Every year is a vintage. Collectable "vintage" drums to me are those made before 1970. Now, the 1980's are 1950's of the under 40 year olds. It's all in the mind set of the individual. So, to give you a real answer, I'd have to say that using the loose general understanding of the term "vintage" would mean drums that are over 30 years old.

"Vintage" is a word that many different people take to mean many different things, even though it has a very specific definition. Use it as you will, but realize that what you describe as "vintage" won't be considered vintage by other people, and some people might be violently opposed to your "incorrect" use of the words, as if it were some monumental personal slight against them.

To me, "vintage drums" has always referred to drums made by the American manufacturers before they made the move to straight-sided shells, which was different years for different companies, and excluding Gretsch, of course. I'm sorry, but I will never consider a set of 1990s Tama Rockstars to be "vintage," once it passes the 25 or 30 year cutoff that some people incorrectly designate as some magic line that once a kit crosses it, it automatically gains the nomenclature.

When you refer to vintage it means 25 years or more old and no longer manufactured. For example Leedy drums ceased to exist 1954 today it is considered Vintage drums. No longer made yet Leedy is making a come back under Maxwell Steven the older models are all vintage drums.

It's semantics.

I always joke that back when I got my first set of "Vintage" drums we just called them "Old"

the word "vintage" has been thrown around alot since people have been selling anything online. usually by people who know something is old but do not how old the item is. its become a tag line.

from what i understand, at the time of this writting, technically the word "vintage" in the general term should describe something from the 50's and back. of course individually its subjective.

but in the furniture world its generally dating items from the 1900's and back. for toys it seems to be mainly around the 60's/70's and back, for cars its a bit different but overall it all depends on the collectable, how many were made, how many survived, etc...

as for drums it seems to be open ended with everyone considering a certain year as the cut off point.

I understand all the "literal" meanings of the word vintage

but to me... when discussing instruments and drums in particular .... it is referring to that golden era of the great manufacturers

anything made when they really started perfecting the instrument ...1920s through the 1960s.... and a few into the early 70s

companies like Gretsch , Slingerland, Ludwig, Rogers, Camco etc....

There has to be some higher level of craftsmanship involved as well as a monetary desire for the drum in the market for old drums. Some of the late 70s/early 80s Yamahas can qualify.

I really do believe the word "Vintage" in the area of drum collecting has yet to be defined.Compared to other areas of collecting we are relatively young, but one thing is for sure...if it is well made in any era in the last 50 or so years it is definately collectible in any area of collecting.Because we are young in this "Vintage Drum Collector Market" it is totally subjective to the induvidual as to what is really vintage.Sooo,to make a long story short...there really is no cut off point at this time as to what can be called vintage and not.But to me and because of my age my personal cut off point would be the late 70`s.But then again...everyone`s idea on that will be different here.

Wayne