Well... I'm not sure. Maybe a bit, but not much, even including shipping. Here's my take: It was a kit you sought, you found it, you win. Period.

I find a few Tama's around here, there are loads of them, but most are MIT's. Those I buy for around $100, clean 'em up and sell 'em for around $200 to $250 depending on the kit.

The early Tama MIJ's are another story.

I sold these MIT 'Camco by Tama', which are kind of the same vintage as yours, for $400 as pictured. Even though they are MIT, the hardware 'seems' nicer. The next is a MIJ 'Swingstar' kit, sold as pictured for $375. The last is a huge MIJ Tama 'Rockstar', a bit newer than yours, not much, it went for $600. They all were fairly pristine, and were sold over the last three years.

I nearly kept that 'Rockstar' kit, but a drummer friend of mine saw it and twisted my arm. :)

So all in all, I think you did fine! Especially considering you got early Imperial Stars. Those are nice drums.

Ahhh, That kit! Those are nice. Yeah, my Camco has a 24 kick... I just don't use it much any more.

Well, it turns out that Guitar Center failed to charge my card yesterday. I got a call from them this morning because the guy wrote the number down. Based on your pricing, I cancelled the order. As much as I like the idea, I cant justify paying 50% more of what they go for. I am so thankful for you guys on the forum. I am back on the search. Thanks everyone.....

Chris

Chris: Don't do that on my account! Remember, the kits I sold were much lower quality than the vintage MIJ Imperial Star's you're looking at. The older ones are great drums, not the crud they put out under that name now...

Chris,you have to bear in mind also,that Superstars from the 9700 and 9800 series ,are very different drums from Imperialstars.Early supes were wrapped,but most are lacquer/stained

The cross badge as you call it is refered to as the "flying T badge"

The 9700 series Superstars were 4 ply 6mm shells with rerings,100% Japanese birch.

The 9800 series supes were 6 ply,9mm shells with out rerings.100% birch

Those mid 70's Imperialstars were 9 ply mahogany with rerings,with zolacoated interiors,and were all wrapped drums.

So the supes will sound different from the Imperialstars.

Steve B

I wish there was a way I could hear them instead of a blind buy. The Superstars that were here local did sound good. I made the mistake of sitting on a new Mapex Saturn kit and was floored out how good those drums sounded. I wasnt expecting that from a Chinese kit but then again we weren't expecting those Tama and Pearl sounds out of a cheap Japanese kit either :)