I think this kind of thing happens with almost all drummers, except the ones that arnt into gear. Luckily I've learned to restrain myself, but when you are half awake at night and you bid for something useless like a fake kids drum the next morning really gets me with buyers remorse. Also who wants negative feedback on ebay? So I've had the same experiences but luckily havnt done anything to stupid...yet :)

Oops I noticed I didnt answer any of your questions. I think "protoype" like drums are what could make modern day drums collectable. Or the "limited edition of 6000" could always make it collectable. I think the premier reissue of kieth moon's pictures of lily kit will be fetching the big bucks..unless they decide to bring a new one out every 5 years. The first gibson slingerland's im sure could get some cash in the next 10 years. Im not totally sure just guessing but thats what I predict.

Sometimes I buy gear I used to own just out of sentiment. Most of the time I can't afford to buy back what I used to own sentiment or sound. It amazes me how stuff I considered junk and barely functional 30 years ago fetches 10 times the original price today. I suspect not much will change in another 30 years. Whatever survives will have some collectable value. Possibly drums won't be made of wood in 2036.Mind Blowi

Thanks for the responses.

Trixon is another example of a collectible drum...AND a vintage drum as well...but the collectibility is based more upon (again) the weirdness factor. The Speedfire kits were about as weird as anything that's ever been built in the world of drums...and those other Trixon conical ones, too -they are very cool, but I have never EVER heard a good report about how they sound...and I have also heard that the components weren't very durable...which makes finding a set of them in good condition, very rare...and THAT fact increases their collectible value even more!

I think I might disagree about the "limited edition drums" -simply because I think the whole idea of designing a new drum to be made specifically to be a collectible is a waste. Most of those drums were built after the fact that all the parts were cast in Taiwan....so there really will never be all that much distinction with them -other than their decorative qualities.

Old drums were never made with any thought they would become future collectibles, but many drums that have been made in the last decade or so have been specifically to be that. Weird, huh? :)singer

My name is Jay and I am a drumoholic.....lol. With me and my kits its not just wanting and having the drums.I do care very much for the instrument and the history there of.So when i'm on a buying spree ( which I do from time to time ) or if i'm on a good luck kick and manage to find gear for free ( which happens more often than not matter of fact ) its not always about " is this collectible and worth money ) as we all know I am a huge stencil guy.Most of the drums aren't really worth anything but for me its like heaven in a round wooden shell,lol. And I always play all of my kits...aside from my main kit all my kits are on shelves and many are dis-assembled for storage space.But I still break one out a week just to play it.And on my free gear subject last week I got a 4 piece Maxwin kit in perfect condition.12",13",16",and 22" shells. ( I have enough snares ) but this kit I am passing on to my singer's younger brother who needs a kit to play shows with.So he is getting not the best kit ever but a kit thats decent enough to last him a few years.But also with the kit came two 70's Ludwig concert toms 14" and 16".Also both in great condition.And since I have a 20" 70's Ludwig silver sparkle bass drum with no matching toms I have myself a new quick project.I think I need to start a thread on all my freebies and good deals and how I come across them...its knowledge to share.Ok yea now that i've steered way of this threads topic i'm gonna stop here,lol.

The weirdness factor- that visual effect, is probably one of the strongest motivations for a collector. Celebrity endorsements, maybe also. Signature sticks even. What about the cymbals from Factory Metal? Can't comment on their sound because I haven't heard one, but the weird visual effect is there. I'm certain there's so much more. I wonder what Neil Peart's signature Sabian set will be worth in time? More? or less? Less in 10 years but then 5x in 20? Any predictions?

Sweet thread O Lugs, I was thinking about this the other day, while, I was on Ebay. I have seen the Vistalite kits, with the Tivoli lights, go for $3000. Not to long ago, you couldn't give this kit away. I have a vistalite kit, it's cool, but, it's far from my best sounding drumset, why $3000 for one with lights that might not work? Personally, I think "vintage" drumsets sound better, and when I pick one up, I play them. A lot! It's hard for me to understand the collector that will not play their gear, what's the point? Money? I would bet that most of the readers of this site take great care and pride in their drumsets, so, the chances of damaging a "vintage" drumset would have to be real low. Play them drums!

On the topic of funky collectable drums, how about North drums? Look cool, not a big production run, sound awful, and I have seen them go for crazy prices. Why? I have wondered about those Trixon saggy bassdrums, too, they looked like a squished oranged. Simmons pads? Someone is paying too much for pads that hurt real bad when you hit them. Remember Paiste Color sound cymbals? I must have broken 3 of them before I gave up on them! Looked great, but, couldn't handle a 5a stick or thicker. "Lens drums", more cowbell than drum, every producer that I played that thing for would freak out. Can you imagine bringing in a North drumset to record on? The producer might drink themselves to death!

ps..I love ARCHxANGEL's line "My name is Jay and I am a drumoholic.....", I can relate.

[LEFT]Interesting points on this topic and I have to tackle it from a few different angles, firstly I have sold tons of different items on Ebay to a variety of different types of collectors. Dolls, trains, knives, vintage advertising and so on...

To the collector it is a craft they have developed over time and they seek out the specific items they now must have in there collection. When I first started I was not very knowledgeable and I made purchases for drums that were more then they were really worth.

So until I honed my craft, I made some mistakes. So I think many things on Ebay are purchased from beginners thinking it is worth more then it really is

and then that might be a bench mark as what something might be worth when it really is not from a true collectable stand point.

So the person that purchased that second Zickos kit might have thought it was something more then it really was.

In regards to vistalites, that is an interesting topic in itself since there was an "Issue" with fake drums. This in my opinion dropped the market value and the true collectors that got burned stopped buying and the word got out about it and scared off a lot of people.

I can tell within a second or two after looking at a vistalite badge where the drum came from and if it was real or not. I learned that from getting burned and doing some intensive research and visual inspections and the many resources I have in the business.

So with that "delicate" topic done, in my opinion collectible is very personal for many collectors and what one collector would tolerate on an item others would not. What I look for in a drum now where I'm at in the business would be closer to what the bigger collectors are looking for.

You see, I get many emails every week asking about this "old drum" that someone purchased and they want to know how much to insure it for, or how much it is worth.

What they see with the limited knowledge is an old drum that looks collectible that in fact is worth about $100. I hate to let people down, but I understand that a beginning collector has to go through that process of learning.

I would say also that collectors can be focused or not and I'm personally not focused on one drum company, finish, style or depth of a drum and tend to purchase based on lots of factors. Other collectors will fine tune their collecting and stay with one company, one size and or one factor that they have to have with a drum.

I think at this point the items I'm looking for on Ebay are selling for way more then I can afford and or want to pay, so they are collectible and the collectors are finding them and the market is healthy.

Also, since I look at many things, I'm also competing against the collectors that are fine tuned into their list of must haves and I also can't compete with that as well.

At this point in time my collection has focused on literature and the odd stuff, post cards, letters for any drum company or drummer. I only wish I could focus on one thing and then I would probably not have so much stuff and I surely would have never started this web site!!

Thanks

David

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