I agree with this. But the high profile artist (Questlove is doing the Max Weinberg/Conan O'brien thing only even more high profile, he and his band the Roots are prominent on the show) connection AND the older (one of the first high quality) Japanese drums that had a cool factor already enter into the picture to create a "perfect storm" value-wise.

And, no I don't have a million posts on VDF although I've got many thousands on DFO ;) and quite a few on cymbalholic, so who am I to presume to know anything near the potentates here? Shut up maybe I'll learn something..

I'm trying to convince someone these are going to be the bee's knees pretty soon. No one knew who Questlove was a couple of months ago. I stumbled onto a same-era Yamaha set and sold them quickly, they had no wrap or badges. A set that has a similar or same wrap and sizes 20/12/14, if properly presented, would sell for a ton.. This assertion can obviously be disputed.. But to be honest (and ironic?) I am seriously interested in playing these. My other serious set is some Ludwigs and the bass drum is a 24.. Being interested in Jazz and funk, those smaller "progressive jazz sized" sets are definitely very cool sounding. None of this helps my position but it is exciting to see something like this happening and to discover it. Usually people are really quiet about it until it is hitting them in the face. Ringo's appearance on Ed Sullivan brought awareness of Ludwig Black Oyster drums to millions and even though Ludwig produced high quantities of them in that color, they remain the most collectible color around.

Bonham's Maple and Amber Vistas and Green sparkle Luddies w/26" bass, Ginger Baker, Double bass silver sparkle, Nick Mason, close to the same, Keith Moon, Premier double bass of varying age and era, Questlove and his vintage Yamahas. Just because they came out of Japan could actually make the value factor even more potent, as Yamahas are being played and endorsed as much or more than any.. Steve Gadd/ Dave Weckl and their RC's..Neil Peart and his SLingerlands, then Ludwigs, then Tama, then DW.. On and on..

I agree with pounder,

I have had more than one conversation with other drummers about older Yama's because of the exposure from Questlove, I actually had a student asking what kind of drums those were and if I thought they were collectable.

I know Gadd had a big impact Yama's a while back.

Of course nothing could compare to Ringo's impact on Luddys.

Someone already made the statement that no matter what WE think, another generation is going to decide what is collectible from the 60, 70 and especially 80s, and those will likely be Yamaha.

...without a doubt.

Yes,80,s and on for sure,but i think my generation has already spoken for the 50-70,s most desireable...Im glad i was a part of it...great memories!!...........BTW,were any of you at Woodstock?? I was.

Well, you are almost exactly 10 years older than me, and I would most certainly have gone if I had been of age, say 16, 17, 18...I would have been there.

I've been corrected of my above statement "no one knew who Questlove was a month ago.." by an anonymous member by PM.. I asked that he simply respond to this topic. Thanks, there's no reason not to take the discussion public. I should have worded it "I didn't know who Questlove was.." apologies if I offended any Questlove afficionados with my ignorance, the Roots have been around and he's won several awards and played to millions, probably.

Dont beat yourself up over this.You offended no one,and there,s no need to apoligise.Its a forum where we all have freedom of speech and as long as we play by the rules..its all good.

The artist formerly known as ? is indeed the drummer for the Roots. He's been featured in quite a few pubs because of this. Endorsement deals abound. He has the respect. (personally, I like the guy - good drummer)

The issue here (if it is an issue) seems to be in adjoining the artist with sales of a kit to the point of impacting a wide swath of a market.

I don't see that connection being made.

There are many high profile artists playing drums (most of them drummers). They get plenty of press. Many are respected.

Tre Cool had a signature kit. Didn't sell many.

Steve Gadd had five or so signature snares and now has a signature kit. Didn't make a marked impact on Yamaha profits. Don't fool yourself into thinking that it was Gadd who sold all those RC's during the 80's. That was the natural move of music...and about a thousand other studio vets who wanted that dead flat sound. (not an insult - listen to the recordings)

Simon Phillips has played a similar Tama setup for many years. Gong drum sales have not gone through the roof.

Carter Beauford is one of the most revered of the new batch. Black Recording Customs are not proliferating uncontrolled.

Frank Beard is definitely an icon. Yet, people are not playing the Beard kit.

Bill Bruford slayed us in YES (and about a million other projects). His kits were iconic and artistic in design. Not many like those, if you get my drift.

We can go on and on and on with monstrously larger than life drummers who played recognizable kits. There will always be those young guns who set up like their favorite drummers. That's different than impacting the market to the level being discussed.

Ringo kits. Bonham kits. Those are vintage terms earned (whether we agree or disagree). Personally, I don't like those terms. But, I have to live in this vintage world, so I adapt.

Let's talk about Gadd. He wanted his floor toms shallower and angled a bit more for his playing style. Yamaha built him the hanging floor toms. That's the geneses of those. As great of an impact as he was, there really is not a Gadd kit (other than the obvious signature thingy Yamaha puts out these days). That same two up two down hanging tom kit has been used by gobs of drummers - NOT because Gadd used it. But, because it was a good design (requested by Gadd-implemented by Yamaha). Many many many manufacturers are building those kits these days. Are they all Gadd kits? Of course not. Do we all bypass the other brands and buy the Yamaha's because Gadd played them? Again, of course not.

Here's where it should all make sense:

Are those older RC kits more collectible because they are set up like Gadd?

Nope. They are not.

I agree that very few people run out and try to match the Gadd, Weckle, Jordan, etc. kit, like they have with Bonham and Ringo, and that I see signature kits for sale (a relatively new phenomenon) but very few in actual use.

With that said, those drummers do often draw more attention to a particular manufacturer or a particular line of drums. There's no doubt.

To say that they had no impact or very little impact on the sale of those sets is to say that most drum manufacturers are idiots for wasting millions on endorsement deals don't you think?

I mean they must help sales somewhat or they wouldn't get those sweet deals?

Ludwig said in an interview that Ringo single handedly saved the company and gave him that gold snare. (by the way does anyone know where that snare is???) I don't think he was talking about the sale of just identical "Ringo Kits"

Sales of everything Ludwig increased because of the attention Ringo brought.

So maybe ?uestlove (what kind of name is that?) will bring some increased attention and desirability to vintage yama's???

What do you think?