Tama Star - Walnut or Maple?

[fusseltier]

I've had practically every type of wood, but I decided to get an 8 Piece set of shells and matching 14x6.5 snare from Japan star walnut and they're a work of art.
The toms do sing a bit and I had to use muffling rings for the real studio sound.

 

[Steech]

I've had practically every type of wood, but I decided to get an 8 Piece set of shells and matching 14x6.5 snare from Japan star walnut and they're a work of art.
The toms do sing a bit and I had to use muffling rings for the real studio sound.

Holy smokeys. What sizes did you get?

Answer: all of them.

 

[Mapex Always]

They were painting that finish when I visited the factory in 2017.
That’s Mike Shimada, then president of Tama standing next to the shells.

View attachment 538790 View attachment 538791

You bring a lot to these forums … and thank you for the answer to my question!

 

[fusseltier]

Cymbals
Paiste 2002
14" sound edge hihats (x2 pair)
8", 10", 12" splash
13", 14", 15", 17" crash ,
20", 22" rides
602 series
16" thin crash
Twenty Series
17" thin crash
PstX
14" Swiss thin crash
Alpha
8" thin splash
Zildjian
10" splash (35 years old)

15 Paiste 1 Zildjian = 16 cymbals

Tama Star Walnut 8 piece set
Satin Charcoal Japanese Sen
special ordered from Japan
8 × 7 tom tom
10 × 8 tom tom
12 × 9 tom tom
13 × 11 tom tom
14 × 14 floor tom
16 × 16 floor tom
20 × 18 bass drum
14" x 6.5" matching snare
6" and 8" mini tymps

A Roland TD-6 module and so far
1 cymbal pad, 1 drum pad.
And a Roland TM-2 trigger module I'm not using at the moment.

Tama Power Tower Rack System

Pearl Eliminator 3002c dual chain double pedal with interchangeable cams for the chain for different linear and nonlinear movement and angle of attack.
Pearl H1050 Redline hihat stand
Prototype 35 year old hihat drop clutch.
Brake style closed hihat mount for the second hihat.

All toms have Evans hydraulic glass heads for batter.
Snare use Evans reverse dot
Bass Remo powerstroke3 batter
Remo powerstroke3 fiber resonant

Cowbell and Lp red plastic block
2x Tambourines

Sticks (primary)
Promark 5A wood tip
Zildjian Red

And a spare 14"×8" Pearl Limited Edition maple snare.

Holy smokeys. What sizes did you get?

Answer: all of them.

 

[Steech]

Cymbals
Paiste 2002
14" sound edge hihats (x2 pair)
8", 10", 12" splash
13", 14", 15", 17" crash ,
20", 22" rides
602 series
16" thin crash
Twenty Series
17" thin crash
PstX
14" Swiss thin crash
Alpha
8" thin splash
Zildjian
10" splash (35 years old)

15 Paiste 1 Zildjian = 16 cymbals

Tama Star Walnut 8 piece set
Satin Charcoal Japanese Sen
special ordered from Japan
8 × 7 tom tom
10 × 8 tom tom
12 × 9 tom tom
13 × 11 tom tom
14 × 14 floor tom
16 × 16 floor tom
20 × 18 bass drum
14" x 6.5" matching snare
6" and 8" mini tymps

A Roland TD-6 module and so far
1 cymbal pad, 1 drum pad.
And a Roland TM-2 trigger module I'm not using at the moment.

Tama Power Tower Rack System

Pearl Eliminator 3002c dual chain double pedal with interchangeable cams for the chain for different linear and nonlinear movement and angle of attack.
Pearl H1050 Redline hihat stand
Prototype 35 year old hihat drop clutch.
Brake style closed hihat mount for the second hihat.

All toms have Evans hydraulic glass heads for batter.
Snare use Evans reverse dot
Bass Remo powerstroke3 batter
Remo powerstroke3 fiber resonant

Cowbell and Lp red plastic block
2x Tambourines

Sticks (primary)
Promark 5A wood tip
Zildjian Red

And a spare 14"×8" Pearl Limited Edition maple snare.

Wow. Is this your bebop kit?

 

[covinasurf]

What is your finish??.. # of pieces??.... and which shop ??

Natural Pacific Walnut Burst. 10,12,14,16,20. Got them at Sweetwater. Already have the 12/14/20, the 10 and 16 are on order.

JH

 

[fusseltier]

Wow. Is this your bebop kit?

That's my everything kit.
It doesn't leave the house.
I'm getting old and don't play out any more but I do have a home studio and play for fun or with certain friends.

 

[Steech]

That's my everything kit.
It doesn't leave the house.
I'm getting old and don't play out any more but I do have a home studio and play for fun or with certain friends.

It’s an amazing kit, and I envy you for having a home studio.

 

[drums1225]

This is my all time favourite Tama drum finish . View attachment 538457

Mine too!

 

[Steech]

This is my all time favourite Tama drum finish . View attachment 538457

Is this blue available in the Star Walnuts?

 

[drums1225]

Is this blue available in the Star Walnuts?

Only the Maple. STAR Bubinga previously had a very similar color with different wood grain called Wild Sea Blue Bosse, but it's no longer available.

 

[Steech]

Only the Maple. STAR Bubinga previously had a very similar color with different wood grain called Wild Sea Blue Bosse, but it's no longer available.

Thanks!

 

[No.15]

View attachment 538873
Mine too!

Oh wow. I think if I saw that in person I would impulse buy it.

 

[JDA]

Starclassic 1994

 

[fusseltier]

It's too bad tama moved starclassic production to the Chinese factory. I originally wanted to order a starclassic from Japan but the year I ordered my drums was was the first time starclassic was being made in China, so I decided to get a star walnut because the star line was the only one being made in Japan. I've had a lot of drum sets, and my previous two sets were made in China, but I wasn't going to pay that kind of money for a Chinese set and would rather pay more for a real Japanese made set. I live in southeast Asia and the dealer added my order to their own inventory stock annual or semi annual order, so I didn't have to pay for shipping from Japan. I wanted to finally get my dream set natural wood finish, and I got it with the star walnut and matching 14x6.5 snare since it's made in Japan.
But a couple bass drum clamps were rusty and one of the cast hoops had bad pitting, too bad they aren't making their hardware in Taiwan like they did years ago, it was much better quality.
But the shells are like a work of art and the hardware issues were replaced under warranty thankfully.
The logo or badge for the star and starclassic almost look the same, but the star says tama Japan and the starclassic says tama drums. I guess they didn't want China on the badge so it wouldn't be noticed.
Back in the 80s my tama set was mahogany and they were making the drums regardless of the model in Japan and the hardware in Taiwan. Actually most hardware for most brands were made in Taiwan years ago.
I started off wanting to order a pearl reference since they were still made in Taiwan or a Ludwig classic maple, but their dealer wouldn't take my order. Even the pearl music city custom shells are made in Taiwan, not the US, but they drill the holes and assemble them in the states, so they put made in the USA on the badge. A lot of great drum factories and craftsman lost their jobs when everyone switched from Taiwan to China.
I think there was actually an American company named Crush that got a factory in Taiwan and started making drums there. But I don't know if they moved to China or not. The star is expensive, but you get what you pay for and that is quality of workmanship and hand made and hand finished inside and out.
The star walnut snare is great, it's one of the best snares I've ever had and I've been playing over 45 years and had many brands of snares.

 

[Rhyma Hop]

A lot of great drum factories and craftsman lost their jobs when everyone switched from Taiwan to China.

Which great drum factories switched from Taiwan to China ?? ..... Pearl Pro level is still Taiwan. ...... Tama and Yamaha primary pro level are in China.. but moved from Japan..... and the china stuff is as good as anything out there IMO.. Go examine a Yamaha Absolute Hybrid shell up close.. but don't compare it to anything American so you don't embarrass us Americans.. LOL

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

Which great drum factories switched from Taiwan to China ?? ..... Pearl Pro level is still Taiwan. ...... Tama and Yamaha primary pro level are in China.. but moved from Japan..... and the china stuff is as good as anything out there IMO.. Go examine a Yamaha Absolute Hybrid shell up close.. but don't compare it to anything American so you don't embarrass us Americans.. LOL

My China made Tama B/B kit was not as good as my MIJ B/B kit. There was several issues with the MIC kit, compared to my MIJ one. No way I've pay top dollar for a MIC kit, again.

 

[Rhyma Hop]

My China made Tama B/B kit was not as good as my MIJ B/B kit. There was several issues with the MIC kit, compared to my MIJ one. No way I've pay top dollar for a MIC kit, again.

I hear you .. but that is very rare from what i have seen .. and I have also seen shoddy Japan made drums from time to time.

 

[Steech]

I hear you .. but that is very rare from what i have seen .. and I have also seen shoddy Japan made drums from time to time.

My two MIC Yamaha Live Custom and Live Custom Hybrids were spectacular. Much better then many of the US made kits I have owned.

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

I hear you .. but that is very rare from what i have seen .. and I have also seen shoddy Japan made drums from time to time.

I know at least five other drummers that experienced the same thing. Not exactly rare. I've had way more shoddy China kits vs MIJ kits.