Well ... I guess I'm in the minority on this one. I play an instrument that appeals to my drumming sense. I love the vintage kits I own and have owned. I can say with all truth and honesty, a $165,000 drum kit does not exist that would even cause me to glance at it more than once. It's overpriced and overvalued. It won't play $155,000 better than some of the best vintage kits available that run between a grand and ten grand. I, like most of us, have whatever funds I deem necessary for my drums. What I don't have is the desire to live out Thomas Tusser's very wise words, "A fool and his money are soon parted".

This is my opinion and how I align value in my life. Others may vary.

A Remo CS (Black Dot) on the BD?

I like it...comparing a Gladstone drum kit with a Stradivari, here "The Rode" 15 Mio Euro...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=155700384463218&set=a.101525669880690.3372.100000697736222&theater

Actually, Stern was one of the participants in the infamous BBC blind test back in the late 70s. He and two other gents were unable to correctly and consistently distinguish the Strad from other more modern high quality violins. Probably not the best example to make the point with. These tests have been going on for well over a hundred years.

Another point to consider is a Strad is over 300 years old.

Who cares if you play 155,000.00 better or not...although your opinion is as valid as anyone's you are missing the point...this is a museum piece/collector's item that you will never see again...it's a piece of drum history, who gives a rats a$$ how it sounds. The collector with that kind of disposable income will be getting a collector's Holy Grail. I'd buy it in a New York Minute if I had that kind of disposable income set aside for drums.

Mike Curotto

I honestly do care how it sounds. I did not miss any points here. I just see the points ... differently from most here.

I play the drums. It's an instrument, as is a Strad. They are meant to be played, which they are. A silent Strad is viewed by most with sadness and disillusionment. I view silent drums in the same way.

I'm not a collector, which obviously you are. That would be the variable that distinguishes our differences here.

Again, this is just my take on it. You are more than welcome to have a different view. In the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter if we see these things from different perspectives.

Exactly what I was thinking. Do those sweet Remo coated heads come with the snare and tom as well???

Man, for a drum set the price of a house, you'd think that it would at least have calf heads all around...

If someone on the forum grabs this, I have an original 16" Radio King calf head that I could part with for the paltry sum of, oh, $5,000. Falling Do

Yeah,no chit......what he said!

I'm with you. I appreciate Gladstone's legacy, but that price is just ridiculous. And a drum set ain't no Stradivarious.

I predict the set will sell quietly for a fraction of that price.