Your opinion on Tama Monoply Oak Snare with woodhoops.

[freehandstyle]

I've come across a Tama Monoply Oak 14" x 5.5" with cherrywood hoops that I can trade with. I've never tried it but judging just from the pictures it looks like a beauty. I've been wanting to add woodhoops to my DW 14" x 5" for awhile and actually wanting to trade it away locally but couldn't find anyone snares that's of my interest. And now that I come across the Tama Monoply Oak WITH the woodhoops, it's really starting to stir up my interest.

It would seem to me that this snare is a limited edition and I don't think Tama still makes them. It's kind of hard for me to find more info on it right now except knowing that it has a interesting shell that's rolled ply into it's shape. So is this sort of a Craviotto/Solid Shell sort of characteristic snare drum?

Well i'd just like to know as much information as possible regarding the Tama Monoply Oak snare drum from you guys and whether or not is a justified trade for my DW snare with this snare trade.

here's the picture of it and some info on it from Harmony Central.
http://namm.harmony-central.com/SNAMM03/Content/Tama/PR/SWN655CMDC-SOK655CMAM.html
Thanks!

[Ozzy Biz]

That's an interesting way of making shells; sort of a hybrid method of ply and steambent. What's the price on it? Can you play it before commiting to trade/purchase? Maybe you can buy it, then decide which snare you want to sell, the tama or the DW. I imagine due to it's collectability that the Tama will hold it's value, and DWs seem to hold pretty well too.

Personally, I'd be looking at a Vaughncraft/Craviotto/Unix/Brady/etc style snare as opposed to something from one of the big manufacturers, but if you want it, why not?...

[TwentyEightyFive]

I'm not sure how the Tama drum sounds because I've never played. But if your looking for a possible trade in or upgrade for a new snare, I suggest you check out TP Drums.

I got a snare drum from Todd Plummer and it sounds amazing. I told him what sound I was looking for and he told me everything i need to know about wood and its sound qualities for different wood types. He told me a difference in monoply drums and stave drums is the grain orientation and density of the wood.
When you steambend a solid piece of wood, it changes the density of the wood on the outside and inside of the wood. Of course its better than a plywood drum but just can't match the tonal qualities of a stave drum.

I think the coolest part of his drum manufacturing is the ability to use more than one wood in a drum.
For example, if you love the initial crack of maple but love the resonance of walnut, he can make you a drum with maple on the outside and walnut on the inside, just what you're looking for. Plus all of his drums are half an inch think!

www.tpdrums.com

Here are some pics if you're interested.