Drummer Cafe Community Forum

A couple of years ago I added a 67 Acrolite to my arsenal of snares.  After cleaning it up and playing it for a while (I put a 42-strand snare on and was promptly assimilated by the Borg), I have developed an interest in older drums.  When shopping around for them, I've seen the words vintage, classic, antique, circa, rare and collectible used almost interchangeably.

I've been reading up on the subject (http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/ is a great resource) and there seems to be a certain ambiguity about the topic.  Are there any definitions or guidelines that have been established by the drumming community at large?

My Sainted Mother used to say that anything over 100 years old is antique, anything on the way there is collectible, and the rest is junk.

I'm into old cars, and there are specific definitions for vintage, classic, custom, etc. that have been established by various clubs, state DMVs, and insurance companies.

The only other parameter I know is in English usage, the word Vintage should be followed by a date (vintage 2001).  In the clothing world if it's old and trendy it is in a "vintage" clothing shop.

I recently bought a series 2000 Paiste blue label cymbal from the mid 80s on eBay that was listed as vintage.  Mid 80s is vintage?  That makes me collectible, and Louis would be...Well, Louis is great at any age!   ;D

No, there are no agreed standards, or commonly correct ways to describe drums and cymbals. It's open season.
I say don't worry about it and just do tons of your own research.
Some people call a late 80's Yamaha Rec Custom a 'vintage' kit. The fact this is almost certainly misusing the term 'vintage' doesn't mean it's a bad buy, or it isn't an amazing sounding kit, worth owning.

I checked out your webpage and they had sonor models listed as "vintage" from the early 90's.  That is not even 20 years.

Here's a definition of vintage from the net:

1. The yield of wine or grapes from a vineyard or district during one season.
2. Wine, usually of high quality, identified as to year and vineyard or district of origin.
3. The year or place in which a wine is bottled.
4.
a. The harvesting of a grape crop.
b. The initial stages of winemaking.
5. Informal
a. A group or collection of people or things sharing certain characteristics.
b. A year or period of origin: a car of 1942 vintage.
c. Length of existence; age.
adj.
1. Of or relating to a vintage.
2. Characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic.
3. Old or outmoded.
4.
a. Of the best: played songs that were vintage Cole Porter.
b. Of the most distinctive: "Fatalism has coexisted with vintage American overconfidence" Thomas Oliphant.


So I guess if your kit is desirable and of particular excellence to the drumming community, out of production and retaining it's value or greater than to some degree then it's vintage.

 
Vintage, for me, means something precious: a good quality product from the past which isn't produced any more, but can stand the trial of time, as opposed to old junk.
As for drums and cymbals, sometimes very low end things are kept in cupboards for very many years, in good condition, but of debatable value.
Maybe their sound as compared with modern top end lines and the history of the brand and series as used by renown artists through the years can be some guidance to estimate the value.
 

If that's true, then all my drums are vintage. Me included!  ;D

sbg,

I never put much meaning to the use of "vintage", antique", etc as used in eBay ads.  They usually show up in a description like this: "I don't know anything about drums but this snair / base pedal / symbal is DEFINITELY vintage"

I generally consider drum stuff to be "vintage" if it was made before WWII (Slingerland Radio Kings) and "collectible" if the item is rare (a manufacturer's prototype), unique (Trixon drums and hardware), or out of production but desireable ('67 Acrolite).

These are only my definitions but I think it might help you.

"snair"  LOL!

Thanks, AD.  That breakdown makes sense to me.

If you asked me, I would probably consider something vintage if its:
A) of good quality
B) old as the hills
C) you really feel as if you shouldn't play it, but put it on display...

Even though we don't aim to destroy our drums (most of us anyway..) Schtuff happens, and if you don't want it happening to your above classified drum, then, I'd say--VINTAGE!!!

Good one.
I've seen ads like that many times.