Absolutely the most beautiful I have seen! Five stars! I want one -thanks for the inspiration. I am imagining Clyde Stubblefield is the sound of these beauties.

Ralf.....would you mind including me into your will and leaving those sweet little snares to me...or even my son...? I love those!

Thanx for the compliments, mates!

Yep, Osakabop, a YouTube video with him made 'September 2008 in Canada' is quite close to what I'm getting out of mine.

I might consider that, Jonnistix ...

But here in Europe there exists a fantastic drum museum which would be my preferred choice, when I think it's time to let them go:

http://www.drummuseum.hu/index_a.php

Ralf

(BTW: I've done the English translations there and I hope that no major translation errors can be found. - There's the old mistake with Hoshino and Star still in the Asia-section there, but will be corrected soon.)

Actually on ebay USA - KingBeat snare drum for sale:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Imperial-Star-Vintage-Snare-Drum-Pre-Tama-/270875994701?pt=Vintgae_Drums_Percussion&hash=item3f1177aa4d

Merry Xmas to everyone here around!

Ralf

And Merry Christmas to you and yours, Ralf!

Yes, I had already put that on my watch list! I'm not sure I was going to bid, but, you never know!

And it has the most desirable (in my little opinion) Teardrop lugs! I believe this to be the first I have seen with those lugs.

Happy Christmas to you Ralf, and give Sankt Nikolaus or Weihnachtsmann or whomever you choose, Aschenmann, Bartl, Boozenickel, Hans Trapp, Klaubauf, Krampus, Pelznickel, Ruhklas, Ruprecht, and Schmutzli, a big cookie and Milch for me.

Thanx, Jonnistix :D

Frankly spoken, I only know the synonym 'Knecht Ruprecht' (besides St. Nikolaus and Weihnachtsmann) from your list.

... the same back to you!

I've owned once a KingBeat as per auction, but with another 'Royal Star' badge. Here's the link to this another one:

http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=4790&highlight=royal+star+badge

Badge of this snare drum was as per attachment below.

Should you take part in this bidding: best of luck!

Ralf

Thank you, Ralf,

for keeping us informed about such auctions!

And also for sharing your huge knowledge about Star drums with us!

The same to Jonnistix - thank you so very much for your help and information, man!

Merry christmas to you and all the other members of this great forum!

Jurgen

Jurgen, that is a sweet looking drum! Hope it sounds as good as it looks. You know, I have this COS Star with the round blue badge that reads simply "Made In Japan". It is possibly a 1968 to 72 model, but in pristine condition, I paid a whopping $21.00, including shipping on fleabag. It was filthy, I thought it might have been in bad condition when I bid on it but when I got it, it was literally almost new but dirty. Once I got it all cleaned, I found it to be barely used and left in a closet for the past 35-ish years. It did have some bad characteristics, ringy and super high tone.

I started doing the "head search", going through about 7 different ones, thankfully I had enough snares to take all the extras, and found that the absolute best head for that drum, (an exact copy of yet another Slingerland, 5x14 3 line Krupa, I think, with Teardrop copy lugs) and it turned out to be the best head for this drum is a Remo Fyberskin 3A,of course the most expensive snare head, tuned high and tight. It literally sings the song. Should you run across one (with any badge, look at the shell, not the badge), for cheap, I suggest you buy it and play the daylights out of it!

I own five king beats,are the Stars just as good,better?