80's Tama Rockstar 14'X6.5" snare any good?

J

jasyr

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Basically i want to do the Bonham sound on the cheap... i have a 1970's Japanese wood snare 14x5, and a more current 12x5 & thought a 14x 6.5 steel would be a fine addition.

:!:
So anyone familiar with the old Rockstar snare drums?! and/or the later -DX version. (which i believe was the same drum but with 10 lugs?...)
Personally i don't think 10 lugs vs. 8 is important, seeing as it's only me that's gonna be using it.

I was ready to buy the 85 euro Milennium size of this steel snare (but has 10 lugs) new; or the Fame brands, new, also 10 lug, for 89 euros... these are the cheapest around.

Then i saw an old beat-up 8-lug Tama Rockstar 14'X6.5" used for 50 euros.
:?:
Are 1980's steel snare drums better than these 35 years later ones? And is it such a big deal between 8 and 10 lugs for hard rock music?

A guitarist here that loves to play drums. And i make good records, with not all expensive stuff.. One side of me says the new will be tighter fitting /modern mfg. methods... and the other says a steel snare drum made 35 years ago & played a lot will sound better (like the old cymbals i buy). Many of the metal-parts quality for the guitar things i get seem terrible (especially if they are low priced items to begin with). And the Tama Rockstar is 40% less expensive. Lastly, a part of me says there will be NO difference and just get the least expensive option if the Rockstar isn't sold by yhe time i make up my mind.
8)


thanks,
Jasyr
 
jasyr said:
Basically i want to do the Bonham sound on the cheap... i have a 1970's Japanese wood snare 14x5, and a more current 12x5 & thought a 14x 6.5 steel would be a fine addition.
Click to expand...
Chasing studio sound is always tricky. Bonhams early snares "might have been" a 14x5 Slingerland Gene Krupa Sound King and/or a Ludwig 14x5 Supraphonic. Pictures on the internet of these snares when he's playing a Slingerland kit, and during the 1st tour, when he had the Ludwig Black Diamond Pearl (24" bass drum) set. Once he got the Natural Maple Ludwig kit, he seems to make the switch to a 14x6.5 Supra.

I've got a 70's Tama Royalstar 14x5 (8 lug steel) and I'm sure it's fairly similar to the Rockstar you're looking at (except for size). Tama has always made a decent steel snare, I think. Certainly my Royalstar holds it's own compared to my much newer Pearl Chad Smith steel 14x5. And compared to my 14x5 Supra ...... steel and aluminum are "close" in some regards ..... but certainly different. Aluminum seems (to me) to be a little dryer. And have maybe a tad less ring. But tuning and head choices really affect both of those.

Adding a 14x6.5 WOULD be a good addition, no matter what the reason.
 
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The throw off and butt end on the older 80s Rockstar snares are really basic but otherwise they seem like decent snares.
 
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