I went to my local music shop today to buy some tension rods. When I walked in I was practically accosted by the drum guy who thrust a post-it note at me with a name and number. He said "you should call this guy he is wanting to unload vintage stuff". Well, I called got an answer and 1/2 hour later I was in a very large garage full of drums, percussion, hardware, cymbals.... A honey hole. My second one in 2 months.

The guy I called has ties with a realty company and all this stuff came from a house that had been left by the owner. Just so happened the owner was a drum teacher for years and had amassed a crazy amount of stuff. None of it's "museum" quality but VERY playable.

The odd thing..........no snare drums.

I left there with some (I believe) 1930's Ludwigs, some 1960's Ludwigs and a TON of cymbals. The prize of the cymbals is the 24" ride that I believe is from the 1960's....maybe early 1970's. There is also a very wobbly thin 18" crash that is freaking yummy sounding. Also an assortment of early Sabians, a 17" Paiste 3000 crash in close to new condition, Sabian sound control 14" thin crash and 13" HH hats. A bunch of other Zildjians of various sizes...

The Ludwigs I believe are from the 30's are a 24" bass and 16" tom with tacked bottom head that unfortunately has a tear in it. Also unfortunate is that the cool brownish-goldish marine pearl is destroyed in a few places, wrinkling in others... The 60's are a 20" and 12" club date and 16" classic in silver sparkle, some surface rust but I'll have that nickel hardware shiny soon enough.

I got all that plus a huge pile of cracked cymbals and 3 milk crates of various percussion toys, and a Rubbermaid tub full of sticks and mallets. While looking through the sticks and mallets I came upon a pair of sticks wrapped in cloth. I took them out to reveal a pair of Ludwig Joe Morello sticks. One is broken but it has (what I have to believe is authentic) Joe Morello's signature. I know that Joe was here at least a few times and I've always heard he did a clinic. The guy who all this came from would've been there no doubt....so I see no reason to believe it's not legit.

Still back there are a few other drums from the 30's, a monster Milestone kit (6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 22) a set of 7 roto toms (6,8,10,12,14,16,18) glockenspiels, enough tom/cymbal stands for 10 kits. A Majestic kit thats either orange or gold sparkle (very dusty and poor lighting) some concert bass stands, early electronic drums and mini PA, some Pearl toms (1990's) and some orphan shells...oh yeah and like 50 practice pads and also more spare heads than I would care to count.

Anyone have any idea if Milestone drums are worth anything?