The Big Rs aren't quite as popular as their predecessors, but I think they're probably still okay, if they're early enough (before 74?), but I'm not that sure. The dynas are usually $200-250 maybe, I would look on ebay at ended auctions.

If there's any parts missing, they can be a pain and expensive to pick up, but if everything's there and good shape, maybe $600?

First check the badges (yes, we need those Stinkin' Badges...) If they do not say USA on them, go home. They are the import shells used in the early 80's. Next check interiors. Grey interiors mean mid 70's. Good drums. Clear interiors mean XP8 drums. Better drums. Make sure all hardware is there, including rims. Tended to be removed and lost over time.

Early 70's floor toms would have either solid hex legs or later 70's with hollow tube legs and memrilocs on them. Both are real Rogers, just different eras.

With the Dyna (including snare rail) could be worth the $6-800 mentioned. Minus snare rail, deduct $100 at least for replacement costs. You don't mention stands etc. They add value if included, but try to stay in the $6-800 range even with them. Memriloc stand do not have much vintage value. If you have hardware already to use, ask for price reduction and skip it. Swivomatic double braced stands, sold with early Big R set are a better deal and worth including.

Straight Black is one of more popular Rogers colors, and also one of the more common. Works both way on price.

Good luck and hope that helps.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Mind Blowi Omigosh, NO !!!!

Amos, I really respect your expertise on Rogers, but...XP8's are not better shells than the thin-shell re-ringed earlier ones. A lotta afficionados go ga-ga over XP8's, but and equal number feel that they are sorta the beginning of the end of the Rogers signature sound. I include myself in that group. It was their thin, re-ringed shells and their edges which gave Rogers their sound.

The XP8's were their first unfortunate move towards a generic-ization of the brand. Yeah, they may have been a move towards a hard-hitting rockin' sound, but....no way are they the classic Rogers shells or sound....

When I come across a Big R kit ad it ends up being XP8 shells, I just keep walkin'...they are not as valuable nor as good as the re-ringed variety kits....

I agree with most everything else said, regarding value/pricing of the kit......[/COLOR]

THANKS for the input and recommendations, guys. I do appreciate it!

I drove over to see the drums this morning. As soon as I entered the room I noticed that the rack toms were concert toms. The Dyna-Sonic snare was also missing the snare frame assembly. I lost interest in the kit immediately. I must say, however, that it was extremely clean and well kept.

The gentleman was asking $450 for the kit.

I have a set of big r drums. They sound awesome.

The bass drum especailly is very impressive.

The XP8 Rogers were not a step down. They set the industry standard for the modern drumset. Eight ply all maple straight sided solid shells that are not thick.

I have Rogers sets in three ply Cleveland keller, five ply dayton keller, five ply fullerton Big R keller, and in the eight ply XP8 all maple keller shells. Each has its own unique sound.

Downhill for Rogers started in 1966 when CBS bought the company. All Dayton Tagged drums are CBS era drums, guys forget that. The early Fullerton drums were good drums, but the hardware started going by the way, the later three ply fullerton drums were excellent sounding drums that suffered from brittle hardware.....namely the mounting collet tensioners. The Memrilock hardware was rock solid, and on good shells, but it really came together on the XP8 series. Rogers did not fail due to its shell, but because of the corporate stupidity that sucked it dry.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Eh.....but, another way to phrase this is to say that the XP8's were the prototype model for shells which came after. Although even this is arguable because other makers were making similar thickness shells at the time, just with slightly different edges. In that respect, this "industry standard" is sort of a euphemism for saying "from this point onward, they sounded the same".

The beauty of the Rogers shell...the thin ply with the unique edges starting all the way back to Eagle-Badge and running all the way thru to the the Big R's.....was the sharp attack combined with the warm sustain/decay/resonance. Although the edge profile changed a bit in those years, the general sound stayed pretty much as good.

Sorry...but XP8's have none of those qualities. Indeed they were a radical departure from the thin shells...but with that departure also went the special sound which so many folks are now hot for, today. XP's sound like so many of the modern shells which came after....If what you dig is the sound of VINTAGE drums, then the XP shells won't do it for you.

I also do not concur with the idea that everything after '66 was downhill. While Cleveland-Dayton may have been their golden years...and while they definitely started cheapening some things, and some of their hardware decisions were poor... they still made solid drums into the mid-70s'. A Big R kit with the thin-shells is nothing to sneeze at, it still maintained a lot of that signature sound.

The XP8's were a huge change from that signature sound, that's all I am saying. I didn't say they were BAD...I just said at that point, that 'classic' Rogers sound was....

Finito....

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[COLOR="Silver"](as I mentioned, afficionados differ re XP8's....)[/COLOR]