Vintage Pearl Price Range Question!

[Jazzhead]

Hi All,

Vintage Pearl drums are not as readily available as some American vintage kits to easily know ballpark price.
I want to know what is a sensible price for a vintage Pearl MLX or BLX kit from 80’s or early 90’s in 18/14/12 or 20/14/12 sizes in very good to excellent condition. Usually drums can be had for a lot less when buying privately, but please let me know the approximate price that you think a drum shop should ask for these kits and the price you would pay for a set.

Many thanks in advance!

[skeld-the-wicked]

Welcome Jazzhead, About10 years ago I bought a MLX 5pc sheer blue kit from a local Musicgoround store. The kit was 22,12,13,16 & a matching FF 14 x 6.5 snare for $800.00.At the time I could only swing the kick and toms for $500.00 then later bought the snare for $300.00 on layaway. They were made around 90 to 92.

They don’t come along to often especially in good condition and also have had poor casting problems with the lugs. I ended up selling mine to a guy that claimed to be a collector for about $600.00. They were great sounding drums and were in excellent condition except the lacquer turned cloudy though the years.

[quicksticks]

I wouldn’t consider a kit made in the early 90’s to be vintage, just old. Now there’s nothing wrong with MLX drums from that period, I just don’t think they’re vintage. Vintage implies that the drums would be collectors’ pieces.

[Jazzhead]

Thanks for the information, I don’t have a lot of information about Pearl drums so sorry if I say something that doesn’t line up with correct time period for the model of a kit or something.
I agree, vintage really refers to 70’s and older.
Generally kits in smaller sizes are harder to find and for this reason the prices go up, I am not exactly sure what era pearl DLX kits are from but I saw one DLX 18/14/12 kit that was sold for $1200+tax+shipping. I don’t think a price of a 20/14/12 will be too far from this but I wanted to get responses from Pearl guys to know what is a fair range for smaller sizes.

[quicksticks]

Thanks for the information, I don’t have a lot of information about Pearl drums so sorry if I say something that doesn’t line up with correct time period for the model of a kit or something.
I agree, vintage really refers to 70’s and older.
Generally kits in smaller sizes are harder to find and for this reason the prices go up, I am not exactly sure what era pearl DLX kits are from but I saw one DLX 18/14/12 kit that was sold for $1200+tax+shipping. I don’t think a price of a 20/14/12 will be too far from this but I wanted to get responses from Pearl guys to know what is a fair range for smaller sizes.

Just so I understand. Skeld bought a 5 piece for $800 and sold it for $600, and you think your 3 piece is worth $1,200. Good luck. Also, where did you get the idea that smaller sizes are more valuable?

[Jazzhead]

Just so I understand. Skeld bought a 5 piece for $800 and sold it for $600, and you think your 3 piece is worth $1,200. Good luck. Also, where did you get the idea that smaller sizes are more valuable?

Well, I don’t have a 3 piece, I am asking how much a 3-piece is worth on a certain model and how much you would pay for one. Also, I never talked about value, I talked about price. I didn’t make that up, there are examples on the internet for sold and available older or pre 80’s “vintage” kits (different brands) in smaller sizes (usually 18/14/12) where the price difference is considerably higher compared to say 22/16/13. I don’t think this is the case on any model drum set and certainly not on brand new kits.

[Jazzhead]

Welcome Jazzhead, About10 years ago I bought a MLX 5pc sheer blue kit from a local Musicgoround store. The kit was 22,12,13,16 & a matching FF 14 x 6.5 snare for $800.00.At the time I could only swing the kick and toms for $500.00 then later bought the snare for $300.00 on layaway. They were made around 90 to 92.

They don’t come along to often especially in good condition and also have had poor casting problems with the lugs. I ended up selling mine to a guy that claimed to be a collector for about $600.00. They were great sounding drums and were in excellent condition except the lacquer turned cloudy though the years.

Thanks Skeld, I sometimes pass by here for Pearl stuff, started drumming on a Pearl kit
The information you provided was very valuable and gives me a reference on how much I should pay for a similar kit but in different sizes.

[3pearlkits]

Hello, welcome to the vintage forum!

We need to sort some stuff out.
Number one, vintage, by agreement over the years here in the vintage forum is 25+.
That puts a 90-95 kit in the vintage section this year. Sad I know, but true.

The value of a kit is strictly what you're willing to pay.
Skelds' case in point, bought for $800, sold for $600 shows market values.

A DX/DLX kit was only produced for 3ish years, Sept 83 to 87. And yes, smaller sizes are harder to find because it was the 80's and deep toms ruled/were the norm in that series. But does that make a 20/12/14 worth $1200? No.
But someone was prepared to pay it.

So, to the OP, post up a link to the kit you're looking at in particular.
Different series came from different times and have different worth...

[skeld-the-wicked]

Thanks Skeld, I sometimes pass by here for Pearl stuff, started drumming on a Pearl kit
The information you provided was very valuable and gives me a reference on how much I should pay for a similar kit but in different sizes.

Your welcome Jazzhead. There are very knowledgeable people on this forum that have helped me many times in the past . We can learn from each other . Last fall I found a Matching Masters Mahogany Classic Snare on Reverb. Although it’s not classified as Vintage being made around 2002 and at the time the price retail was around $450 maybe lower the seller wanted $580. He actually had it listed as a MCX 6 ply Maple Snare in excellent condition but had blurred pics but I recognized the rectangular badge . We went back and forth over price. I requested better pics including snare side pics to prove my point it was African Mahogany 4ply w/4ply Maple re rings.

He replied back to me in a blunt way claiming he has 55 years of drum buying and selling. I still wanted the snare but didn’t want to pay that price. He eventually lowered it to $500 but his way of comprising was including a brand new SKB foam lined hardcase. So in the end it worked out.

Good Luck in your quest I hope you find what you want.

[melvinspeed]

Well, I don’t have a 3 piece, I am asking how much a 3-piece is worth on a certain model and how much you would pay for one. Also, I never talked about value, I talked about price. I didn’t make that up, there are examples on the internet for sold and available older or pre 80’s “vintage” kits (different brands) in smaller sizes (usually 18/14/12) where the price difference is considerably higher compared to say 22/16/13. I don’t think this is the case on any model drum set and certainly not on brand new kits.

The premium you're seeing on the 18/14/12 kit is due to the 18" bass drum. Those are really rare. The same 3 piece but with a 20" kick doesn't have the same value.
My experience with MX/MLX kits is that they sound great; can be a pain to maintain (1 piece lugs prone to breaking); and are not really appreciated so the resell value is lower than expected.

[Cheez_Whiz]

They don't all have the longer lugs. The MLX I have (which is currently stripped and awaiting a restoration that I may or may not ever get around to) has the split "coffin style" lugs.

To the OP, the used drum market these days is certainly a buyer's market. Just because something is considered vintage or rare doesn't necessarily mean that it is considered valuable.

[Jazzhead]

Thanks for the info, really helpful. Just to be clear, I am looking for a 80’s or 90’s Pearl maple bop kit (18/14/12) or a 20/14/12. I don’t think there is one available now but I wanted to know the price range on a 20/14/12 since I already saw on the net at least 3 Pearl bop kits from that era sold for $1000+ but I have also seen on forums that someone scored a Pearl bop kit from that era locally for a lot less, maybe $400-500 which would be nice.
It is good to know that MLX single long lugs have problems, maybe I should avoid that model???
Also, I agree it is the 18” bass bumping the price up, I just didn’t know if a 20” bass with the same 12” tom and 14” floor tom would sell for a lot less, which you suggest a kit with a 20” should not stretch to $1000 mark. I saw a MLX 20/14/12 with the additional 16” floor and 14” MLX snare asking $2700+tax. Good to know how much one should pay.

[melvinspeed]

They don't all have the longer lugs. The MLX I have (which is currently stripped and awaiting a restoration that I may or may not ever get around to) has the split "coffin style" lugs.
.

True. But the one-piece high-tension lugs are what I think of when I think of that line. Helps date them to that mid-late 80's time period.

[Jazzhead]

Is there any sale/wanted section in this forum?
How do members let each other know if they have a kit available for sale or if they are looking for a drum?

[3pearlkits]

Is there any sale/wanted section in this forum?
How do members let each other know if they have a kit available for sale or if they are looking for a drum?

The forum is not "technically" a buying/selling site.

The mods will allow the WTB or sell type info in your profile signature...