These are 80`s,...right ??

Tama was manufacturing the Swingstar line as a 9ply Mahogany Zola coated drum. They dropped the Swingstar line in America around 82. They shifted focus back to the SuperStar (in the 70s it was first a Birch build, then a Maple build, then a Birch build) and the Imperialstar for a short bit (along with other -star variants). The Artstar joined, as did the Fiberstar (for a return trip), Rockstar, Crestar (which was to replace the Superstar). From my cat collection, the Swingstar did not make another cat until the Oct86 cat under the SS7000 and SS8000 lines. The SS8000 drums were the natural wood interior (not Mahogany) and the SS7000 were the Zola coated models. The SS8000 line (your drums, I believe) are the "powerful and warm sound" drums, according to Tama.

My take, you will like the drums. They should play fairly well and hold up to the gigging. Very good hardware.

There is a lot of bad information floating around about Tama's Zola coat. It's not a fiberboard drum and it's not fiberglassed or any other such nonsense. It's just a moisture barrier for the touring drummer (and it covered a less than pretty inner ply). The 9 ply Mahogany drum played like one would suspect. Powerful, quick, distinct pop. You could tension them loose for a warmer tone, but it would never emulate Birch or Maple. It was what it was. I loved my early Tama kits. Great hardware and good builds.

Rogersling is very correct - except Superstars were always birch and birch only. NO maple Superstars!

This is a ca. 1990 Swingstar.

Regards

Jon

First, thanks for the kind response. Second, I believe there is something you should see.

The 78 cat most assuredly lists them as Rock Maple. Whether or not many were produced, they did in fact state this for this particular manufacturing year. It's not a matter of whether you and I have seen a Maple kit ... it's simply a matter of Tama's advertising word. One could speculate but one would not get far. This is what it is.

Yes, I have seen that catalogue too.

Consensus on the pretty much autorative Tama Forum is that this is a mistake from the marketing company.....

See here, in the first post:

http://forum.tama.com/yaf_postst11414_Identifying-Your-Vintage-Superstars.aspx

I own a ca. 1979 Tama Superstar kit, a transition model in that it has the post-79 thicker shells, but the post-79 satin finish. I therefore read all I could find on Superstars and went through all catalogues.

But then again, I obviously don´t KNOW that for sure.

Regards

Jon

No,I'm certain that those drums are mid to late 70's due to the position of the Tama "flying t" badge,which was nearer to the batter side in 80's drums.The "one touch" mufflers were also gone by the 80's.

Steve B

I saw those drums on ebay for $30. I have a set and they are 9 ply mahogany and something else not sure what though. but they sound good

Just curious about this post which says that Tama dropped the Swingstar line in America around 1982. I have what I believed to be a 1984 Swingstar set in Alpine white. I found the exact set at this URL which claims to be a Tama catalog from 1984:

http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/anniversary/page.php?cat_id=58&year=1984

Mine are identical to the set on No. 2 page 5 (SS505XT)- hardware, chrome hoops, black 'T' badge and everything. 5 pce with 16x16 floor tom and 22x16 bass drum. Could this catalog and drums be from overseas? I notice there is a jp in the URL... Japan?? I live in Canada. Is it possible they were sold here, but not in the USA in 1984? If anyone knows..... enlighten me.

I have a set (just sold them actually) of Swingstar's that I dated as 1984. The pictures below are pre-restoration, and the snare is not original to the kit.

Next picture... must be to big.