You don't need us to answer that question. You know what you paid for your gear. Go to ebay, perform a search for your particular kits and select 'sold items'. You'll get a good estimate/idea of current market value (what people are willing to pay,) for your drums.

John

Thank you John, if you don't wish to offer your personal experience I understand.

It would still be nice to get the candid personal perspectives of other members and their insights if they wish to provide them.

Thanks again!

JF

Aw man, I wasn't 'unwilling to offer my personal experience' I thought I was giving it to you! That's how I and others find out the current market value for our gear... ebay, kiiji and other places like it. The only way to find out the -true- current value for our gear is by finding out what people are currently willing to pay for it.

I wasn't dismissing, or blowing you off. If you value my opinions at all... (ebay, Reverb, Kiiji,) that's where I get my info. Sorry if you read me wrong...

John

I'm stumped at this point. I see nice sets languishing online for what I think is a fair price, and yet, I see delusional crackpots asking totally stupid money on Reverb especially, for common Slingerland sets in common finishes, and some of them have been modded or altered. If you check there often, you'll see that those drums tend to sit and sit and sit, until the seller realizes his expectations are unrealistic. It depends on how motivated a seller is. I see complete wing nuts asking $999 for sets of MIJ stencil drums! There's a set up now on Ebay like that. The guy selling them must be on drugs. Or, he's fishing for a sucker.

I wouldn't pay much heed to that guy who told you the vintage drum market has collapsed. because I'm a guitarist also, I'm very much aware of vintage guitar prices, and I can tell you that market collapsed in 2008 but has recovered quite a bit since then.

Checking sold listings on Ebay is the place to start. If you list your drums here, that would be a great idea, as we're all vintage drum fans. If you list them at a reasonable price here, on Reverb and Ebay, they should sell.

All used prices took a hit about 8 years ago, and they've almost climbed back up to where they were. Almost.

...at least that seems to be the story in Portland, OR.

JF

IMHO, I think the market bears what the true vintage collector is willing to pay for a specific drum or set. Some of the true gems do get a very high price, but of course I am preaching to the choir when I talk about make, model, wrap and condition. Yes there are definately some wingnuts out there asking ridiculous prices for some stencil kits calling them "rare" when there are 10 others on the same web site in the same wrap and configuration. I have over paid for snares that I had been searching to find for a few years when they finally come available, and have added some unique wrapped MIJ's for a fairly low price.

I think the musician in LA is off base. He commented like that to get a better price, just like we do when we see one at a garage sale or on a local net with someone selling a nice kit and not knowing what they have, playing it off as run of the mill.

The market has not collapsed like the comic and sports card business due to the availability of vintage drums. I think it may have slowed down in the past few years due to the economy but true vintage drum lovers and collectors will just be a bit more selective in our spend.

The kits you are selling sound nice, I would recommend posting them here. The VDF group know and appreciate high quality drums and I am sure you can find a good home for them.

Good luck and please send some pics our way so we can give you some further insight and possibly give them a good home

Michael

Thank you all for your insight, with a little patience I am now beginning to get come play on CL LA on the Gretsch Progressive Jazz kit and some other items that people were specifically looking for.

Regarding ebay and Reverb, it's just difficult to give up 1/3 of the value to shipping costs.

Thanks again!

JF

The buyer pays shipping, not you. Is that what you think? Not sure by your reply.