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looking for info...Tama Swingstar

Posts: 1072 Threads: 89

Hi guys,

my buddy JC has a set of Tama Swingstars that we are trying to date.

this kit actually has some history with my family. my brother owned them in the early to mid 90s. a friend of his owned them before him. Michael sold them to our uncle Alan, he had them for a few years then sold them to one of his students. the student then sold them to JC a cupl yrs ago. JC was just taking up playing the drums at that time. he had invited michael over for a jam one day, when michael entered the basement and rounded the corner, he bout fell over. there in front of him was the set of drums he thought he would never see again. the first thing he did was started checking seriel #s and sure enough, it was his kit. this kit is in excellent condition and sounds awesome. Michael loved this kit and regretted selling it.

anyway...we are curious what year this kit is. and the value too i guess. i told JC i thought 500 would be a fair starting price, considering the condition and what all is included if he was to sell the kit. please correct me if i am wrong.

i did do some searching but was not able to find what i was looking for. so thanks in advance for any help or comments.

[Attachment: 82737]

i know...the photo is not that great, i can get more if needed. thanks again.

1 attachments
CAM00977.jpg
103.6 kB
Stay Wiggly,
Robyn
Posted on 9 years ago
#1
Posts: 1537 Threads: 117

Hey Robyn,

Great story! Not able to be much help. They are later than my 1982's. Deep shell toms seem to hurt value. Close up pic of a lug and badge will help. Value seems to be all over the place on Tama's. Suspect $500 may be high but you never know. Not a thing wrong with how they sound.

P.S. have been spending hours on the Gretsch marcher. It is returning to as new. Coolist drum I own. Getcha a sound clip ASAP.

Creighton

Nothing special here but I like them.
Posted on 9 years ago
#2
Posts: 235 Threads: 29

looking at the badges, these are late 80's Swingstars, my guess is between '87 and '89. Up to '86 the badges were the T-badge like Imperialstars. And I don't see Swingstars in any catalog after '89 until 1993 and those have completely different hardware. Value wise, $500 was a bit much.

Posted on 9 years ago
#3
Posts: 249 Threads: 3

Are they natural or Zola-Coat inside. They look like transition model circa late '87-88 - late 80's badge with mid 80's step lugs. I have the same series with natural interiors. They were discontinued in '89 and re-introduced around '94 but from Taiwan.

Posted on 9 years ago
#4
Posts: 1072 Threads: 89

thanks for the replies guys. i was kinda guessing late 80s myself but was not sure. the 500 guess was including all hardware and cymbals which are all zbt's except the hihats, they are mastersounds.

yes the drums are zola-coated inside. i've noticed there are 3or4 different bagdes for the swingstars, which for me is kinda confusing. well anyway, thanks for your help guys, appreciate it.

Creighton-looking forward to that sound file and photos of the make-over. my offer still stands too buddy, you ever get tired of it hanging around ill gladly get it out of your way. : )

Stay Wiggly,
Robyn
Posted on 9 years ago
#5
Posts: 249 Threads: 3

It's identical to mine though mine has natural interiors. I have seen the 'T' badge as late as 1987, I would say yours is definitely an '88 then.

Posted on 9 years ago
#6
Posts: 1311 Threads: 9

I'd say,late 88,and definately pre 92,when they changed the badge and switched to the Rockstar Ludwig look a like lugs.Decent ,but entry level drums,a step below Rockstars.

Steve B

Posted on 9 years ago
#7
Posts: 249 Threads: 3

Same shells as the pre 90 Rockstar.

Posted on 9 years ago
#8
Posts: 1880 Threads: 292

I had a double bass set from 87, with two huge rack toms, that were 14" and 15", and an 18" floor !.

Talk about your Herman Rarebell !

What was i thinking ?:rolleyes:..Good news is , i did 2 gigs with those drums, then sold them to buy my 70's Ludwig,,Grunge was in and so was everything retro regarding musical instruments.. Fender Jags and Strats, vintage Ludwigs, etc.. I sold my Swingstars for $700 back in 1990 !..Now they'd probably be worth about half that, especially in those sizes..

Posted on 9 years ago
#9
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