Thanks Jonnistix for setting the record straight!

So if someone owns a modern Tama "Starclassic", the Star in the name has the derivation you mentioned?

BTW what exactly is a a stencil kit?

Almost all of today's TAMA kits have "star" somewhere in the name of the series. This is indeed a nod to their humble beginnings as a "stencil" maker. Stencils are simply copies of others. If you look at most of the Star built drums of the 60s, no matter the name badge on them, they look, for the most part, like Slingerland, then a few that took on the look of Sonor with the teardrop lugs and funky wraps. That is one of the best things about collecting these old MIJ stencils, the way cool wraps.

The wraps are really cool...

Interesting that Tama (really Star) took over Camco and made it DW, which produces today's current "hot" product for most drummers on stage or otherwise. If you think about it, Star actually captured the modern drum market through their careful marketing of DW.

Actually, they bought the name in the 80s and made a very few drums, mostly used the design of the pedals to make them their own, then sold the name to the current owner of DW. TAMA only wanted the pedal trademark, so they bought the company assets, took what they wanted and sold the rest. It's called "corporate raiding"....happens all the time. Ford, for instance, bought Massey/Ferguson (farm tractors and other farm implements) for a four wheel drive system, managed the company for a few years, then sold it off.

DW retained the Camco (George Way) designed lugs as well?

Hello Brian, hello Jonni,

as you might know my STAR Bolleros (straight shells w/o re-rings and grey painted interiors) are of the later STAR era, shortly before they changed to TAMA. Brian, I can´t recall if your former posting included any pictures. Are the drums you´re asking about from the same era or earlier with the thin shells? If so, I´d love to see some pics of the wrap and the interiors! Thank you very much.

Funny thing that Pearl also had a "Bollero"-called line!

Kellyj, really like the look of your Bolleros! Cool1 Awesome wrap! What kind of shells are they?

Jonni, my dear friend, although I always fear to your knowledge about vintage MIJ gear, I´m afraid I have to correct you in this case - see below.

Cheers, Jurgen

Awesome looking kit and music room!

The Pearl Bolleros have a turquoise blue pearl, six-ply Luan, unpainted shells, no rings, 10 lug snare, which I think was an effort to launch into some bigger league.

Jurgen: Boleros in my opinion were originally made by Star as your pictures indicate. Yes, it's possible that the bass head is not authentic but,...The badge with the words "Finest Quality" would also point to Star although again, it is possible that Pearl took over this stencil line from Star when they became Tama. The Boleros to which I originally referred, also had a different badge. It's been awhile but I do recall the badge was in the shape of a golf flag. I also believe but, I may be wrong,that similar words were inscribed. There was only one "l' in the spelling as well. Again, I may be wrong. I only saw these drums once. What I have learned however, is that strange things occurred when Pearl took over many stencils. Did Pearl, if they took over the line, change the spelling and shape of the badge? Maybe but, again, we've seen badges change over the years with the same company. The bottom line is that in my humble opinion, your drums are Stars.

Brian

Hey Kellyj,

I bet she sounds just as awasome as she looks! Great snare.Yes Sir

Seems as if your drums are some kind of a semi-pro-line also.

That´s what I believe the STAR Bollero line was, at least my kit includes a 10-lug King Beat snare that sounds KILLER! And if I look at the quality of the make of the shells and the chromed parts, and also when you hear how great the entire kit sounds, I find this impression proven.

Thanks for the kind words concerning my drums and the room - but actually the picture was taken in my living-room. (My music room looks as shown below, it´s in another town about 8 miles away from my home.)

Greets, Jurgen

Hi Brian,

you´re right, the bass head was a self-made by me once I figured out (with the help of jonnistix and Ralf - thanks a lot once again, mates!) that my kit is a STAR. The brochure that Ralf posted in this thread also leaves no doubt about this.

If the drums you´re asking about should indeed be of the "after-Star-era", they must have been made in 1974 or later.

Regarding the mystery of the many, many stencil brand names, our two highly appreciated members jonnistix and MIKEY 777 maybe can enlighten the dark? I got to know them as very eager and experienced people in other cases like this one.

For your restorating project on your Bolero/Bollero drums I wish you good success! Please post some pictures, if possible! Thanks!

Jurgen