Why are DW drums so overpriced?

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Artstar said:
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They are great drums however no greater than several other companies. Most of these companies are hovering around a similar price point so they are possibly coordinating at some level or playing follow each other. The Performance is the best deal IMO because it is no less quality than a Collectors and I have not heard any Collectors that blows away a Performance. The Design is good too.. . slightly thicker than a Performance but that can be a good thing for many ... These companies price accordingly IMO based on what you guys and everybody else will pay.
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I love my Performance Series. Got the in 2013 Gun Metal Metallic which they don’t make no more that I can see I could get double what I paid for them. But, not for sale.
 
Tamboreter said:
To each his own, for sure. I've have never liked the Camco turret lugs since I first saw them in the 70s. 😎
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Mine was probably audible too. I played an old set of Camcos for a stage show and they were the warmest sounding drums I’ve ever heard - with coated Ambassadors no less!. So I was sold - but unfortunately they had been out of business for a while by then. So when I found DW, I was happy especially at the time they were still using somebody else’s shells.
 
I once had a collector try to get me out of Gretsch with a set of Camco's he had... I was and remained unmoved.

But I do like the look of the George Way Aristocats! 😁
 
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Tamboreter said:
To each his own, for sure. I've have never liked the Camco turret lugs since I first saw them in the 70s. 😎
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"turret"? I thought the term was "upside down coffee cup on saucer". They need to be BIGGER. (hold more coffee)
 
We ALL have a choice. Buy DW, or don't...

I've already got FAR too many drums, but I love the DW "rose copper" finish.

Only the threat of "She Who Must Be Obeyed" threatening to castrate me with a rusty tin-opener prevented me from potentially joining the DW family... & I've no room for yet another kit. Hang on, what if....???:rolleyes:
 
doggyd69b said:
Maybe because:
1 People pay premium for what they think is of good quality.
2 Maybe they (DW) are pricing accordingly if they have American workers working in the US (clearly they can't pay them minimum wages)
3 If the drums are made in the US with US workers and US taxes but maybe imported wood.. then there's your answer.
4 Maybe they follow the Roland model: Make cheap drums with cheap components, make them reliable and sell them for 10 times what they are worth. DW will follow the Roland model because Roland now owns them....

I don't see a huge difference between a $1000 drum set and a $10000 other than the price tag. Don't tell me "Oh but the top of the line drum has better hardware" Better or prettier? Remember we are not talking entry level and I am talking about ONLY the drums, no cymbal stands, or snare stands, just the drums.
Most of those drums (before any hardware is installed) are going to be made with pretty much the same techniques with the same wood by the same workers. Now they might sell it to you by saying "Oh but the $1000 drum is 5 ply and the $10000 is 8 ply"), so 3 extra ply layers and prettier lugs and a prettier finish justify you paying $9000 more??? The answer is NO. but people will pay because they want the name. it's the same as the Harley Davison fans, are there better bikes out there? yes Indian makes better bikes and they are cheaper. (not by much but still). but god forbid you don't buy a Harley, then you don't ride a "real" bike...
Same for guitars, what makes a guitar $10000 vs a $1000? if it is made from the same wood, the same finishes (even if different finishes, a finish alone is not going to justify a $9000 price increase), better pickups? the most expensive pickups any of those guitars have are around $300 so that also doesn't justify the price increase, Evertune Bride? No, that maybe adds another $500 to the price but still not $9000, unless someone found a way to clone the extinct threes that they used to make the Stradivarius violins then what the hell? Same goes for Roland pads which are probably (what costs them to make) around $100 or less each. The drum modules yes, all the tech is expensive but once the final product is developed, mass producing it is much less expensive. In reality Top of the line drums should not be more expensive than $3000, 4000 if they include all the top of the line stands, pedals and stool. Top of the line guitars maybe $2000, Maybe. But once prices reach those stupid levels, there is NO WAY companies are going to bring back them down.
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I agree with alot of what you say , even the bike part. I know Dw was one of the makers i thought that used HVLT before some other drum makers did. But, alot of vintage drum makers didn't and they produced awesome drums. i think Dw arrived at their pinnacle of Tour worthy hardware design and Sound consistency they were happy with.

You could even say Dw and Tama wouldn't be who they are now if it were'nt for Camco's demise and their inherited technology and design.
Yea, i kinda marveled at how much a used Dw collectors series set can go for used......someday i will just start with a design series.
for now i buy used, and in expensive.
 

Why are DW drums so overpriced?​

"....uhhhh...because the CFO picked those numbers?"
I imagine.....they don't seem overpriced to everyone.
and maybe it's because of all that metal they put in my 70 lb. snare stand....maybe not that heavy....but.
 
DW makes some great Collectors Series snare drums for excellent prices. Do check out their thin and thick aluminum snares.
 
drummingman said:
I just saw a DW video and it made me start thinking about the fact that their drums are so over priced. Yes they are great drums, yes, they are made well, but, you can get a great drum set from other makers for way less. I’ve got a top of the line Trick custom made drum set that ran me way less than a DW top of the line kit. And my kit is virtually indestructible considering all the shells are made of aluminum.

I’ve always considered DW the Nike of drums. Good stuff, but you are paying a lot just for the name.
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They don't seem any more expensive than other brands.
 
I had one pre-internet it was well built probably a 6+6. Only problem was it was Fire Engine red and didn't mix well with anything I had. $300 I think it was. Used. You have to pay extra for Flames and Dice
 
Artstar said:
I would put a $300 range Design wood snare up against almost any Collectors.. They are just as good IMO and have the same throw off.
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I'm not just talking out my ***..ive got two Mapex drums under 100 bucks and I'll show up to the DW DCP shootout and take the 🏆 home.
 
I agree with Bo. Shut the damn thread down. It's been discussed to death. Threads like this are so divisive. There are lot of great drums out there, and It's all personal preference. Get over it.

Think Tonight Show GIF by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
 
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