I haven’t played my acoustic drum set at all during the past two years. At first, I stopped playing it because I purchased an electronic drum set which allows me to control the volume, play along with sound tracks and not have to wear giant noise blocking headphones while playing. Then, I spent more than a year nursing my right foot and ankle after a severe soft tissue injury compounded by plantar fasciitis. I attempted playing a few times during the year but each time left me with foot pain. I decided it was more important for me to walk without pain than drum.
Now I’m ready to try drumming again on my electronic kit. I’ll never play the acoustic drums I own again. It’s just not as fun given the sound constraints plus the complaints I received from an unfriendly neighbor.
I tried selling my drums on Nextdoor last year. I got zero inquiries even though I priced them at 60% of retail. I won’t even bother listing them on Craigslist because the last time I tried selling there, I was immediately hit with scammer emails. Plus, I’m not thrilled with the idea of making appointments with people who may or may not show up, dealing with lowball hagglers, or even having strangers in my house.
The big online markets are out for me. My cost to pack and ship the kit would be ridiculous.
So I’m going to sell them to the local drum store where I purchased them initially. I have them, Guitar enter and Sam Ash nearby. All three will buy used gear.
From what I’ve discerned reading drum forums postings and from talking to a drum store employee, the most I can reasonably expect to get is 25% of retail. As in, I paid $800 for the kit. The drum store can likely sell it for $400 so they’ll offer me about $200. If I’m lucky, I might get $300.
It is a beautiful drum kit. It’s the nicest one I’ve ever owned or played on. The hardware gleams. The sound is incredible. The quality of the gear is better than anything I ever saw.
But…it’s been sitting in my spare bedroom, unplayed, for two years. I can picture it sitting there for another 10 years and still never get played.
I hate to “take the loss” on my purchase. Except – I already took the loss the day I bought it. That money has been long gone.
And, importantly, I played it daily for two years. It challenged me, gave me something to do, helped me rebuild my new life and increased my skills.
I “wish” I had purchased my electronic kit first because the volume thing is my biggest issue. But I didn’t and that is that.
As for my foot injury hampering my ability to play, I could never have predicted that. Nor did I think my neighbors would hear the drums since we live in well insulated, separate homes with no shared walls. And I certainly didn’t think anyone would complain.
After I finished my purge last week, I felt so good I thought “Is there anything else I should get rid of?” and I knew immediately the drum set had to go.
I even banged on it for a few minutes today just for old times sake. It’s too loud. Period.
So, someday this week, I’m packing it up and driving it to the drum store.
On the off chance I receive extremely low ball offers (like <$200) from my local dealer, Guitar Center and Sam Ash, I’ll look for a local school or church to donate it to. But before I eat the entire loss, I’ll try selling it to one of them first.
Coincidentally enough, a few days ago I listened to a podcast with a guy who cleans out hoarders homes for a living. He stars in the Hoarders TV show (that I’ve never watched) and published a book. On the podcast, he spoke a lot about hoarders and non-hoarders homes that he cleaned out. He spoke about heirlooms, family treasures, letting go of things and keeping things.
For me, who gave everything away after my wife died, much of what he said rang true. I did my “death cleaning” well in advance.
Still, the podcast inspired me to take a harder look at what I am holding onto today to decide if it is serving me. The drum set is not.
I encourage all of my readers to listen to the podcast. You’ll be surprised by some of what he says about stuff, value, psychology and people. Here’s a link to it.
Postscript
The drum store gave me $300 for the set. I was a little sad to let it go as it was was truly one of the most beautiful pieces of equipment I ever owned and always wanted. While waiting at the store for the owner ti evaluate the set I admired all the beautiful kits and expensive gear. I wanted it all. I think it draws on the feelings I had when I was a poor middle school kid who read drumming magazines and gazed in wonder at the gear that was advertised. I still feel that longing inside even though I now know I don’t want the gear.