Sawyer's Swinging Star

[Tom Sawyer]

Hello community!
I'm new in the house, and I thought, what's better for a good start than introducing myself, and of course, my Kit!
I posted in the Hello Thread, and now it's time for the gear department.

So here's my humble working horse:

So it's a Tama Swingstar, in 20, 12, 14 and 14. Maybe someone could help me dating it? I can't find any info on it.

I've got it set up with Remo Emperors on the Toms, Ambassador Clear on the resonant side, Ambassador Coated/Clear on the Snare and a Powerstroke 3 on the Bassdrum, complemented by a Coated Ambassador on the other side.

My Cymbal setup is as follows:

Splash:
Meinl SoundCaster Custom Splash 10''

Hi-hats:
Zildjian K/Z Dyno Beat Hi-hat 14''

Crashes:
Zildjian Avedis Rock Crash 16''
Zildjian ZHT Medium Thin Crash 18''

Rides:
Zildjian K Ride 20''

I Use a single Iron Cobra and a Tama Iron Cobra HH805 Hihat Stand under my feet.

Well, I guess that's it. Watch out for pics:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5432.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5450.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5442.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5445.jpg

Your turn. :)

[fourstringdrums]

Very nice. Looking at this http://www.tama.com/history/ I'd say it's dated to the 70's somewhere.

[driver]

Kit looks great! How do you like those Hi Hats? I have been thinking of getting 13" or 14" K/Z for ages now. What kind of stuff do you use them for?

[Tom Sawyer]

Very nice. Looking at this http://www.tama.com/history/ I'd say it's dated to the 70's somewhere.

I looked at that, but I can't really say any particular kit there looks like mine, but it really looks more like the ones from the 70s than those 80s ones.

Driver: I really like that combo, I expect they sound brighter that the usual K/Zs you see around because the Top is Brilliant finish, but I haven't played the regular top combination. They have a really lovely "chick" sound due to the extra heavy Z Bottom, nice definition.
I use them mainly for all kinds of Rock Music.

[Drummer Karl]

Yes, the kit looks really beautiful!! Is that a 8x12" rack tom??
I also think it`s from the 70`s...

"1974: Production of drums under TAMA brand name begins. Imperialstar, Royalstar, Swingstar, King Beat Drum Pedal & Hi Beat Drum Pedal" <---- the pic of it comes close...

Cool link Rob, didn`t find it till now!

Karl

[Skacatz]

I bought a Tama Swingstar set in 1978. They were silver/gray finish. Can't say how long they made that series though.

[Tom Sawyer]

Hey Karl, I saw you thread on drummerforum.de the other day, I'm on there too, sometimes.

And yeah, the tuning lugs on that pic match, and so does the badge, and the original Resonant head that I still have somewhere. That's the one with the most similarity from all Swingstars on that list. Nice, I might actually have something "vintage".

Regarding the Rack Tom, If you mean 12x8, yes, that's correct.

[Drummer Karl]

Yes, you`ve got a vintage kit! I always doubt Tama made old 12" toms with 8" depth.

PS: Yes, I just signed up on Drummerforum two days ago...though here I`m at home. ;-)

Karl

[mind_drummer]

Yes TAMA made 12x8 toms and about the thread starter kit, the lugs, th3e badge and tom mount on the bass drum drum look alike the one on the included pic but the only thing buggin me is that "pearl oyster wrap".

http://www.tama.com/history/full_size/7-SWG.jpg

[max77]

http://www.tama.com/history/full_size/5-ryl.jpg
http://www.tama.com/history/full_size/6-ryl.jpg


Royalstar from '74?

It looks like a Swingstar from '82 also : http://www.tama.com/history/full_size/34-SWG.jpg

[Skacatz]

Looks like the same set I bought in '78

[cavica]

as for the age of the drums, I cant help you with that. But I can say I really like the finish and the layout of your kit.

[mind_drummer]

http://www.tama.com/history/full_size/5-ryl.jpg
http://www.tama.com/history/full_size/6-ryl.jpg


Royalstar from '74?

It looks like a Swingstar from '82 also : http://www.tama.com/history/full_size/34-SWG.jpg

Got it for the wrap but as for the 82 swingstar, look carefully the toms mount on the bass drum is the same at all, it look more like the one from 74.
Although it could really be a Royalstar instead of a Swingstar...

[Tom Sawyer]

Thanks for all the replies!

It definitely says Swing Star on all badges, though. Was the Royalstal a more expensive line?

[Ironcobra]

Whoever took the photos for that swingstar ad has obviously never played drums...

About your kit, I love it! It's the same setup as I have at the moment, fun isn't it?

[Tom Sawyer]

Whoever took the photos for that swingstar ad has obviously never played drums...

About your kit, I love it! It's the same setup as I have at the moment, fun isn't it?

I absolutely love that setup, I've had a few different ones, but I always go back to that one, it just feels perfect.

[mind_drummer]

Thanks for all the replies!

It definitely says Swing Star on all badges, though. Was the Royalstal a more expensive line?

Yes Royalstar were more expensive. Thinking of it, maybe the finish options was offered to all the series, so it could be a Swingstar.

[TitanSound]

Whoever took the photos for that swingstar ad has obviously never played drums...



Leave them alone....they may have been a giant =D

Lovely kit btw and I just bought the same ride as you!

[Big_Philly]

That must be a nice kit! I like that finish, looks quite natural. About the age: I have no idea really. 70's sounds plausible. All I know is that older swingstars are great drums.
Any idea what wood they are?

[mind_drummer]

That must be a nice kit! I like that finish, looks quite natural. About the age: I have no idea really. 70's sounds plausible. All I know is that older swingstars are great drums.
Any idea what wood they are?

Look in the picture...
9 ply mahogany (probably phil. mahogany).

[Tom Sawyer]

Look in the picture...
9 ply mahogany (probably phil. mahogany).

Yeah, that's what I've been told. Sprayed with Zola Coat.

Leave them alone....they may have been a giant =D

Lovely kit btw and I just bought the same ride as you!

I bought my K quite recently, it's an absolutely marvelous cymbal!

[stasz]

Like the setup! It has a really cool vibe to it, just because of the vintage-looking finish and the cymbals, too. I like the avatar, too.

[Tom Sawyer]

Like the setup! It has a really cool vibe to it, just because of the vintage-looking finish and the cymbals, too. I like the avatar, too.

Thank you. King Crimson is the law :)

[Tom Sawyer]

Here are some new pics I took when I set the kit up on the outside, under portuguese olive trees, take a look. I have a new chair, too.

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5913simMedium.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5914simMedium.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5922simMedium.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5923simMedium.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5925simMedium.jpg

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh9/fexnah/DSCF5929simMedium.jpg

Edit: Fixed the image sizes.

[Tidge]

For a swingstar, your kit is amazing looking! That wrap is beautiful! Your setup looks nice and cozy too even though I'm not a fan of four pieces......I'd love to play it. Great looking High Hat too

[Drumsword]

I had almost the exact kit you have there. Same finish and the hardware matched yours as well, except mine was a 20", 13" 16". Mine had badges on it that read "Star" which after forwarding all the pics and info to Tama, One of their historians contacted me and told me that "Star" drums were the original Tama's Thus the name "Star" in their series lines still, "Swingstar", "Imperialstar", etc.

Anyway, My "Star" drums in your exact finish dated somewhere between 1966 and 1969, so yours with the "Tama" badges probably date anywhere from late 1969 to somewhere in the early 70's.

[Drumsword]

"1974: Production of drums under TAMA brand name begins. Imperialstar, Royalstar, Swingstar, King Beat Drum Pedal & Hi Beat Drum Pedal"
Karl


Sweet, So your kit probably dates to right around "74" and mine may date as new as "73".

[Tom Sawyer]

Awesome, thanks for the Info, I didn't think it was that old!

[Ashton Drum's]

Its nice I like it . . . . . . .

[mikei]

Awesome kit you have there!!!

For whatever it is worth, I LIKE IT!

[thesilentnoise]

first of all awesome kit.
and the wrap is beautiful.

how do you like that K ride?
what kind of music do you play?

ive been thinking about getting one.
is it very versatile.

[Tom Sawyer]

The K Ride is probably my favorite cymbal of the lot. It's perfect! I play mostly classic rock, some hard rock, some funk, and it does everything very nicely, it's a great allrounder, I'd definitely recommend it for versatility.

mikei, thank you very much! I had just wrote in your thread when I saw that mine had been pushed.

Ashton Drum's, thank you too for making my thread a happier place. :D

[Deathmetalconga]

That looks much finer than any Swingstar I have ever seen. Really beautiful and it's clear you take very good care of it.