Is the Signature Heritage Kit the best deal???

[ScrantONORiginal]

OK, so Yes, $15k+ for any drumset is a lot of money - let's get that out of the way...

BUT

To compare the prices of the 150th Anniversary kits to what the "original" would have cost you, the numbers are interesting...

For this analysis, I am comparing a 1994 Sonor Signature Special Edition Kit in the exact same configuration as the 150th anniversary (I realize the SSE's are Maple, not Beech, but they had the high gloss finish so are a closer compare, IMO). A Sonor SSE kit in 1994 had a list price of $11,540. Granted, I don't know how much, if any, dealer discount was applied back then as far as a final sales price, but for now, we'll stick to the MSRP. If you fast-forward 31 years and adjust for inflation using CPI (consumer price index), $11,540 in today's dollars is $24,799...meaning, you would need close to $25k to buy the SSE kit today. But the SSE kit did not have 24 carat gold hardware. 24 carat gold hardware typically adds approx 25%+ to the price of the kit (according to the SQ2 configurator). Therefore, the kit ends up right around $31,000 all in. Sonor asking $15k+ for the 150th Anniversary kits feels pretty good!!!

I don't have the facts but would be willing to bet there were a lot more than 25 SSE kits produced back in the 90's,which then makes the 25 150th Signature Heritage Anniversary kits potentially even more valuable...

Conclusion: Buy two!

[krusher74]

I don't know if the inflation calc really takes into account that back then Germany was using deutsche marks rather than euros and the DM to $ in 94 compared to Euro to $ may differ, then shipping, import taxes/tariffs and dealer mark up could all be different. It would be interesting to see how a SSE (maybe you need jetset for the gold plating) in DM and a 150th in euro would compare for a german buyer.

But you are correct Sonor was very expensive in the 80/90's.

When people call the 150th expensive I always use as a comparison that it the top of the drum mountain. Walk into a watch shop with $15k and see how close it gets you to the top of the mountain.

[ScrantONORiginal]

You're absolutley correct, I thought about the currency difference back then as well but was just having some fun and preparing for the convo with my wife

The watch analogy is dead on!