Prices can fluctuate pretty often so that may be a reason there isn't a book.. Best way to check current prices is going to Ebay and searching the "advanced" area, type in what you are searching for and select "sold listings." This will give you a general figure of what that item is selling for.

This is true. My only issue at times with that, is if you get two people in a bidding war, they may be willing to pay more because they really want that drum. As opposed to the drum simply selling with a sole bid or two for what it may be worth ( generally speaking )

I guess what I'm getting at is if certain vintage drums sell for a certain range based on condition. Couldn't there be a basic list for anyone to go by. Say I have a 60's Ludwig kit, condition is 8, drums no hardware, all original. General value is $( insert number )

Then yearly it can be updated based on market conditions, rarity,etc..

Just feel it would be easier if there was a place to access this information. Especially for those who aren't necessarily plugged into the vintage drums or drums market and just happened upon a kit, or drum.

This would also give potential buyers of vintage gear an idea of what they should pay for what. Also to try and help people from being taken advantage of.

It would be a good idea. I guess to go about it you could take the average price that the drums or equipment are selling for and use that as a guide for purchase prices. The thing with ebay, is the fees and stuff that are attached in selling things.. I wonder how much those fees skew sale price.

Great idea and would like it to work, but have a couple reservations. As far as checking on the resale of vehicles (price) you have a set pattern of questions to answer, with the most important, mileage! You also have location. Turn this into a vintage drum blue book, and a person THINKS his kit is an 8, but indeed it is a 5 to someone else. They are uneducated in the area, and this is shown on eBay everyday.

Best way is like Justin stated...the sold items on eBay.

Just my 2 cents

Nevin

I feel though that even if you think you have an 8 - which may really be a 5. If you had a reference book that says an 8 is ( xyz ) and you or buyer notices that your kit isn't xyz, they might be more apt to walk away and know they aren't getting a good deal. The book and base references would need to be sourced by people who have bought and sold for years and know the typical value of player drums. As well as the top dollar drums that are 10's. Again ebay has a host of other factors that play into the price. Those don't factor into most day to day, person to person sales.

The one unbreakable rule of buying and selling is "When the unscrupulous meet the ignorant, someone is going to get taken." It never fails. And it goes both ways.

I think eBay sold listings really are generally the gold standard. At the end of the day, they're a record of "person-to-person" sales; market prices are made up of a mix of the informed and uninformed. If there are several examples with comparable condition that vary widely, just take the average. If there are few examples, that may indicate illiquidity, which means a premium could be justified. The only better way IMHO is for someone or some group to compile prices and other pertinent factors going back further than eBay does. Zenstat, for example, has done a real service for us all by compiling such histories for various Zildjian and Paiste cymbals.

I feel there was someone working on a project like this a year or so ago? Someone from Modern Drummer maybe? I remember some chatter about it and work being started. But no updates I can recall?

I'll certainly have to look into it. It just amazes me that we as drummers don't have this. My other big hobby is Model Railroading and I dabble with toys and coins. And all of those have yearly updated price guides. But I'll do a little investigating, and nothing else maybe come up with a rough idea and see if it sticks.