Just wondering cuz I cant remember. How much would this kit sell for new at a music store back in 83?

I got a Cherry Wine 12,13,16,22 and matching 6x14 snare for $2000 Cdn (pre-taxes) in 1983

Man.. How are todays prices less? Were the music stores making a killing without the Internet or what?.

http://www.samash.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Superstar%205%20piece%20Shell%20Set%20Brushed%20Metallic%20Black_-1_10052_10002_1135025?cm_mmc=Froogle-_-Without%20Hardware-_-Superstar%205%20piece%20Shell%20Set%20Brushed%20Metallic%20Black-_-TSK52KSBM

The Canadian dollar at that time was worth roughly 80 cents American, so they were probably $1600 U.S or so, and imported from Japan... They were also a premium line for their day (behind only the Artstars), and came with Remo CS heads (black dots)

Today's Superstars are mass-made in China, using a softer version of birch, probably somewhat thinner plies and produced by workers making significantly less money

I'm sure there's quite a bit more to it than that, but that's where it starts

Some of the Japanese catalogs have the retail prices in yen. You just have to find out what the yen converted to back in 198? and you can figure what the retail was. I'm sure the net can provide that answer.

I bought a good portion of my set in 1983 but I don't remember what I paid. I am pretty sure they were more expensive then, not even taking into account what the value of the dollar was versus today. I seem to remember buying my second 24 bass drum by itself for over $300 new in '83.

Thats about what I was thinking Ed..

If I compare the superstars next to the 1985 yamaha Vmax I bought new for 5K which was produced until 05 unchanged for the most part MSRP $12K..

The bike more than doubled in value.. while our drums sold for half what we paid. wtf.. No wonder I cant sell mine for what I think is fair.

The vintage market is a fickle mistress. The VAST majority of focus is on American manufacturers (deservedly or not). There are a lot of newcomers to the scene that don't understand quality and unfortunately gain their education from "what I was told" ... which translates to a very uneven and unpredictable market. Take a gander at the differences in price of Ludwig and Slingerland kits ... or Rogers ... or Sonor ... or Yamaha ... or Premier ... or Tama Superstars, some of the nicest drums to ever come out of Japan. The prices of vintage drums do not represent the quality and sound, for the most part. It is what it is. The up side is we get to shop for quality at bargain pricing. That's not a bad thing.

About 2 months ago I traded a 7 piece Export set,90's vintage,with a cheap bass pedal, cymbal bag and $40 for 6 pieces of a Cherrywine Superstar set.Concert toms,which I'm in the process of converting go 12,13,14,15 and an 18 FT,with a 24 bass.Lots of knicks and missing FT rim,but these are going to kick arse when they are done.

Same thing here in Europe. Bad times for selling, good times for buying. Also, your views on the uneven prices between brands are very valid here too. Ludwigs are the double of anything else, Gretsch the triple. Premier around half.

Jon