Fly
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« on: April 05, 2008, 12:19 AM » |
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 Are Tama swingstar (maple) kits worth consideration? Checking a few out on Ebay and there are too many different price tags to even begin to know.I have always been a Ludwig fan , only recently buying a set of Mapex.After taking a chance on Mapex, I have opened my perspective to other brands. The only problem is that I am unsure which drums are top models for each company. Any comments definitely appreciated. THANX.
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phantompong
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« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2008, 02:14 AM » |
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Swingstars, I think, are out of production (at least for the Singapore market they are... they've been replaced by the new Imperialstars). So you might be seeing prices from kits that are different in age and condition.
Swingstars were made, IIRC, out of Philippine Mahogany, so... maple? Perhaps an older kit, maybe? Anyone can verify this?
If you're looking for top of the line, though, well, Swingstars were bottom of the line, though still well-made for the money. The Tama top of the line set is the Starclassic.
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Drummers are subject to the physical laws of nature. One of them states that if you drop a wing nut, it will roll under the bass drum. - Roy Burns.
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felix
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« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2008, 07:31 AM » |
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The older Swingstars made in Japan aren't too bad. I had two of the kits and my accountant's husband has a minty set up that I play on occassion. They can have a nice punchy sound. I don't know what the shells are made of. I originally thought it was basswood with a particle type (rough) coating on the inside of the shell. Then I thought they were re- released in smaller sizes recently? Maybe look for a japanese made one from the 80's. You should not have to pay much for it and there are some floating around with hip sizes (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16) although the 12 and 13 rack toms were more common  |
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Mind Drummer
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« Reply #3 on: April 17, 2008, 01:27 PM » |
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70s to 80s Swingstar were made of "hardwood" with layer of zola-coat (inside the shell). 1980 till 2005, shell were made of phil. mahogany. I think TAMA stopped the "zola-coating" in 1991 or 1992.
The fact is Swingstar were never made of maple...
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TAMA - REMO PICCOLO - SABIAN - ZILDJIAN - ISTANBUL MEHMET - WUHAN - MEINL - GIBRALTAR - AQUARIAN - VATER - REGAL TIP - RHYTHM TECH - MP PERCUSSION
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New York Frank
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« Reply #4 on: April 17, 2008, 02:11 PM » |
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What's zola-coat?
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felix
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« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2008, 06:26 AM » |
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This rough white and black spatter paint job they used to spray the inside of the shells with. Zola Coat- sheesh  |
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New York Frank
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« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2008, 07:00 AM » |
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What's the purpose of it? Does it make the shell stronger? Does it change
the tone of the shell?
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felix
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« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2008, 07:18 AM » |
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What's the purpose of it? Does it make the shell stronger? Does it change
the tone of the shell?
I even think they put it on their imperialstar line. That was soooooooo long ago- early early 80's I forget what the selling gimmick was. Rough interiors mellow out the sound, reduce high overtones. But if you can find an old set of swingstars in good shape, buy them. They sound nice. |
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Mind Drummer
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« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2008, 11:22 AM » |
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What's the purpose of it? Does it make the shell stronger? Does it change
the tone of the shell?
The real purpose of the "Zola-coat" was to protect your investment (shell) against humidity or radical temperature change (like here in the north area). Some people said and still say that it was TAMA process to hide bad and hideous plys of wood. The fact is zola-coated shell were so well protected that on another forum, someone got for free an old Swingstar kit that was left outside for years... The shell wasn't even out of round, only the wrap changed color from the sunlight. |
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TAMA - REMO PICCOLO - SABIAN - ZILDJIAN - ISTANBUL MEHMET - WUHAN - MEINL - GIBRALTAR - AQUARIAN - VATER - REGAL TIP - RHYTHM TECH - MP PERCUSSION
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felix
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« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2008, 01:16 PM » |
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Cool, mind drummer you are on fire with this zola coat history *felix bows down to low to the newbie*
I actually had two swingstar sets- wish I still had one.
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Mind Drummer
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« Reply #10 on: April 18, 2008, 02:17 PM » |
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Cool, mind drummer you are on fire with this zola coat history *felix bows down to low to the newbie*
I actually had two swingstar sets- wish I still had one.
Stop I turn red   |
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felix
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« Reply #11 on: April 18, 2008, 02:23 PM » |
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But since we are talking about this... do you remember if the imperialstar line had this zola coat as well? I recall it did?
*fondly remembers being a teenager and pouring over the tama catalogue, drooling over bell brass snare drums, imperialstar kits and octabons*
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Mind Drummer
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« Reply #12 on: April 19, 2008, 08:58 AM » |
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But since we are talking about this... do you remember if the imperialstar line had this zola coat as well? I recall it did?
*fondly remembers being a teenager and pouring over the tama catalogue, drooling over bell brass snare drums, imperialstar kits and octabons*
They did have the Zola-coat process on their shell too, Stewart Copeland was one of their first Imperialstar endorsee. |
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TAMA - REMO PICCOLO - SABIAN - ZILDJIAN - ISTANBUL MEHMET - WUHAN - MEINL - GIBRALTAR - AQUARIAN - VATER - REGAL TIP - RHYTHM TECH - MP PERCUSSION
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