Vinny,nly in L.A and other big citys that happens to me..You have to think small towns to fine deals today.....Mikey

Many more non-drummers are collecting drums these days just as non-jazz listeners are collecting jazz records. I think partially due to the ""flipping collectables" reality tv craze. On one tv show, two guys travel around in a van bidding on the contents of expired storage units, sometimes for thousands of dollars! In those units they "discover" amazing things that people just leave behind such as: vintage pin ball machines, instruments of all kinds, motorcycles, firearms, cars, even a rocket from NASA! People think the show is real and they are motivated to look for and buy anything made before 1970 with hopes of turning a profit on the flip. Im just sayin' that we're not the only people anymore who know what "round badge Gretsch" means. The "collectable/vintage" thing is in full swing and we're starting to see the effects of sharing our passion with "others".

Okay, here's my plan: We offer a show about "real" musical instrument collectors to some tv network. A shill rents a storage space from a co-conspirator, leaves stuff we can't sell and then abandons it. We bid against each other to drive up percieved value. Then we offer our found treasures to the public (promoting our website via the tv show,etc.) We get paid by the tv network, they cover promotion costs and we clean out the closets. I'm not sure how to split profits yet or how we keep so many con artists from embezzlement,etc. Anyone here with experience leading a criminal enterprise?

larryMind Blowi

20 years ago I hit the LA area recyclers on a weekly basis, & found that people honored their appointments & kept to their listed prices, even if there were later callers. Today, sellers can't resist the temptation to let their ads turn into an auction of the highest bidder, & the convenience of cell phones allows them to cut you out of the picture anonymously, ..honor be damned.

I just got into collecting that it seems that finding a great deal is hard. I live in a small town but we have the local drum shop that will snap up many drums. People may be cleaning out their parent's/grandparents attic and find a drum. They call him up and ask if he wants it. He'll give them a little money for it. I've gotten lucky a few times and gotten a nice drum for cheap. The first one I got was at a thrift shop and they only reason it was at a low price is that they could not find any other drum like it on eBay. It was a 1979 140 student model with the orginal heads and wires on it. It sounds great and it's the drum that got me hooked.

Larry....love the way you're thinkin' man. We need a clever name for the show.

This whole idea seems to be fairly new to my area. I've bought a LOT of stuff lately (a LOT for me, anyway!), and even pass on some stuff simply because I don't have a bottomless pit as far as funds are concerned. I'm located in SEKansas but have Oklahoma City, Tulsa (both in OK); Wichita, Topeka, Kansas City (all in KS); Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City (all in MO); all less than 3 hours away! (and the StLouis Mo area is less than 5, and Dallas/FtWorth about 6). So, for a short road trip we can cover a pretty good area, and have...

I have run into a LOT of people, however, who are sellers but definately NOT experts as to value OR even what they have. So, no doubt the TV reality show craze has had some negative impact, IMO.

Well, that lead us to the conclusion that a lot of people IT IS offering more money than the advertised price. Maybe some people here do that and is not nice at all for the one that responded faster. I wont ever do it, neither Ill push the price up. It would be nice for buyers to show decency and accept the fact that it is supposed to be "First come fist served" and not play games, but I guess on this economy we are in war mode.

I agree. It seems with the internet and antique shows that people think all "old" things are worth a lot of money to someone. I've sold a little drum stuff but only asked a fair price on it because I got a fair price as well. I don't care to make money on it but I would rather someone enjoy and use it.