If you were selling them on the open market, of course matched dates increase the value of a collectable kit. Now will your friend agree, that's the question. But then you have to ask, why does he want them? Because they are a matched date kit, l would suggest.

If you do enjoy owning them, why are you considering selling them? And if you do sell them to your friend are you doing it strictly out of friendship? Because if you are, you will probably end up getting paid less than they are worth. And, if you end up regretting having sold them, you will kick yourself if you find you can't get another set in the same condition as the one you're selling. Frankly, if you're on the fence about this, I would definitely not sell them at this time unless you need the money or the space.

If it is a verified matched kit, especially in that nice condition that I see in your photo, I believe you could get more for it than if it was an orphan set (or even maybe a less sporadic set of dates). Being factory matched with dates like that would probably attract your collectors which could potentially bring more money.

As for selling it.. that's really up to you, of course. The problem in selling to a friend is that he'll probably expect a "friend" discount. There's the seller's remorse that could give you some problems.. If he's your friend, and he really likes the drums, just invite him over when he wants to play them. If he's really your friend, he'll understand.

I would say a matched set beats a pair of orphans.

I probably would have a problem selling them to a friend unless you really don’t care what happens to them.

Once you sell them they might not be treated the way you treated them or they could re-sell them ,... the list goes on.

I could be totally wrong because I don’t know your friend. Basically thinking out loud.

Yeah, all valid points. I 'm more into letting him come play them when he needs to. For whatever reason I just enjoy owning them. Thanks for the inputs!

I saw this post this morning, which is significant for one reason. It is March 12 and it is my birthday today. I am exactly two years older than your drums.

From the information I have gathered, having the same date stamp in all three drums is not very common, but I have seen several sets with this characteristic. I would suggest that the same date is most valuable for demonstrating that these drums were likely born together, but if they had been a week off from each other, the same conclusion could be drawn.

I do not believe that the drums are worth more because of the same date stamps than any other born together sets. Perhaps there would be a slight bump. Because they are birthday drums for me, I would probably be willing to pay a bit more just for the novelty of it. I have a WMP Pioneer with a MAR 12 date stamp that I bought simply because it was a birthday drum.