Just my opinion but stuff made after 1985 doesn't really seem "vintage" to me. I don't have a problem with stuff made after that cutoff (and have quite a bit of stuff made after that point) but I guess since I was an adult by then I can easily recall when that stuff was brand new (and it doesn't really seem that long ago). Therefore it simply doesn't excite me to the same degree as a set from 1965 or 1975. I'm getting old though and it's bound to be relative based on someone's age. By that I mean that I imagine to someone born in 1995 a 1986 drum set seems plenty vintage. Because of that you'll probably get lots of different answers.

+1 with what K.O. said. Those of us of a certain age (I'm 64) love "vintage" kits from the 60's and 70's. Drums from the 80's and on, while good in their own respect, don't do much for me. Most of these newer kits just seem to "sterile" for me. Again, I really think that age will play a big role in this!

-Mark

Great question!

I'll counter that with another question:

Does the vintage "cutoff" date increase every year? For example, if you think vintage would be anything made 40 or more years ago, does that mean the "cutoff" date would be 1969 now and 1970 next year?

My answer is anything Pre-1980 would be considered vintage to me. Not sure why, that just feels like the "right" time to me.

I originally put 1980 in my post then decided to add five years. Ludwig left Chicago in 1985 and Slingerland and Rogers were both either done or nearly so by then, Gretsch wasn't doing so well either. Everything became about the Japanese drum companies from about 1983-85 onward. They were well made drums but they just didn't interest me then, and they still don't today. Of course Gretsch and Ludwig have both made major comebacks, Slingerland briefly did in a smaller way and now Rogers is trying again...and DW has been going strong since the late 80's (but those have never really grabbed my interest either). I do own a lot of newer drums but the ones made in Chicago (and Brooklyn and Covington) hold a special place in my heart.

Certainly one might consider that the "golden era" of American made drums came to a close in the mid 1980's. How that equates to what is Vintage and what isn't is hard to say but for my own opinion it is/was important.

I have heard 25 years old as the "cutoff date".

Everything that I have read re other collectibles defines vintage as 20-25 years old and from another era. Antique is defined as 100 years or older.

So far the year pre 85 sounds good I’d knock off 6 years my self but we had some fine drums made in that period the ss kits for one.

So pre 85 it is , nothing after that , maybe a black beauty here or there but I’m good with nothing after that year .

Gary

February 17, 1977

Okay, I have to ask......