Buying new drum set

[Bearblastbeats]

I've been drumming for over a decade now and have owned a total of 4 drums sets to date. It's a hobby of mine to sell and trade, sell and trade.

I'm looking into buying another drum set to take place of my now vintage 1970's Ludwig Octa-plus, in which I inherited from my father after I spent well over 70 hour refurbishing the thing.

This new drum set will become my primary kit and will be significantly smaller in size. Making it more compact, easy to transport and not so loud as compared to the "bonzo-esque" ludwig I am playing now.


Now, to get to the question, I am currently looking at a Yamaha Stage Custom 3-shell pack kit going for $500 dollars. The kit is a nice birch construction and is a great mid-level kit for the price. I could either purchase this drum and be satisfied having it fit all my needs, or I can save a few more coin and buy the same sized drum set but have it be a Yamaha Oak Custom.

For those who are not that familiar, it would be like driving a ford (stage custom) to like a Cadillac (Oak Custom).

I once owned an oak custom and loved it, but sold it for a Grestch Renown Maple, which ended up selling as well. As you can tell, I like to play pro gear.

Is the $500-$1000 difference for the better kit feasible, or since I don't get paid to play, tour or record, would the stage custom be suitable for my needs?

[Dynasty]

Can't you muffle some of the bonzo-esque loudness with some pillows?

Or just feeling the itch to change it up?  How much can you sell it for? Around three hundred?

You've put a lot of time and effort into refurbishing the Ludwig kit... But I do understand how having something smaller that you need to transport would make life easier.

I think if you went with the less expensive Yamaha you wouldn't be happy. If you go the upgrade route, it should be for the Oak Custom.

[Bearblastbeats]

The luddies are too big and harder to transport. They're great for heavier more hard rock outfits but with smaller tons, they will give me a different sound to what I'm looking for with my newer projects. (think Led Zep for the Luddies and then think Steely Dan for a smaller sized kit)

I would never sell these drums. They were my dads, have been in the family for 35 years and all the time spent in refurbishing them, plus they are the only I have from him after he passed. They are priceless to me and worth well over $5000 min.

[Dynasty]

Okay. Good!

I was hoping you weren't going to sell your dad's drum kit. Do they really have a 5K value on the open market?   

Since you've already had the Oak Customs and really liked them. I think save up for those. But the question is will you keep them for awhile or be tempted to change them up in a couple years?

I've known lots of musicians who get some great sounding amps, a new guitar, new pedals, etc... but end it up selling it for something else that they don't like. I guess that's part of the fun.. getting new gear. But its expensive.

Yamaha makes great instruments. 

[Bearblastbeats]

It's hard saying not knowing.

I like to change my gear up, averaging about a new kit every two years. I'm going to try the stage customs tonight to see if i like the sound.