I only recently found out that old Imperialstars are Luan(Philippine Mahogany) much like the ever-popular Exports, going back years and years. Apart from build quality, has anyone ever done a shootout? I never owned Imperialstars, but I had Exports as a practice kit and found them pretty limited tuning wise.
Do these drums have a similar sound? Which one is preferable?
Dan
Actually, Exports are not Luan. They are (depending on the year) poplar.
I only recently found out that old Imperialstars are Luan(Philippine Mahogany) much like the ever-popular Exports, going back years and years. Apart from build quality, has anyone ever done a shootout? I never owned Imperialstars, but I had Exports as a practice kit and found them pretty limited tuning wise.Do these drums have a similar sound? Which one is preferable?Dan
If you are looking for an idea of sound on the Imperialstars....just listen to ANY EARLY Police record. Stewart Copeland used them religiously until the Regatta de Blanc sessions, during and after which he recorded with Tama Superstars.
I know theyre not the same but i had a set of mismatch colored swingstars and i traded them for exports maybe 80's or 90's seeing how they have tube lugs, but anyway i wish i could get the swingstars back they (in my opinion) blow exports away. I also agree they are fairly limited when it comes to tuning.
AMEN!!! I had a HUGE (two 24's, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, two 14 snares, all with the seriously strong Titan hardware) kit in arctic white back in the day. LOVED that kit. GREAT fun playing it. Please don't harangue me...it's my ears and my feel behind the kit...but, I've played enough Exports to know beyond a shadow of a doubt, I would never own one. But, Imperialstar??? I'd own another in a heartbeat.
Any suggestion on heads for Exports, something a with a little more low end punch? They produce a lot of overtones and ring with clear Ambassadors, I played a similar kit with Pinstripes and they sounded pretty good. Just wondering
Because of the build of those shells, they need something more to 'help' them sound out. You are on the right track with pinstripes. They need a thicker head, 2 ply, to bring out the low end. I would steer away from coated. I would run 2 ply clear on top and a thicker single ply as reso. This mix will actually give these shells the rounder low end they naturally lack and the reso will extend that tone out. ANY thin head on these will enhance the thin tone these shells are known for.
I ran Evans EC2s on batter and factory Pearls on reso for toms and Aquarian SK2 batter with off-set ported Aquarian Regulator reso for the bass on my Exports and was very pleased........
I have kept the factory pear reso's and clear ambassador's on all toms(don't sound too good), Remo Powerstroke 3 on bass with Pearl reso with offset hole(sounds pretty good).
I tried EC2's on my Tama's i had and didn't care for them too much, but they may not be bad on Exports.
Good news though! After i posted on this thread i talked to they guy i traded my Swingstars to and i'm probably gettin' em back!!!!Cool1
[IMG]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1295492/ss4.JPG[/IMG]
Limited yes, limited to rocking your A$$!
I think the zola coat kills all of the overtones and then if you have the extras sizes 11x12,12x13 ect. they're even more cannon like.
the only decent Export was the '88 up til maybe '90 kits that had the philipine mohogany, with one ply of birch inside with the "three piece" lugs(read fake hi tension)
