Just arrived, needs a little bit of attention. Apart from some light pitting on the hoops, it looks very good. What puzzles me is the fact that there's no muffler - it's not missing, it just doesn't come with one. It's the first of its kind I've seen so far, so I'm wondering about that. What do you guys think??
These are the photos my seller sent me, I'll post new ones as soon as I get them.
Alex
Someone told me that the rubber tip on the strainer lever is a giveaway - mid to late 1980s. So I found what I was looking for in the Japanese catalogs: in 1985, no rubber tip and a muffler - in 1986, rubber tip, no muffler :) So this is potentially a 1986 Japanese snare. Here are the links, first '85 then '86:
http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/anniversary_j/expansion.php?cat_id=9&now=15
http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/anniversary_j/expansion.php?cat_id=10&now=9
Alex
HY Alex
nice Drum;-)Cool1
i have a Tama Imperialstar King Beat around 83, one of my best Snaredrums:-)
Is the Shell of this one seamless?
regards
Christian
Yes, I believe it is seamless :) It sounds really good, lots of attack and presence - as you would expect from a 3mm-thick steel shell.
Alex
I have a mid 1980s version. You have a great snare. I would strongly recommend getting the correct extended snare wires for best performance.
My go to, is the 84 Rosewood Version..
I have not seen one minus the muffler before.. but that's an easy fix if you use one.. Tama had a great range of well built snares back then.
Cheers
John
Good snag there. They do make great snares. My current favourite gigging snare is this BEM model from 88 or so :
[IMG]http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g179/troutstudio/Others/be345_zpsd3293066.jpg[/IMG]
Post some pics when you get it all cleaned up.
Tama started to phase out the "one touch" muffler around 85-86,as well as those lugs,in favor of the "freedom "lugs and round and square tube lugs.That shell should be 1.6-1.8 MM seamless I think.
A 3MM shell would have to be cast metal.
Steve B
Ah well, then I was misinformed :) I was told that the shell on those is about 3mm - not difficult to believe, it's a heavy snare after all. My estimate is around '86 as well, though I don't know much about Japanese drums. Since it originally came without a muffler, I think I'll keep it that way. Perhaps I'll get another one with a muffler later on... :p
Alex
Good snag there. They do make great snares. My current favourite gigging snare is this BEM model from 88 or so :[IMG]http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g179/troutstudio/Others/be345_zpsd3293066.jpg[/IMG]Post some pics when you get it all cleaned up.
Troutstudio,
This is the 6.5 version. Superb design, superb build, superb response/sound.... the quality from that period is up there with Sonor, IMO. Ron
[IMG]http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv310/ronschwerin/DRUMS/TAMAthrowsmallcopy.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i694.photobucket.com/albums/vv310/ronschwerin/DRUMS/TAMAbadgesmallcopy.jpg[/IMG]
