Search
Register
Only Admins can see this message.
Data Transition still in progress. Some functionality may be limited until the process is complete.
Processing Attachment, Gallery - 168.54280%

Tama Swingstar Snare - looking for info

Posts: 65 Threads: 8

Hi folks -

Another snare has come to me via my uncle, who was the owner of the Dynasonic and Formula 602 that I recently sold to members here. This one, however, was not part of his collection.

During a job, my uncle found this Tama Swingstar snare abandoned on a construction site. It's pretty dirty and has a broken wire on the strainer, but is otherwise in decent shape.

It's a 6x14 with a chrome shell - SN 84-40939

Beyond that, I have no information on this thing. A quick search on Ebay shows that it's not that valuable, with closed auctions ranging from $24-$60...

I will probably be keeping this one, clean it up and replace the strainer. That said, I'd love to know more about it. I always believed that Tama offered mostly entry-level stuff - I actually own an innexpensive Tama wood piccolo snare that I bought new ten years ago or so.

Was the Swingstar ever a sought after model, or just another cheapo import? It's got a decent weight to it, and it looks to have weathered a (likely) abusive life fairly well.

Any idea how old it might be? If it's worth cleaning up and holding for a future market demand?

Thanks as always!

Ken

Posted on 14 years ago
#1
Posts: 65 Threads: 8

I spent some time cleaning and polishing the snare tonight, put a new batter head on, and replaced the strainer with one from a spare drum I will probably never play. Looks great!

If my 2 year old wasn't sleeping upstairs, I'd bang on it to hear what it sounds like. Some 'gentle' finger tapping definitely reveals a pretty deep tone. This is a full inch taller than any snare I've owned...

Still trying to find some timeline info on it...

Posted on 14 years ago
#2
Posts: 2628 Threads: 40

[COLOR="DarkRed"]The model name has been around for almost 30 years - so a photo would help - Does it read 'Japan' anywhere on it ? An older one (Japan) worth maybe about $125 & a newer one (badly dumbed-down versions of the originals) not worth more than about $50-60[/COLOR]

www.2ndending.com
Posted on 14 years ago
#3
Posts: 65 Threads: 8

I will snap some photos this afternoon - it does say 'Made In Japan' on the large 'T' badge.

Ken

edit - another finding when I took it apart to clean it - the damper mechanism is clearly not the original one. Someone had retrofitted another knob-style damper onto the body. The base of the knob where it penetrates the shell was not secured in any way. It is triangular with three holes that do not match the shell. I removed it completely for now.

Posted on 14 years ago
#4
Posts: 65 Threads: 8

Pics as promised

[img]http://www.bimmertools.com/v/vspfiles/images/snare/swingstar1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.bimmertools.com/v/vspfiles/images/snare/swingstar2.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.bimmertools.com/v/vspfiles/images/snare/swingstar3.jpg[/img]

Posted on 14 years ago
#5
Posts: 4715 Threads: 299

Check it with a magnet to see, the shell is either COB or COS. Both are good, to great snares, and will be very sevicable, for a very long time. Although many people think it is so, TAMA is a solid midline builder, most of the lineup is not lowend, like many people mistakenly assume. TAMA has a big following, and hold their own very well, and resale is top dollar. If this is a COB, it is the same shell as the King Beat, and that is one fine drum. If it is a COS, it is still a very viable instrument. As for the age, that shell has been virtually unchanged for almost 40 years....like they say, "if it ain't broke...."

The n MIJ badge suggests it is an early model, possibly into the 70s or 80s.

"Ignorance may be overcome through education. Stupidity, however, is a lifelong endeavor." So, educate me, I don't likes bein' ignant...
"I enjoy restoring 60s Japanese "stencil" drums...I can actually afford them..."I rescue the worst of the old valueless drums for disadvantaged Children and gladly accept donations of parts, pieces and orphans, No cockroaches, please...
http://www.youtube.com/user/karstenboy
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coffee...16613138379603
Posted on 14 years ago
#6
Posts: 22 Threads: 12

That's a late 80's Swingstar snare. The Swingstar was the entry level "Rockstar" of it's day, being very similar to the old Royalstar series. The toms/kicks were inexpensive mahogany shells w/Zolacoat interiors. Zolacoat is similar to the gray paint Ludwig used on the Standard series & some of the 70's 3 ply shells, and it was the same stuff they used on the Imperialstar kits. The snare drums were inexpensive steel shells (NOT brass) and sound OK at best.

My first "real" kit was a mid 80's Swingstar that had the 5x14 version of that same snare. I was given a 5x14 60's Ludwig Super Sensitive around the same time and even at 10 years old I knew the Ludwig was a much better sounding instrument.

It'll make a good snare for a practice kit or a backup to take on gigs. They're lighter weight than the Superstar/Imperialstar metal snares and I highly doubt they'll substantially increase in value since they were only an entry level instrument.

Mike

Posted on 14 years ago
#7
Posts: 65 Threads: 8

Great info - thanks so much, guys!

The magnet test shows that it is definitely a COS shell.

Given my uncle's good luck of stumbling into valuable instruments over the years, I didn't want to let this one go without a little research.

As mentioned, I'll probably be keeping this one as a back up or practice drum.

Thanks again for all the info.

Ken

Posted on 14 years ago
#8
  • Share
  • Report
Action Another action
Something else here