What's up with head prices going through the roof?

[vyacheslav]

Greetings,

I stopped into a Guitar Center (I know, I know, it's the only option I had) because I needed to pick up a 14" Coated Ambassador for a snare drum. It rang up as $22.99! For a 14" Coated Ambassador!

Fortunately, they did price match an online price I found of $14.99. Apparently, Remo just raised their prices AGAIN. All the major drum head manufacturers are all based in the USA (Remo, Evans/D'Addario/Aquarian). This wouldn't have anything to do with the China embargo deal.

Head prices continue to skyrocket. Most heads, no joke, have increased 50-65% over the last 10 years alone. Is Mylar getting that much more expensive? What is the reasoning for heads being so far ahead of inflation?

[JimmySticks]

Well, I'm not a business major or mylar salesman, but it appears helium prices are way up, causing mylar balloon sales to plummet. So my guess is, the mylar people are stuck with a lot of, well, mylar, causing a price increase in all mylar related products.

Just my 2 cents.

[idrum4fun]

My guess is it is due to petroleum prices going up!

-Mark

I can ask my artist relations guy at Evans, if you want it straight from the manufacturer.

[Whatarethese123]

Can you also ask him when the UV2 is going to come out Bob?

Originally Posted by Whatarethese123

Can you also ask him when the UV2 is going to come out Bob?

Sure, I can. I'm loving the UV1s on my toms since I switched a few months ago. They don't get marked up and resist dents. They also sound warm and deep, which is the sound I like on toms.

Originally Posted by Whatarethese123

Can you also ask him when the UV2 is going to come out Bob?

OK, here you go: UV2's were released for sale on November 1 this month. As to the price of heads, all my guy told me was, the cost of materials, manufacturing and labor keeps going up, so the retail prices do too. Pretty simple.

[JimmySticks]

Originally Posted by DrumBob

OK, here you go: UV2's were released for sale on November 1 this month. As to the price of heads, all my guy told me was, the cost of materials, manufacturing and labor keeps going up, so the retail prices do too. Pretty simple.

Yup, no rocket science there, just plain ol economics. Imagine that?

[johnnyringo]

This is why I don't buy new drum heads!
I buy most of my heads used from a local drum shop, I can usually find 13, 14 and 16 coated Ambassadors that are still in good condition for $5-10 each, depending on size. Sometimes a 20 or 22 for $15. I also keep a lot of used heads in my rehearsal room, I have coated and clear Ambassadors, black dots, pin stripes and a few from Evans and Aquarian.
There's no need to change heads that often if you take care of them the same way you take care of your drums.

Originally Posted by johnnyringo

This is why I don't buy new drum heads!
I buy most of my heads used from a local drum shop, I can usually find 13, 14 and 16 coated Ambassadors that are still in good condition for $5-10 each, depending on size. Sometimes a 20 or 22 for $15. I also keep a lot of used heads in my rehearsal room, I have coated and clear Ambassadors, black dots, pin stripes and a few from Evans and Aquarian.
There's no need to change heads that often if you take care of them the same way you take care of your drums.

I just tossed out at least twenty used heads that I knew I'd never use again, in an attempt to start clearing out the unfinished side of the basement. I kept a stack of about fifteen decent ones that could come in handy. Fortunately, I have a deal with D'Addario that allows me to buy Evans heads at artist pricing. I did buy some used heads recently during the big Ritchie's Music sell-off sale this summer for $5 each.