http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/anniversary/index.html

I used to have a dedicated website for Tama Superstars that I uploaded almost every catalog they printed. The site was moved to Multiply.com and I didn't find it as useful, but did transfer all my catalogs...take a look, might help you:

http://poorsh30.multiply.com/

Just need at least 1 Cherry Wine Superstar standard ride tom to complete

my Superstar kit. Very elusive on eBay and when they do show up with a BIN they are freakin' gone within hours, missed a 12' and a 13' a few months ago

that way. Almost to the point where I will just get a extended size and have it

cut down to a standard until I can ever find some real standard depths. Extended or power size Cherry Wine are on bay all the time.

Still wish I had my 4 pc Lenny White Aqua's I sold in the 80's . . .

In candy apple red, one of the most difficult sizes to find in XTras, is the 14 x 15 tom. I have never seen one for sale, and actually had to convince a seller of a kit in Canada to split up the kit and sell me the tom.

I have a good vantage point here, because I am currently reviewing the Tama Silverstar series for Modern Drummer.

One thing about Tama: they ALWAYS made excellent drums. However, I think that their lower-end stuff, like that of many manufacturers, gets slagged on because they are often played with the borderline and ubiquitously-worn original heads by mediocre players who can't tune. Very unfair proving grounds.

Going back to the 70's/80's Tama, I thought that the original Imperialstar and Superstar series were brilliant and well-made. Most players cite the Superstar's, which are wonderful drums, but my personal taste leans toward the Imperialstars with their 9-ply lauan shells heavily-sealed with "Zolacoat". The Zolacoat, like and other opaque coating, hides less-than-beautiful interiors, but also adds projection. I absolutely LOVE the punchy, thick sound of Imperialstar's! These drums are a perfect example of lauan ply shells done right. They could be tuned down real low and funky, or tuned up to bark like Stewart Copeland's did. In addition, their hardware du jour was unparalleled, well-made and innovative. I STILL have some Tama hardware going strong from back then. Remember, all of the Asian drums back then were made in Japan, where the level of craftsmanship has always been high. The Japanese take it very personally, and that is a GOOD thing.

Here is NYC in the late-70's/early-80's, most studios had either Slingerland or Tama Imperialstar as their house kits. The Tama's recorded like a dream.

There are really only two vintage kits I'd like to own, in addition to what I have: Tama Imperialstar and Rogers. I think that says something.

Most new Tama drums are not made in Japan, but rather China, like most of the Japanese brands. However, the quality is still up there, and I haven't yet seen anything wrong with the birch shell Silverstar series, save for the mediocre heads which are there to meet a price point. However, Tama has no corner on this practice.

I would say that might be a hard size to find among the common sizes. More difficult sizes to find would be 18 inch bass drums and 14 inch floor toms. Also 20 inch floor toms are not easy to find as well as 20 inch bass drums.

This set has an 18 bass and 14 floor. Super rare indeed.

[IMG]http://www.islandcollectibles.net/drums/car18.jpg[/IMG]

jrfrond-I agree 110%. I love both Imperials and Supers from that period. The hardware as you said was unparalleled and I still have some stands I bought back in 87 that still work fine. My top of the line Yamaha stuff has been great too from the same period of time. I had a chance to get my old dream kit which was Imperialstar in Royal Pewter finish. The drums were 13/14/16/22 and I didn't like the big toms. My friends kit had 12/13 toms and were spectacular for a lot of different things.

True Ed! I would have loved an 18" bass, usually noticed them in super maple. I have both a 16" and 18" floor tom.

Another size tom that is relatively hard to find and pretty darn expensive is the 8 x 8. I had one chance to pick up a nice one at a reasonable price and passed...kicked myself later. :(

Wow! That's what I wanted my kit to look like.. Beautiful!

Anyway.. I finally have completed tear down and cleaning of mine. I will post a pic and ask what they are worth.

+1 on that.The artstar line didn't come along till later in the 80's and when introduced had the same lugs/hardware as Superatars which were top of the line,with Imperialstars being next .Tama fiberstars also had the same lugs/hardware.

Steve B