That tom with the birch inner ply is the best looking early MIJ tom I have ever seen. Tama was stepping it up with the Birch ply.

Hello,

Thanks to all guys' posts refering to my website - appreciated greatly!

All in the meantime given information are correct.

These notes nail it.

Addition: the very late "Star" drums (badge: Royal Star) only had this type of lugs - AND this type of shells: very heavy construction with broad re-rings, all in excellent layout. The outer ply had the same finish as inside, as can be seen in the attached pic, taken from a stripped Royal Star drum kit in this shell configuration (picture not taken by me, but from a fellow some time ago).

I don't believe that any other Tama series had these shells, besides the first "Perfect Percussion" shells (but, again, my best knowledge ends with the late Star drums ;) ).

Cheers, Ralf

Star Imperial and Royal had these shells. As I own an Imperial King Beat marching snare with the inner birch ply. Heavy as hell, and it has the tear drop lugs instead of tue coffin lugs. Seems like Star mixed hardware. Side note: I've seen Royal and Imperial metal king beat snares with the same hardware. I have no idea what the difference is between the snares other than the badge.

Hello,

There's no difference between a Royal and an Imperial Star King Beat snare drum.

Just the badge. I have each one of those. Guess it was the time, when the direction where to go to, was still not clear at Star.

Cheers, Ralf