Okay my drummin brothers and sisters...here is your chance to hold this gem in your own 2 hands. As I already have a piccolo, and cannot afford to collect drums (and we need money badly), we have decided to sell this crazy Tama. Snare will list tonight on ebay at 6pm est. If you want to see it in all its glory please search ebay for "Vintage Tama Angled" and you will see the drum. Starting bid will be $0.99!!! Stay cool. Gary

Hi have you taken one of the lugs of the shell you might then see why the lugs are cockeyed. I have worked on many old Tama drums and in the past they have had quite a reputation for snare lugs being cracked or bent or pulled out. I have never seen lugs angled like this, however I have seen screw patterns like this on other tama piccolo's.

There appears to be significant variation from lug to lug in the amount of angle, with some lugs not looking angled at all. It would help if the owner provided a picture of each lug so we can get the complete picture. It would also help to remove the most-twisted lug, inspect its inside for signs of stress, and inspect its mounting holes for signs that the screws have been pulled enough to create the angle.

Ludwig had the same problem with their piccolo snares in the '50s - '60s. The pull from the heads caused them to twist and, in some cases, break.

The offset mounting screws is irrelevant. All it means is the lugs were machined so their mount points aren't parallel. That's just because they are small.

With the small bit of information provided so far, saying the drum is some kind of unreleased prototype seems a bit of a stretch. It could just be under-engineered lugs that have twisted under stress.

$.02

You're right. I've already e-mailed the original poster with the info about this drum having a design flaw that is pretty much well known and accepted about these drums. It is not a prototype. Put the heads back on and enjoy it I say if it sounds good and don't over tighten the lugs or you'll really see some slanting going on! :D

I also have a drum like this. It is metal though. One of the lugs was overtightened at some time resulting in a break of the screw holding it on. So... I cannot tune the drum correctly and the bottom head (Where the missing screw is) results in an under tightened situation and makes the head break. I was trying to find a replacement lug, but after seeing this thread, I may get another snare and do something else with this one. If anyone knows where I can find a lug, let me know. I can put pictures up here if anyone wants to see it.

Thanks, Dan

[email]Rodie40@gmail.com[/email]

Looks like a newer snare from the badge, I have a few older Tama

things like a Power Metal smallest brass piccolo from about '90 and

the badge is that Artstar generic 'this is a Snare Drum' badge.

Brass plating started peeling off too only aftrer a few years of

using it, heh. Still have never seen my exact snare listed or even on

web, seen those heavier bell brass ones though.

Here's mines -

Here's my pics.

Made in Taiwan. What the heck happened? Didn't know Tama

started going somewhere cheaper like a lot of the USA companies did,

but I guess it makes sense.

I wonder if that's why all the lugs are bent/slanted weird DOH

Hi everyone! 1st post.

Those lugs on your snare are what I have been looking for for my BEM for the longest time. Would you know a source that might have those legacy lugs? Old or new? Or would you know a comatable newer lug that would work as this is the 2nd lug that has broken at the shank for me and I miss using it.

Thanks!

Im late getting in on this, but I have the exact same snare, wood, and my lugs are angled on the exact same degree. I will say mine looks in much better shape, no offense, and I don't think its as vintage as you believe, more that yours has just been more "aged". either way, this snare sounds much "bigger" than most piccolo snares I have ever used in the past. People are allways amazed its a piccolo when i use it to record with. I got mine around 2000 from a friend, my guess is its circa the 90's some time.