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Where have all the bargains gone?

Posts: 1685 Threads: 529

You can sing that to the tune of "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone" by Paula Cole.

Seriously, I know this is considered a buyer's market, but each time I look at Cragislist or ebay, I am constantly saying "WTF??"

So many average kits, or kits in poor condition are priced WAY more than they are worth. I know "worth" can mean many things to many people. But I think we can agree that a six lug Luan MIJ snare in blue sparkle wrap for $250 is not "worth" it.

I like getting good deals (who doesn't?), but it seems more and more that they are getting harder and harder to come by.

What do you think is the cause of this? Is it TV shows like "Storage Wars" or "American Pickers", so people think that just because something is old, they can charge a fortune for it? Just because it's old, doesn't mean it's valuable.

I hate to say this, but I think greed has a lot to do with it too. Look at all the people on ebay who part out drum kits to make more money. Don't get me wrong, when I sell gear and want to get a fair price, but it's just that: A fair price that is fair for both parties. Anytime I sell anything on ebay, whether it's tension rods or a full drum kit, I always start the price at $1. Fair Market Value allows the price to be bid up to that "Fair" price. Plus, I believe it encourages more people to bid or watch if the price is low or more reasonable. I have never been disappointed in a bigger ticket item's final sale price. There are times that I thought I could've gotten more, but most people think that way. But that would distort the "fairness" of that price to the buyer, in theory.

I guess I just wish people would be more like they are here............put greed aside and offer your stuff for a fair price and derive enjoyment from providing a fair deal so that someone else can enjoy drums and drumming.

Thoughts?

Posted on 9 years ago
#1
Posts: 79 Threads: 1

All round the world young players are looking out for old vintage drums as they have some sort of mystical charm - the market is much larger and more informed than it ever was - thanks to the internet. The classified ads are full of worthless chinese childrens junk sets or ruined broken stuff. If anything good turns up it gets grabbed pretty fast.

Posted on 9 years ago
#2
Posts: 2444 Threads: 288

They're still out there. Picked up a 5 piece Pearl Export with DW5000 pedal, hardware, hi-hat cymbals, splash, crash, ride and other goodies for $200.00 the other day.....

Its better to have people think you're an idiot, than to open your mouth and prove them wrong, unless you doubt yourself then speak away....
Posted on 9 years ago
#3
Posts: 65 Threads: 13

I blame non-playing collectors for driving prices much higher than their worth as playable instruments.

Posted on 9 years ago
#4
Posts: 51 Threads: 12

I picked up a Ludwig Super Classic with a Jazz Fest snare in White Marine Pearl in almost new condition in Nashville for 900.00 with cases! I consider that a steal given the immaculate condition of the set. I have been offered much more that I paid for the set, but I think I will hang on to it for a while and just enjoy looking at it!

Posted on 9 years ago
#5
Posts: 5550 Threads: 576

its the information highway every time you enter a search, the vdf comes up, when you enter a search it hilarious, just 5 years ago 800 was a average price for a obp jazzfest now the cheapest i saw one was on reverb and it was sold as fast as it was listed it was going for 2500 if i remember right thats cheap for that drum

April 2nd 1969 scarfed pink champagne holly wood and 65/66 downbeat snare, and , supra same year very minty kit old pies
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp





once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Posted on 9 years ago
#6
Posts: 948 Threads: 48

I buy entry level taiwan made drum kits any time I see one for fifty dollars or less

Right now I have at least a dozen five piece drum kits none costing more than fifty dollars

I have also bought some really beautiful intermediate level gear for very reasonable prices

some friends of mine who are drum kit resellers have for sale right now

a beautiful Yamaha stage custom kit with Zildjian cymbals for 700.00

I coincidentally bought the identical stage custom kit with stands and a mixture of decent cymbals for 120.00

earlier I bought a PDP CX maple kit in awesome white onyx just the five drums

better than new in that they are mint

and have had all batter and reso side heads upgraded .....all for just two hundred

I had to hunt for the double tom mount and that cost 35.00 but wow are these beautiful tubs

I have a couple other PDP kits one is a CS maple and the other is LX birch I think?

they are dinged up here and there but each kit was fifty dollars with limited hardware and no cymbals

I have a Sonor force 2001 kit 5 pieces in a flat redwood stained finish for 150.00

I sort of go a little Koo koo with the stencil kits

I buy full kits partial kits and orphans just about any time I see them and can get to them

Sometimes or more often than not I always make out well price wise ..but I have also knowingly overpayed because I enjoy collecting them so much My latest find was a little Zim Gar bass drum and mounted tom in (small chip) blue marine pearl

No resonant side head hoop rods or claws on the eight (stage band style) lug bass drum

the mounted tom has the knock off stick savers with a moderate amount of pitting $40.00 and a ride out to Hingham Mass

Some might think what? just a bass and tom? ...What the heck good is that ?

well I have a whole wall filled with bass drums with matching mounted toms in a nice varity of colors

just for display purposes and for the simple fun of collecting

now on most of these I do have matching snare drums also, but on many it is just the bass and mounted tom

I have a small assortment of vintage american drums but nothing super duper nice and/or expensive

save for a 70s Slingerland kit in black with 16"and 18" floor toms and 24" bass drum

So far pricing in my area is moderate to good and usually workable

but I do see lack of knowledge and/or greed on some stuff mostly on the bay

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Posted on 9 years ago
#7
Posts: 541 Threads: 102

I just picked up a 70s all original Gretsch concert tom set for $150, pretty nice!

Get off! Get your f**in' clothes and get off! Right now! Pull the f**in' bus over! -Buddy Rich
Posted on 9 years ago
#8
Posts: 1461 Threads: 75

From davidh

All round the world young players are looking out for old vintage drums as they have some sort of mystical charm - the market is much larger and more informed than it ever was - thanks to the internet. The classified ads are full of worthless chinese childrens junk sets or ruined broken stuff. If anything good turns up it gets grabbed pretty fast.

+1 to davidh`s comment.Todays market is internet driven and hopefully we`re all a little bit smarter as a result of that.Sure supply and demand will always dictate the bottom line-that`s a given.But i agree with vyacheslav-the good deals are definately on the decline,and the lucky few who find them will become fewer.

Wayne

1967 Rogers Cleveland Champagne Sparkle
20,16,13,13.
1967/68 Rogers Dayton Champagne Sparkle
20,16,13,13.
1966 Rogers cob 7 Line Dynasonic Snare.
1967 Rogers "Humberto Morales" Timbales.
1980 Ludwig B/O badge 14x 6.5 Black Beauty Snare.
1980 Ludwig B/O badge Red Cortex
22,22,18,16,15,14,13.
1988 Sonor "Horst Link" HLD 590 14x8 Bronze Snare
Posted on 9 years ago
#9
Posts: 5550 Threads: 576

That's why on museum quality drums they hold a price point of no other

April 2nd 1969 scarfed pink champagne holly wood and 65/66 downbeat snare, and , supra same year very minty kit old pies
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp





once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Posted on 9 years ago
#10
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