Tama Swingstar Question

Chiledog

Member
Hey Folks,
I have no knowledge of Tama kits. I do know the Swingstar set is not top of the line, but I have a chance to pick up a 4 piece shell pack used for $150. 22", 12" 14" and 16". The pics look good, I am just not sure about the build of Swingstar series. Are they a step above the Rockstar line?
I am currently playing an 85 circa Ludwig Rocker kit, so this is not my first kit, I am just looking for something different.

Any input would be greatly appreciated, as I will need to move on this tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Peace!
Todd
 
Personally, I am quite fond of mine. For the price I paid ($500), I've found nothing that can rival it except for the Gretsch Catalina's. For $150 its not a bad deal at all. I get compliments on the sound of mine all the time (of course, its tuned to perfection with Evans G2 heads and a little bit of moongel on the toms). The hardware has been very durable as well. All the bearing edges are clean and I haven't seen any issues in shell quality. I like it much more than the new Rockstar line, but thats personal preference I suppose. You should try it out first, but its not a bad kit at all.
Not professional, of course, but I have used it at professional gigs and the audience raves about it, so it must not sound bad.
 
I think that they are below the rockstar line. The rockstars are made of mahogandy and basswood. Also im not so sure about those sizes either. If you want it go for it. Ive been reading around on here for a long time and have never really heard anything good about the ludwig rocker kits.....so i guess it would be an upgrade of some sort.
 
how old are they? I know the 80's Swingstars were nice...at least they sounded good :)
 
Swingstar 'was' a step lower than Rockstar...the one I had wasn't even wood shells. It was like fiberglass or something. As of 2005, Swingstar shells were made from Philippine Mahogany. I'm going to assume this is a major step up in quality from 20 years ago.

Doesn't look like Tama is doing anything more with them though.
 
My old swingstar from '95 was also phillipine mahogany and sounded more than adequate. They were pretty decent drums, 150$ is a good deal. The earlier rockstar lines were comparable in quality, the later rockstar lines were better.
If you decide to buy that swingstar, which really is not a bad deal unless the drums are of poor quality (i.e. beaten up, scratched and / or with splintered bearing edges), get some good heads for them. I liked the sound of mine with pinstripes.
 
Thanks for the input guys! I am really not sure of the age but from the pics, it looks like it's less than 5 years old, but that would be a guess. I figure for $150, I can't complain, If I don't like them, I will just sell them. I will get a look at them tomorrow morning, and decide from there.

Thanks again for all the information!

Todd
 
yes, to specify, mine is fairly recent, 2004-2005ish so its phillipine mahogany. And I was comparing it to the sound of the new Rockstar line.
 
I have had 2 Swingstar sets between 1986 & 1988. The first was jeat black, the 2nd was smokey chrome. I no longer have either one now but I wish I did. I sold the black ones (1991) and traded in the smokey chrome ones (2002) for a 5 piece Rockstar Custom. I don't remember what they were made of but I do remember the shell interiors having a black and tan 'granite' coating. I enjoyed both sets very much. Too bad I gave them up, big mistake. If I ever had the chance to get them back, I'd do it. So no, they aren't pro drums but they looked and sounded like it.
 
150$ for a 4 peice kit from tama, if it's still in working condition, why not buy it?!
 
Swingstar 'was' a step lower than Rockstar...the one I had wasn't even wood shells. It was like fiberglass or something. As of 2005, Swingstar shells were made from Philippine Mahogany. I'm going to assume this is a major step up in quality from 20 years ago.

Doesn't look like Tama is doing anything more with them though.

I have had 2 Swingstar sets between 1986 & 1988. The first was jeat black, the 2nd was smokey chrome. I no longer have either one now but I wish I did. I sold the black ones (1991) and traded in the smokey chrome ones (2002) for a 5 piece Rockstar Custom. I don't remember what they were made of but I do remember the shell interiors having a black and tan 'granite' coating. I enjoyed both sets very much. Too bad I gave them up, big mistake. If I ever had the chance to get them back, I'd do it. So no, they aren't pro drums but they looked and sounded like it.



The 80s Swingstar were step ahead of the new century version which were good but not as the old ones. The Swingstar shell were always phil. mahogany but in the 80s TAMA used real phil. mahogany with their "Zola-coat"process (Gray with black dot - granite look) and over time TAMA ceased the coating process and switch to Luan or Meretti for their shell.
 
She is mine! The bearing edges felt good on the batter side. The lugs felt smooth, and the rims were in great condition. According to the fellow I bought them from this kit was built in '03/'04.
She will need a re-wrapping as the factory wrap is crap. I have started a new thread on wrapping shells...

Have you done it?

Peace,
Todd
 
The 80s Swingstar were step ahead of the new century version which were good but not as the old ones. The Swingstar shell were always phil. mahogany but in the 80s TAMA used real phil. mahogany with their "Zola-coat"process (Gray with black dot - granite look) and over time TAMA ceased the coating process and switch to Luan or Meretti for their shell.


hey Mind_drummer,

I was wondering in your post whether or not the 80s Tama bass drums are good are not cause I happen to just got one. (traded a crappy guitar for it lol)

And indeed, it does have that coating you mention that looks like marble-ish.

Would you be able to give me more information on it? Mine it's written "Made in Japan" so I assume it's a 80s one.

Thanks!
 
hey Mind_drummer,

I was wondering in your post whether or not the 80s Tama bass drums are good are not cause I happen to just got one. (traded a crappy guitar for it lol)

And indeed, it does have that coating you mention that looks like marble-ish.

Would you be able to give me more information on it? Mine it's written "Made in Japan" so I assume it's a 80s one.

Thanks!

Describe the badge or post pic of it (the badge and kick) and will be able to tell more ;-)
 
SSL15438.jpg


here it is :)

Thanks for any help
 
It's an 16x22 (or 16x24) 1984/85 Swingstar Deluxe model in Aspen white wrap cover finish. They were 9 ply of phil. mahogany wood shell w/ zola-coat covered interior. The zola-coat sealed the wood and protected the shell against humidity and temperature change. Excellent for the gigging drummer.
 
It's an 16x22 (or 16x24) 1984/85 Swingstar Deluxe model in Aspen white wrap cover finish. They were 9 ply of phil. mahogany wood shell w/ zola-coat covered interior. The zola-coat sealed the wood and protected the shell against humidity and temperature change. Excellent for the gigging drummer.

Hey mind_drummer,

Thanks for the help.
The zola coating seems to help a lot to keep the conditions of the bassdrum. It looks quite good for it's age now that I know it's a 83/84. I was disassembling the drums to clean it up and was really surprised by the conditions of the interior. The wrapping was also not peeling and everything was quite sturdy.

Would you know why Tama discontinued the Zola coating? cause to me it seems to be quite good to preserve drums.
 
Hey mind_drummer,

Thanks for the help.
The zola coating seems to help a lot to keep the conditions of the bassdrum. It looks quite good for it's age now that I know it's a 83/84. I was disassembling the drums to clean it up and was really surprised by the conditions of the interior. The wrapping was also not peeling and everything was quite sturdy.

Would you know why Tama discontinued the Zola coating? cause to me it seems to be quite good to preserve drums.

COST REDUCTION = RENTABILITY !

You know back in the 60s/70s drums manufacturer used to apply coats of tung oil inside the shell but for cost effectiveness they ceased that process. Tung oil protect the wood from humidity by sealing the wood pores and prevent ply separation too.

I did my shell a tung oil treatment and I'm very glad I did because to my ears, my kit have little bit better resonance (tung oil seem to strenghten the wood too).
 
Mind-drummer,
Would you care to elaborate on how you did the tung oil treatment? I am very curious about this process.

Thanks,
Todd
 
Mind-drummer,
Would you care to elaborate on how you did the tung oil treatment? I am very curious about this process.

Thanks,
Todd

Here's the post I have made on some forum regarding my treatment

"Hi everyone

I thought I'd share with you the beginning my drum kit tung oil treatment. You heard right ! I'll begin with the snare and then over time with heads changing I'll treat all my toms and the bass drum.

Here some pics...

First remove all hardware, take a clean clothes and apply a generous coat of tung oil in the wood grain direction all over the shell and over the bearing edge too (Important: wear rubber glove) then take a beer and let it dry for 24 hours and apply a second coat.

Tung oil has the properties to protect the wood from humidity and seal wood pores and tend to brighten little bit the sound (this is rumor though). In the 60s and 70s, drum company took times to treat their drum shell before building their kit and selling them but now for cost efficiency, they dont do it anymore. I heard that some custom drum builder still offer that service at some price.
"

And also I have replaced all the metal washers for nylon. I bought a 100 nylon washers pack for 10$ in a specialised "Bolts & screws" dealer. You'll notice the color diffrence of the shell, in the first pic, the snare shell is untreated. On the fourth pic, you see my 10" & 13" toms that are treated and wait to have their heads fitted (I waited for the nylon washer to arrive) and on the fifth pic, you see the nylon washer on my toms.
 

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