My thing was to try and find complete, matching sets...hoo boy! My intention was to buy low and sell high. Every complete kit I got, I fell in love with ....and they are STILL in my drum room.

I played them all on kits. I love them. I would miss any of them when and IF I ever sell them....but the fact is that I now feel kinda responsible for making sure that the next person who gets them will treat them the same respectful way that I have...which makes it even more difficult.

So...be prepared to fall in love with drums in a whole, new way!

Yeah, I was going to say that there's a difference in collecting to "collect" and collecting to amass a playable army of drums. Different motivations altogether. I kinda like the idea of collecting a specific model in every finish, but I don't think I'll ever actually do it. I've seen two collections of "cheaper" snares (Ludwig Standards nd Pioneers) that people have collected, and it looks wonderful on display.

Hi,

I like Mike's delineation of player/collector.

If you were a collector of players then Vibes point could help :

"A Steel, Aluminum, Brass, and wood snare. Sizes from 6" 1/2" x 14" to 5" x 14". "

Where I am at, I am not a collector collector, so I tend to look for what I consider sonic gaps. In the last year I picked up a nice copper Peal Free Floater and a solid wood snare from Tom Wells. They both look and sound the business--in their own discreet way.

Following the player route might be less linear since you are chasing drums for a sound that may be just in your head as opposed to seeking out extent versions of a model etc. eg building up a Broadway collection etc.

I say collect what you'll play. As mentioned earlier, so much is personal taste.

What he said.

The only thing I would add is that you need to get a 7x14 Radio King from the 40's if you can find one and are looking to play it. The best sounding vintage snare ever made (in my opinion).

-Adam

Everyone's motivation for collecting is different as are their tastes in vintage drums.

I only have two suggestions:

Determine what you would like to focus on. It will be cheaper on your bank account to have focus as opposed to just buying to be buying.

Try to pick up as nice an example as you can find. When you buy a no excuse correct drum, you won't have to make excuses if you go to sell it later which translates into an easier sale. Save your money for that really nice example that is 100% correct.