Tama Superstar Hyperdrive - Quick question

kettles

Gold Member
Does anyone know if the hyperdrive kits are all 100% birch, or if the older ones are basswood & birch, and if so what the shell composition is.

I'm looking at this kit:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=455208435
198903780_full.jpg


Some more info here, it's a limited edition from (I think) 2007:
http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/world/news/product_news/2007/HyperDrive/

The price is ok. Not overpriced, but not really a steal either. The sale only includes the 6 piece kit, and a stand for the toms which I had to talk the seller into including.
 
More confusion:

"Our highest priority feature when developing the Superstar series was sound. Superstar shells use birch for the main inner ply for strong projection and aggressive open sound. To enhance Superstar's great looks, basswood, with its excellent consistency and regular grain patterns, is utilized for the inner ply on all Superstar shells as well as the outer ply on Superstar Custom SL. Precisely cut bearing edges bring out the great response and powerful resonance of these superbly crafted shells."

from: http://www.may-studio-music-lessons.com/tama-superstar-drumswhat-kind-of-shells-do-i-have.html

???
 
All superstar kits were birch/basswood until 2010, after that point they became 100% birch.

As far as construction - Custom kits (laquer finish) were inner and outer ply of basswood, whereas wrap finish kits were inner ply basswood.
 
To clarify that post, as I worded it poorly: Birch basswood 200X-2009/100% Birch 2010 - 200X
 
Thanks dude, I just found a review confirming the same thing. I guess a couple plies of basswood isn't going to matter. And I like the sizes and finish too.

It's not a transparent finish so it may be that only the inner ply that is basswood. I'm not worried either way.
 
True - the birch should be the dominant factor. As KIS said in previous posts about shell construction in debates with sticks - the inner ply will have very little impact on the timbre of the shell. Plus, being as the drums are so short and the bearing edge is so sharp, there will be a lot more head interaction that shell involvement anyway.

Andy - did I get all that right, oh esteemed Jedi Master? ;)
 
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