When did cymbals get this pricey?

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markkarj

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I was quite surprised to see a pair of A Customs at this price (about $430 USD). I was lucky to buy a brand new pair of 14" A Custom Mastersounds from an independent store in 2020... they cost me $150 CAD back then, but it was a blowout deal.
 
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A pair of A Zildjian 14" hats was $56 in 1962- that is about $533.00 in 2022 dollars. I remember a pair of New Beats in 1993 being about $200-$225 and that is $400.00-$450.00 in 2022 dollars.
 
"Like anything else, they cost so much when you're looking to buy them." - My late dad.
 
el_37 said:
A pair of A Zildjian 14" hats was $56 in 1962- that is about $533.00 in 2022 dollars. I remember a pair of New Beats in 1993 being about $200-$225 and that is $400.00-$450.00 in 2022 dollars.
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Exactly!
 
went to the music store yesterday .... 20'' zildjian k med. ride $505 cdn , $400 usd
nice cymbal , but too much for me
sabians are way more expensive , they used to be alot less than zildjians ... not anymore
 
el_37 said:
A pair of A Zildjian 14" hats was $56 in 1962- that is about $533.00 in 2022 dollars. I remember a pair of New Beats in 1993 being about $200-$225 and that is $400.00-$450.00 in 2022 dollars.
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I think the "today's dollars" thing has been thrown off by several things:
-single-worker vs. dual worker family incomes
-all the extra safety, economy, and convenience costs bundled into cars
-now smartphones are for some reason required equipment for life

I don't think inflation alone is enough for an accurate analogy.
 
My new cymbal purchases are done . Prices have just become too dear for me now . I purged a fair amount of extraneous cymbals and bought a nice set up of Paiste cymbals that work for 90% of my gigs . I also have a set of Sabian cymbals as well . That will keep me going till I retire .

Prices just rose astronomically since the Pandemic . Even used deals are no longer deals anymore .
 
Interestingly enough, portable instruments like electric guitars soared throughout 2020-21, and cymbals remained stagnant for the most part. I think the increase in cymbal prices has largely happened the last few months as more and more people want to go to listen to live music again.
 
Pat A Flafla said:
I think the "today's dollars" thing has been thrown off by several things:
-single-worker vs. dual worker family incomes
-all the extra safety, economy, and convenience costs bundled into cars
-now smartphones are for some reason required equipment for life

I don't think inflation alone is enough for an accurate analogy.
Click to expand...

It isn't perfect- but it is close for lots of things. It is incredible how many like things are either the same cost or within 10-15% regardless of time frame.

A Ford Pinto with zero options was $1500 in 1970- that equates to about $11,100 in 2022. Now nobody really ordered one without options (a base Pinto in 1970 had no backseat) so once we add a few things that are now standard on economy cars today like AC (generally about $400-$600 back in 1970) and a radio ($150-$350 back in 1970) so lets say $2100 was your negotiated price out the door.

Your $2100 1970 Pinto adjusted to 2022 comes out to $15,560- which is a few hundred more than a base 2022 Nissan Versa at $15,180.

A few months back we priced out a complete new Ludwig Rock Duo outfit with Paiste 602's (Drums, Hardware and Cymbals) vs its 1971 price- $1100 which adjusts to $7450. Current price to buy was $7536.

A handmade in the USA Fender Strat is $2100-$2500 depending on dealer- a 1954 Strat was $249 and a 1965 Strat was $295- in 2022 dollars those prices equal about $2600.

A Nikon F with a 50mm F1.4 lens was $379.00 in 1960. That equates to $3685 in 2022. A Nikon D850 with a 50mm 1.4 lens is $3400. Adjusted for inflation the Nikon Pro cameras and a 50mm 1.4 are always within a few hundred dollars of each other.

Air Jordans were $65.99 in 1985, $79.99 in 1990 and both work out to $173 today. Current ones are $180.

A large plain pizza in my neck of the woods was $8 from 1991-1996- that equates to a high of $16.80 to low of $14.66- that same pie is about $16-$18 now.

A bagel with cream cheese in my neck of the woods was a $1 from 1991-1996 which is about $2, but you would be hard pressed to find one under $3 now.
 
NobleCooleyNut said:
Prices just rose astronomically since the Pandemic . Even used deals are no longer deals anymore .
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100% Agree! Its hard to even find a good used deal on any drum or cymbal of value or quality anymore. I know guys report occasionally stumbling across something special but it seems few and far between now.
 
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