I've always heard that it's around 20 years. Still, even though drums from around 1999 are now 20 years old, I'm not sure how "vintage" they are in terms of collectibility. I'm sure others will weigh in on this with their thoughts and opinions.

-Mark

25 years according to who.

There's Vintage concerning Age of something (like after 25 years you can get an antique plate for your 73 Vega)

Then there's Categories of which Vintage may be defined as (say) 1920- 1955.

that would go by year Born (made).

25 year old was made in 1994.

1994 may be a category called "Mid- Modern" or something like that.

Going by the year it was built.

So many would scoff calling something built in 1994 vintage and may have another name for it.

Be right back, gotta go list my first Pearl Export as vintage!

I dunno, I think when many of us think “vintage drums” we’re thinking of a certain non-shifting period when the big four were making their classics. Maybe 1940s-1960s, with a stretch around the edges. I personally can’t wrap my head around the idea of “vintage” 1990s drums. There are great drums from that period, but they’re a totally different thing than, say, 1950s WFLs.

Vintage means different things to different people. For me, it's anything 1960s or older.

Completely agree!

As to my statement of 20 years being vintage, I got that from a question that was asked in Modern Drummer many years ago. But, that meant that the drums in question were from the mid-60's to early 70's...and we were still talking about the US-made "classic" drums. I really believe that the drums from the 80's and later will become "vintage", but will just take much longer than 20-25 years!

-Mark

So best to say " Vintage" after the year.

Vintage 1966.

Vintage 1982.

Vintage 1994.

So you are not classifying just denoting the year born. Using the word vintage instead of the word year

I will say 40 years and defend it.

1960's and earlier I say!