The Last Kit

I can't do it anymore. The buy sell thing has got me bonkers. I was fortunate today to meet a great guy selling a great kit at a VERY reasonable price. I drove 540 miles round trip to pick them up. It was a pleasure to meet him and the drive wasn't that bad as it was all freeway. That said, I've had my Ludwig kit up for sale for a couple weeks now and the inquiries are so weird that I'm starting to wonder about our future as a society. I've had a lot of fun trying different kits and configs but I'm done. All I need to do is move the Classic Maples and I won't have to answer any more dopey questions.

Anyway, here's the last of the Mohicans. Drove from Pittsburgh to Rochester, NY to get them and it was worth every mile. Thanks to Brian K. Super guy! These are Noble and Cooley Classic Walnut High Gloss Black hardware 22x16, 13x9, 16x16.

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Time will tell.

The N&C would be a worthy last kit if it turns out that way though.

Fair assessment on your part. I agree with your second sentence as well.

Here's the things I'm agonizing with lately with potential buyers. Asking me ???s about things that are CLEARLY stated in the ad, sizes, finish, no trades etc. When I say it's in the ad I get...."You don't have to be rude."

"Why are you selling them?" Me: Uh, because it's more beneficial to me than giving them away.

"I have a kit just like yours!" Me: That's wonderful.

"Could you hold on to them for me? I might be able to buy them next month". Me: facepalm

"What don't you like about them?" Me: The fact that they don't look like a small stack of $100 bills

"I've seen these for cheaper at other places" Me thinks: No you haven't and why are you wasting my time and yours? Proceeds to Block inquisitor.

So yeah, one more kit to sell and I'm out of that arena. I actually don't HAVE to sell them but 4 kits at my house is one too many. I don't have the room and I'd rather somebody be playing them than having them sit in cases in the corner. Having 2 kits would probably be optimal but I'm really enamored with the 3 I have. They pretty much cover all the bases and then some.
 
I've been out of that arena...buying drums mainly...for about 4 years now.

It takes a fair amount of brainpower to be in that mindset.

When that brainpower is freed up, it's easier to move ahead with playing. Buying gear doesn't improve playing, generally speaking.

I think that the practice of constantly changing gear keeps us in a certain mental state that hinders actual playing growth.

No facts here just opinion
 
Nice-looking kit, @Darth Vater . The finish has a lot of class.

I've never been a serial buyer/seller, but I can imagine how the associated fatigue might take its toll. Selling, especially, can be a frustrating process. When I'm prepared to part with drums or cymbals, I'm just as likely to give them away as I am to sell them, mostly because donating expends a lot less energy. But again, I don't buy often, and I keep gear for years at a time, so the sales burden isn't one I confront with regularity.
 
I've been out of that arena...buying drums mainly...for about 4 years now.

It takes a fair amount of brainpower to be in that mindset.

When that brainpower is freed up, it's easier to move ahead with playing. Buying gear doesn't improve playing, generally speaking.

I think that the practice of constantly changing gear keeps us in a certain mental state that hinders actual playing growth.

No facts here just opinion

Duly noted, I agree with some of your points but not the hindering of playing time/growth. I am retired so making time for "work" never enters the equation. Plenty of time for playing and noodling! :cool:
Nice-looking kit, @Darth Vater . The finish has a lot of class.

I've never been a serial buyer/seller, but I can imagine how the associated fatigue might take its toll. Selling, especially, can be a frustrating process. When I'm prepared to part with drums or cymbals, I'm just as likely to give them away as I am to sell them, mostly because donating expends a lot less energy. But again, I don't buy often, and I keep gear for years at a time, so the sales burden isn't one I confront with regularity.

Thanks C.M. Yeah, they really are pretty and I've wanted a good walnut kit for awhile. Part of the point I'm trying to make is that I've met some really great people during the buy/sell times but there's this undercurrent of dopes that really get annoying and it seems to be on the uptick. Maybe it's just the Ludwig crowd! (LOL, I'm kidding!). At this point I have a # in mind for what it will take for me to sell the Ludwigs locally and/or ship them and until somebody gets to that number they'll still be here with me in our happy drum home. Convo's about the sale will be short and to the point. ;)
 
Look forward to hearing what you have to say on the walnuts, never heard them. I'm going to guess the horizontal ply gives it some extra muscle compared to other walnuts, at least that was my experience with Horizons. Was surprised on the Ludwig sell but if you have a ProLite then already have one of nicest thin maple shells on the market.
 
I agree, the used market has gone bonkers. It used to be fun to sell stuff.. (like your situation above) you would meet a cool person, make a good deal, and obtain or pass along some cool gear. Everybody wins!

Now it's all lowballers and scammers. I sold a (technically) used but mint- condition Tama cocktail jam kit with all factory accessories, all brand new Evans heads, plus some extra hardware an add-on's. All together I had well over $1k worth of essentially brand new gear that I ended up letting go for $200 after months of time consuming and frustrating waste of time interactions. My crappy low wage at work put me at well above $1k in collective man-hours at that point so I gave up and accepted a low-ball offer.

I had a brief 'hobby' of buying, selling, and collecting vintage shaving equipment (like safety razors and straight razors and such) which had the same issues. For example: I would sell an item worth $50 for $40 just pass along a good deal, would end up accepting a $15 offer because I got tired of babysitting a listing... Only to find that person turn around and sell the same item for $60
 
Look forward to hearing what you have to say on the walnuts, never heard them. I'm going to guess the horizontal ply gives it some extra muscle compared to other walnuts, at least that was my experience with Horizons. Was surprised on the Ludwig sell but if you have a ProLite then already have one of nicest thin maple shells on the market.

I just spent all morning getting the Summits and Ludwigs cased up and put away. Next I did a quick setup with the NC's just to see what they sounded like with the heads/tuning from the previous owner. To be frank, they sounded terrible. Time to investigate. OK, he's a high tuner, that explains it to a degree. I retune everything to low-medium low and now we're getting somewhere. They sound better but not great. I'm looking at the head combos and I see coated G1s over clear of the same. EQ3 on the kick. Let's try coated ambassadors instead of the coated G1s. Keep the reso the same for now. EQ3 is swapped out for a Remo clear PS3. Complete retune of everything and......... it's the voice of the rock drum gods! No joke. THIS is what I was looking for in a walnut kit. BOOM BOOM! Only dampening is 7 smallish cotton balls in the floor tom. I'm using a Summit quilted maple solid shell 14x7 snare with a coated PS3 batter with this kit. Ironic in that I'm using a walnut snare with my maple Prolites.

This not an indictment of Evans heads or higher tuning. They just didn't work for the sound I was trying to get to. I actually use Evans UV1's and a coated Emad on my Summit solid shell kit and they sound great on there.
I agree, the used market has gone bonkers. It used to be fun to sell stuff.. (like your situation above) you would meet a cool person, make a good deal, and obtain or pass along some cool gear. Everybody wins!

Now it's all lowballers and scammers. I sold a (technically) used but mint- condition Tama cocktail jam kit with all factory accessories, all brand new Evans heads, plus some extra hardware an add-on's. All together I had well over $1k worth of essentially brand new gear that I ended up letting go for $200 after months of time consuming and frustrating waste of time interactions. My crappy low wage at work put me at well above $1k in collective man-hours at that point so I gave up and accepted a low-ball offer.

I had a brief 'hobby' of buying, selling, and collecting vintage shaving equipment (like safety razors and straight razors and such) which had the same issues. For example: I would sell an item worth $50 for $40 just pass along a good deal, would end up accepting a $15 offer because I got tired of babysitting a listing... Only to find that person turn around and sell the same item for $60

You nailed it. I really liked the interaction when selling drums with other drummers for a good part of the time. Much like yesterday but that's is becoming the exception and not the rule. I also liked passing good deals on down the line. For example: If I buy a kit for $1000 less than new and it's like new? Am I really losing $500 on the kit I'm selling if I have it priced that much lower than what I paid for it? Not to me I'm not and somebody is getting a great deal. All the stuff I sell is dead mint or I wouldn't have bought it in the first place. If it isn't it's listed in the descriptions.

I can understand you finally relenting to a lowballer. I'm not going to. Am I supposed to sell a 2 month old Ludwig Classic Maple kit for $900? Some guy offered me a Centennial Zep kit and $200 for it. I said sure but when do I get the other $1000? LOL

I guess the bottom line is I'm going to go swinging with these bozos since it's the last kit I want to sell. It should be entertaining if nothing else. ;)
 
Beautiful kit. I'm a big fan of the "last kit" feeling. The only thing I fear is having it damaged or stolen, because it took me so long to get everything just right, with customization and parts from many different sources...I dread going through that process again. Plus now I can put more focus on playing them.
 
what a f--king GEM!!!!

that would be a last kit for me as well...and is quite possibly one of the best looking kits I have ever seen!!
 
Those are gorgeous! BUT... those sonors... just OMFG... those are porn... :)

P.S. i have been trying to sell some stuff lately and honestly it's getting to the point where i just want to trash stuff or throw it in a corner and forget about it... "yeah, you have it listed for 800... would you take 30?"
 
I said the same thing recently, but it triggered an "I'm not that old yet" and "Hell no - I'm not done yet" response,
and I bought something I didn't need. :ROFLMAO:

I do like to mess around with real low cost drums, just as a hobby - cutting different bearing edges, trying off-the -wall finishes and so on,
but at times, it seems like it's too time consuming and messy, and I get fed up with it.

I've got the sets I want, and there's no need to be concerned with it anymore, but old habits die really hard.

After the process of discovering and getting want you want, there's really no rational reason to continue on the same path.
If you're really done, and can stick with it - more power to you. (y)
My Wife actually commented that she had never seen my studio area so neat, tidy and devoid of stacks of cases! lol
 
The psychos must have moved from AZ your way. I’ve rarely had a good experience selling. Mostly just dopes. I was done a long time ago. Sad.
 
I can't do it anymore. The buy sell thing has got me bonkers. I was fortunate today to meet a great guy selling a great kit at a VERY reasonable price. I drove 540 miles round trip to pick them up. It was a pleasure to meet him and the drive wasn't that bad as it was all freeway. That said, I've had my Ludwig kit up for sale for a couple weeks now and the inquiries are so weird that I'm starting to wonder about our future as a society. I've had a lot of fun trying different kits and configs but I'm done. All I need to do is move the Classic Maples and I won't have to answer any more dopey questions.

Anyway, here's the last of the Mohicans. Drove from Pittsburgh to Rochester, NY to get them and it was worth every mile. Thanks to Brian K. Super guy! These are Noble and Cooley Classic Walnut High Gloss Black hardware 22x16, 13x9, 16x16.

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Nice! I had that same kit but in Matte. Love those guys, I've toured their shop. They are hiring drum builders now to, if I was semi retired I'd be all over.

What size and finish are you classic maples? I'm thinking of selling my slingys and getting another luddy.
 
Nice! I had that same kit but in Matte. Love those guys, I've toured their shop. They are hiring drum builders now to, if I was semi retired I'd be all over.

What size and finish are you classic maples? I'm thinking of selling my slingys and getting another luddy.
Luddies are sold. They were nice but they just didn't seem the same to me as when I played them in the 60's/70's. I guess it's true when they say you can't go back. Why'd you get rid of your N&C's?

No tears here though as the NC's are totally what I've been looking for. Sizes, sound, finish, and mojo. Perfect compliment to my Sonor Prolite maple kit. I saw they're hiring. I just ordered a 10x8 to go with the kit I just got. I hope they don't let some intern build it! LOL. When I talked to them they said they're slammed with orders. I was told it's 16-20 weeks lag time if you're ordering an entire kit. I'd like to go to their factory but that's a pretty good hike from western PA. I'll let them ship the tom. ;)
 
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Luddies are sold. They were nice but they just didn't seem the same to me as when I played them in the 60's/70's. I guess it's true when they say you can't go back. Why'd you get rid of your N&C's?

No tears here though as the NC's are totally what I've been looking for. Sizes, sound, finish, and mojo. Perfect compliment to my Sonor Prolite maple kit. I saw they're hiring. I just ordered a 10x8 to go with the kit I just got. I hope they don't let some intern build it! LOL. When I talked to them they said they're slammed with orders. I was told it's 16-20 months lag time if you're ordering an entire kit. I'd like to go to their factory but that's a pretty good hike from western PA. I'll let them ship the tom. ;)
Sold the N&C to contribute to the down-payment on my house.

It was a nice kit for sure. I'm looking at the walnut ss snares with chrome hardware when money allows.

It's worth a drive! Then come up to NH and check out Drum Center in Portsmouth. Love those dudes!
 
They were nice but they just didn't seem the same to me as when I played them in the 60's/70's. I guess it's true when they say you can't go back.
I have to ask because I always took the CMs as a modern drum build/sound. Even DCP videos will say CMs have "that Ludwig Sound" but they are also selling it :LOL: . I guess you can trace back ~76' when they started with non-reinforcement shells but that shell formula was different....really the CM shell formula didn't start until 2001 so but maybe it's a solid lineage, IDK. I think they are fine sounding drums but this seems marketing which seems to work well....the "Keystone" name was a terrible name (sounds like a speech address) and think why they didn't sell well and change to "Classic Oak" which was smart, people like "classic" and "Ludwig" together I think.

I'm was actually considering selling my 60s Ludwigs, but I'm on the fence now though....

I just ordered a 10x8 to go with the kit I just got.

I actually had 10/13/16 on my Horizons, it's a really nice interval and complimented the N&C build very well...some say it takes getting used to but I found the tuning to be very easy. The walnuts would probably be my first pick if I were to get N&C again, would love to hear them in person someday.
 
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