep. But Yamaha is and always has been top Q, and quiet. Not making huge noise, never have (I am talking about marketing noise here, guys and gals). They sell because they are great instruments, and their vintage gear is now coming of age. They were not making drum kits in the 30s, 40s, 50s like Americans, they were building traditional Japanese drums. So, they are top quality, and since they did not really start building the trapset until the 60s, they will be fewer, and much more difficult to find. And that rarity, along with the non-participation in the stencil game and the seriously wild wraps they had will also drive prices.

Are we, the aging vintage guys going to decide the fate of MIJ, Yamaha, Star, Pearl? No. It will be the 20-somethings that count themselves among our members that will decide their place in the future of vintage drums. It is my mission to preserve Kleening as many of the quality ones as I can for them to place in their rite and rightful place.:Snow Flake:

I don't think anyone is refuting Yamaha as a quality drum. Rogers kits that Yamaha built in the 60s are sweet. Yamaha didn't build birch kits until the 9000 series in the mid 70s, though. Someone correct me if I erred.

I believe the inner ply was birch which was sandwiched with ???? poplar,mahogany,not sure about that one.

Yamaha did not begin production of modern drums until 1967.

Let the games begin (BTW I believe the color of this set is a Blue oyster whereas my eyes are seeing a Black oyster pearl color on Questlove's set.. but nonetheless):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370396919786&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

The finish is called Blue Willow.

Are you in?

My prediction, 750+. For only the three pc. Stupid sellers, what is wrong with these people? Sell the damned pedal with the drums. And why multiple boxes? He can ship all three in one box, just pull the lugs off the 12, and off they go.