vyacheslav
Senior Member
Hello,
I am very lucky. I'll start by saying that. I own a lot of drum kits that I lovingly restored, or polished or cleaned/tuned that I acquired used. I take excellent care of my gear and the drums I have always look and play way better then how I first got them (I buy virtually everything used). I used to really look forward to adding to my collection of kits. I have so many now though, that I am becoming overwhelmed at all the gear I have. I have to spend money on a climate controlled storage unit just to have enough room to store everything.
I own around 35 total kits. Many are vintage MIJ (Made In Japan) with cool and unique wraps, and I also own a lot of Mid-level kits, like Stage Customs, PDP Birch, Gretsch Catalina etc, but I don't own anything real high end, and all my vintage stuff (save a '66 Slingerland Stage Band) is MIJ. Lately, I've really been thinking a lot about simplifying and instead of having 35 "pretty good" kits, what if I have have 4-5 "great" kits? Something really nice, like Gretsch USA Customs, or high end Yamaha, Mapex, Pearl, DW, Ludwig, or some high end vintage stuff, like Rogers, Ludwig or Gretsch Round Badge etc. I do play out several times a month in multiple projects, so I am a "real" working musician, not just a hobbyist.
The kits I have now, although mid-level or MIJ, all sound great, look great, and perform flawlessly. I am experienced enough to make even low quality drums sound decent. Here are my questions to you all:
1). If you were in my shoes, what would you do? Would you hang on to the "collection" or would you do as I described above? Obviously, I would have a TON of gear to sell if went the consolidation route, but all of the proceeds could be used to fund a small collection of premium, high end kits. Honestly, I think the selling/shipping of gear would be much harder and more laborious than deciding what to invest the proceeds in. (That would be the fun part!).
2) If you did decide to go the consolidation route, how would you choose to sell a massive amount of gear? I know Reverb/Ebay is viable, but what about possibly contacting a local drum shop that would have the capacity and knowledge to deal with the gear and maybe do a "bulk sale" (Jim Rupp's place, Columbus Pro Percussion, is less than 2 hours from me). Would you pursue that route?
3) I'm thinking I would probably enjoy the few high end kits more, because it's less to think about and keep track of, and I know in my heart that they are very high end kits that I got to pick out myself. Plus I could display them all, set up, in one room in my house (no way I can do that now!) and save money by getting rid of the storage unit. Do you agree?
4) Do you think I would notice the difference between my mid-level kits I am used to, and a high end kit? Build quality, sound, ease of tuning etc?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post and offer your opinions. I know I will get a TON of great advice on this forum.
Thank you all,
V
I am very lucky. I'll start by saying that. I own a lot of drum kits that I lovingly restored, or polished or cleaned/tuned that I acquired used. I take excellent care of my gear and the drums I have always look and play way better then how I first got them (I buy virtually everything used). I used to really look forward to adding to my collection of kits. I have so many now though, that I am becoming overwhelmed at all the gear I have. I have to spend money on a climate controlled storage unit just to have enough room to store everything.
I own around 35 total kits. Many are vintage MIJ (Made In Japan) with cool and unique wraps, and I also own a lot of Mid-level kits, like Stage Customs, PDP Birch, Gretsch Catalina etc, but I don't own anything real high end, and all my vintage stuff (save a '66 Slingerland Stage Band) is MIJ. Lately, I've really been thinking a lot about simplifying and instead of having 35 "pretty good" kits, what if I have have 4-5 "great" kits? Something really nice, like Gretsch USA Customs, or high end Yamaha, Mapex, Pearl, DW, Ludwig, or some high end vintage stuff, like Rogers, Ludwig or Gretsch Round Badge etc. I do play out several times a month in multiple projects, so I am a "real" working musician, not just a hobbyist.
The kits I have now, although mid-level or MIJ, all sound great, look great, and perform flawlessly. I am experienced enough to make even low quality drums sound decent. Here are my questions to you all:
1). If you were in my shoes, what would you do? Would you hang on to the "collection" or would you do as I described above? Obviously, I would have a TON of gear to sell if went the consolidation route, but all of the proceeds could be used to fund a small collection of premium, high end kits. Honestly, I think the selling/shipping of gear would be much harder and more laborious than deciding what to invest the proceeds in. (That would be the fun part!).
2) If you did decide to go the consolidation route, how would you choose to sell a massive amount of gear? I know Reverb/Ebay is viable, but what about possibly contacting a local drum shop that would have the capacity and knowledge to deal with the gear and maybe do a "bulk sale" (Jim Rupp's place, Columbus Pro Percussion, is less than 2 hours from me). Would you pursue that route?
3) I'm thinking I would probably enjoy the few high end kits more, because it's less to think about and keep track of, and I know in my heart that they are very high end kits that I got to pick out myself. Plus I could display them all, set up, in one room in my house (no way I can do that now!) and save money by getting rid of the storage unit. Do you agree?
4) Do you think I would notice the difference between my mid-level kits I am used to, and a high end kit? Build quality, sound, ease of tuning etc?
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post and offer your opinions. I know I will get a TON of great advice on this forum.
Thank you all,
V