Percussion Instruments

Percussion instruments are instruments that produce sound when they are struck, shaken, or scraped. Drums, cymbals, tambourines, maracas, bells, blocks, xylophones, and many other instruments are classified as percussion. These instruments are believed to be the oldest in existence, dating back thousands of years. Early percussion instruments were made of natural materials including wood, stone, bone, shells, and animal hides.

Collectors have a wide variety of vintage percussion instruments to choose from and may specialize in one type of instrument. Some collectors may focus on primitive percussion instruments or instruments from different geographical locations. Others may collect more recent drum sets or mallet instruments such as xylophones or marimbas.

Of interest to many collectors are vintage drum sets, also called drum kits. A drum set consists of a bass drum, snare drum, one or more tom toms, and assorted cymbals. The drum set came into being in the late 1800s when band concerts began to be performed indoors. The adjustable snare drum stand was invented in 1898 and the spring-loaded bass drum pedal in 1909. In 1918, the Ludwig company began selling the first complete drum set, the Jazz-Er-Up. The set included a bass drum, snare drum, wooden block, and cymbal.

Quick Facts

• A 100-piece marimba orchestra played at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933 went on to become the International Marimba Symphony Orchestra. Instruments from this orchestra are now housed at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania
• Gene Krupa, drummer for the Benny Goodman big band in the '30s and '40s, was considered to be the first superstar drummer. His drum set is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
• In December 2015, Julien's Auction House in Beverly Hills sold the 1963 Ludwig drum kit that Ringo Starr used during his performances with the Beatles from May 1963 to February 1964. The Oyster Black Pearl kit sold for $2.110 million