In 1978 I was 16 and used $2000 out of a $5000 inheritance money and bought a set almost exactly like this - champagne color, 8 concert toms, single bass drum, single floor tom, bunch of Paiste cymbals and MAN I was rocking. At that time, all the guys in our percussion section all had sets w 8 toms so I had to do the same. We had a 3 piece rock band and had a great time. I miss that set & need to get another one. Yours looks great here. 😁😁👍🏻👍🏻
I admit I'm kinda envious! I'd once owned an Imperialstar set from the 70's which had cost me the same as you paid for this one, and it was only 4 drums without any hardware except the double tom holder, and it didn't come with a snare either. What _was_ cool about it, though: Several years after buying it, I found out that Stewart Copeland's very first Tama kit had looked exactly the same (Metallic Blue, and he can be seen with it in the 'Old Grey Whistle Test' and 'Rock Goes To College' clips of The Police), and he's been one of my favourite drummers since 1980 😊 And well possible your kit had originally even had _four_ more smaller toms! The 'Saturn' configuration in the '74 brochure has extra 6", 8", 10" and 12" ones 😀 Smaller 22" bass drums _with_ tom holder brackets, though 🙂
@@shawnsdrumcave - You're welcome! 😊 Yeah, it was a decent kit. Its previous owner (a lovely guy who replaced me in a band after I'd quit) eventually had an early Christmas, when I gave it back to him for free because I was moving from Germany to New Zealand 😄 My cousin (who's 15 years older than me and whose band had opened for Accept and the Scorpions on several occasions in the late 70's) had a Dark Blue double-kick Imperialstar kit with four rack toms (12", 13", 14", 15") and an 18" floor tom. Still plays it today, I think. Nearly 40 years later! 😊 And I was a bit shocked when I found out a few years ago that the Zola Coat's _real_ purpose was to hide the way the cheaper mahogany (compared to the Superstar line) looked, rather than sealing it from moisture like they'd always advertised! 😅 And great content across your channel, Shawn! 😀👍
I have a set of Imperialstars in metallic whitefrom 1982. 13, 18, 24. The 13 inch Rack tom was a concert tom that i converted into a double headed drum. Naturally I loved seeing this kit!
Another great find Shawn! I think the talk about the money is important to understand the art of drum flipping. So in my opinion keep it in because it keeps me hopeful I’ll find a deal once in while! Thanks!
I had a Tama Rockstar kit that was the same setup as this. You mention Lake Winnipesaukee which is funny since my brother lives in Gilford which is right there. It's been years since I've played, but I follow all the top drummers like Weckl, Borlai, Sucherman, Donati, Coleman, Smith, Dicenso, etc. This kit takes me right back to the 80s when I was teaching myself to play from vinyl to bands like Rush, Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Journey and the like. My first kit ever, in the late 70s, was a five-piece Slingerland. First song I ever played - Kiss God of Thunder. LoL I'm guessing you're a Mass guy like me with your accent and all. Pretty cool vid. Thanks for posting. P.S. I also owned a Gretsch set that I traded a North set for. Didn't care for the North.
What's even funnier is this was in Gilford! Haha crazy! I just didn't think anyone would know specific towns, easier just to mention the lake. I have a rockstar set out in my garage I picked up off the side of the road. They're good drums too! I took a few lessons from Dave Dicenso when I was a kid! Wish I stuck with it, he's a nice guy and hell of a player/teacher! Never to late to pick those sticks up again man! As I said, I had stopped for at least a decade, probably longer thinking about it. Thanks for watching!
I have owned my 1981 Tama Imperialstar in the "Platina" color like this one since 1989. I have the double head version with 12, 13, 14, and 15 inch rack toms, and 16 and 18 on the floor. I also have the 24" bass drums. This drum set is 9 ply mahogany wood. Try to buy a mahogany set these days and it will cost a small fortune. I love the way these drums sound. They have an iconic 70s and 80s sound that we know well from the numerous, as you pointed out, famous drummers and hit songs recorded using this set. I wish you luck finding the double head toms you spoke of, and just to let you know they do pop up on E-Bay from time to time so be on the lookout. Cheers.
@@shawnsdrumcave I don't play professionally but I jam with some old players like me every Monday for fun and my set is as sturdy and holds a tuning like it was brand new. Thanks for posting this video, as you could probably tell I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
Years ago when I was in middle school. There was a set like this in one of the practice rooms. 3 big rack toms. Single floor, single kick. Hats, crash, and ride symbols. When I wasn't late for school... lol. The music teacher would let me come in before class started and let me bang on the kit. So cool!!!
Gil Moore was the drummer for Triumph in The 80’s always had Monster Tama Concert Tom kits solid drummer also Joe X Dube played for Starz who I saw when they opened up for Rush on The Hemispheres our another guy with a Monster Tama kit he was also one of the first guys I ever saw using Boom stands with the cymbals hanging down instead of up a very cool look at the time late 70’s
What an awesome purchase for you, Shawn. This set is so cool and sounds great. Do you plan on adding the 3 smaller toms to it? I’m sure that I would. Anyway, have fun with this one and as always, thank you for sharing this with us.
Thank you! I definitely plan on adding them! Tough thing with these finishes is the metallic white, hairline chrome and platina all look similar in pictures and people often screw up which is which, so when I find the right set I'll definitely grab them! Thank you for watching!
When you put new resos on the bass drums, try putting either a 5-inch or 6-inch center cut hole in them. Should be significantly more boom than the big 8 or 10-inch hole they seem to currently have, but it should have a fast decay and a clean sound to it due to the evenly distributed amount of remaining reso head. Not to mention REALLY easy to mic the front head from inside and get a lot of punch that way.
Totally! That's what I did with my Yamaha RC's, these were the only two matching heads I had kicking around and they are kinda fitting for the era haha but it gets to the point with large holes like these it's more attack than I like. Thanks for watching!
@@shawnsdrumcave Oh, you actually have small center-hole kicks that you regularly use? Dude I need the video link. It's SO difficult to find examples of people using 1/4 or 1/5 diameter-sized center holes so I hardly have a strong conception of how they sound, mostly just theory.
Hey Shawn recently found your channel and love it. Also just bought what looks to be the same kit but am searching for 16 tom that matches and wondering if you would sell one of yours for the right price?
that snare is impressive. is it a steel shell? if it is then it's exceptional. a lot of times steel can be tinny and thin sounding. did you do anything to it with muffling or fancy heads? I'd be interested in a video on that snare and any other vintage Tama snares.
How in the world do you find something like that for $500??? On my planet the snare alone would go for $1200. Seriously, can you look for a Rolex for me? 😳
Deals don't pop up everyday but if you are patient and look 20 times a day, everyday eventually something pops up 🤣 funny enough my brother in law use to flip Rolex's. I stick to my wheel house, if I bought a cheap Rolex, I'm sure it would be fake haha thanks for watching!
I've been looking for some of these. Do all the imperialstars that have concert toms have the Zola coating? I'm guessing the concert tom era was somewhat brief and the wood and coating was the same on them all? thx
Yes they have Zola coat interiors, the coating is the same but shell construction changed from fat rering's to smaller rering's to no rering's at all. Thanks for watching!
I love it! I have that snare. Does yours have the parallel strainer? Mine has the guards and the nice strainers but it's not parallel. Apparently there were options. Mine sadly has a bit of pitting too, but it's a great snare just the same!
Thanks! this has the parallel strainer and extended wires. I have a powerline that's the same sell just triple flage and a simple strainer, I also have a master craft which is the same shell with the rollers and diecast. 3 different versions of the same drum lol they all have a little bit of pitting lol
In 1978 I was 16 and used $2000 out of a $5000 inheritance money and bought a set almost exactly like this - champagne color, 8 concert toms, single bass drum, single floor tom, bunch of Paiste cymbals and MAN I was rocking. At that time, all the guys in our percussion section all had sets w 8 toms so I had to do the same. We had a 3 piece rock band and had a great time. I miss that set & need to get another one. Yours looks great here. 😁😁👍🏻👍🏻
Awesome 👏🏻 and thanks!
I have the exact kit but also , 6 8 10 12 13 14 15 16 , 16 18 .... 2 24 x16 bass drums . All Imperial Star in Royal Pewter. I love this kit 💪
Awesome 👏🏻
I admit I'm kinda envious! I'd once owned an Imperialstar set from the 70's which had cost me the same as you paid for this one, and it was only 4 drums without any hardware except the double tom holder, and it didn't come with a snare either.
What _was_ cool about it, though: Several years after buying it, I found out that Stewart Copeland's very first Tama kit had looked exactly the same (Metallic Blue, and he can be seen with it in the 'Old Grey Whistle Test' and 'Rock Goes To College' clips of The Police), and he's been one of my favourite drummers since 1980 😊
And well possible your kit had originally even had _four_ more smaller toms! The 'Saturn' configuration in the '74 brochure has extra 6", 8", 10" and 12" ones 😀 Smaller 22" bass drums _with_ tom holder brackets, though 🙂
they're a great value for the money! that sounds like it was an awesome kit! and good info, thanks!
@@shawnsdrumcave - You're welcome! 😊 Yeah, it was a decent kit. Its previous owner (a lovely guy who replaced me in a band after I'd quit) eventually had an early Christmas, when I gave it back to him for free because I was moving from Germany to New Zealand 😄 My cousin (who's 15 years older than me and whose band had opened for Accept and the Scorpions on several occasions in the late 70's) had a Dark Blue double-kick Imperialstar kit with four rack toms (12", 13", 14", 15") and an 18" floor tom. Still plays it today, I think. Nearly 40 years later! 😊
And I was a bit shocked when I found out a few years ago that the Zola Coat's _real_ purpose was to hide the way the cheaper mahogany (compared to the Superstar line) looked, rather than sealing it from moisture like they'd always advertised! 😅
And great content across your channel, Shawn! 😀👍
So great. Thanks for your video and best wishes always! ♪
Thank you!
Such a classic and familiar sound these older Tama kits have.
For sure! Thanks for watching!
Cool kit!! Thats a monster!
Thank you 🙏
Very Niiiice Shawn !!!
thank you!
I had the same kit 82', 83' ish. Memories
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
Those drums sound amazing. Your roll reminded me of Hawaii 50😅
Thanks man!
Another great bargain Shawn !!
Thank you!
Reminds me of one of Peter Criss' sets from back in the Alive and Alive II era
👍🏻
Awesome Tama Imperialstar drums were a classic sound and look. These sizes are huge, but what a deal!
I agree! Thanks!
That “Just Guitars” stamp…
“Obviously, that’s a lie.”
Good one!😂
Thanks 🙏
I have a set of Imperialstars in metallic whitefrom 1982. 13, 18, 24. The 13 inch Rack tom was a concert tom that i converted into a double headed drum. Naturally I loved seeing this kit!
Nice! They're good drums and often overlooked! Thanks for watching!
Killer Kit man
Thanks brother!
Another great find Shawn! I think the talk about the money is important to understand the art of drum flipping. So in my opinion keep it in because it keeps me hopeful I’ll find a deal once in while! Thanks!
Thanks earl! That's definitely the point and hopefully it motivates people to find some deals for themselves! You'll find something!
Wow!!! Gorgeous set, and that snare 👍👍👍👍
Thank you 🙏
Great 70's style kit! It sound super, too.
Thanks 🙏
Magnifico.🌡️🌡️🌡️🌡️🌡️🌡️
Thank you 🙏
Just found your channel and am loving it. My eye keeps wandering to the black and gold Duco behind you.
Looking forward to going through the videos.
Thank you 🙏 that's a WFL zephyr lug set and more to come! Im behind a bit as i'm in the middle of rearranging my shop. Thanks for watching!
Love those drums Shawn, dam they sound great. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching man!
BEAUTIFUL!!!
thanks Terry!
Beautiful set!
Thank you!
Nice find. Ha e fun with them. Like the videos
Thank you 🙏
These sound great.. nice and open how they are meant to sound
Thanks man!
Awesome find! Those snares rock. Be well!
Thanks brother 🙏 you too!
Man that sounds beefy 👍👌👌
They sure do! Thanks for watching 🙏
Awesome kit! Great price too! Love the color.
Thanks!
That is really cool. Nice kit.
Thank you 🙏
I restored an 84 imperialstar in metallic blue. I prefer double headed, but still could make it sound good.
I do as well! Thanks for watching!
Loving these tubs, dude. So cool.
Thanks Tim! Ever in the Boston area you're more than welcome to stop by and take them for a spin!
@@shawnsdrumcave I’ll be out there next year for sure. We’ll definitely have to nerd out, man! Haha
Big and beefy zolo coated concert toms for the win!! I had a bright red dbl bass Imperialstar back in the day 😎
That's awesome! They are for sure, undervalued imo thanks for watching 🙏
I had a Tama Rockstar kit that was the same setup as this. You mention Lake Winnipesaukee which is funny since my brother lives in Gilford which is right there. It's been years since I've played, but I follow all the top drummers like Weckl, Borlai, Sucherman, Donati, Coleman, Smith, Dicenso, etc. This kit takes me right back to the 80s when I was teaching myself to play from vinyl to bands like Rush, Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Journey and the like. My first kit ever, in the late 70s, was a five-piece Slingerland. First song I ever played - Kiss God of Thunder. LoL I'm guessing you're a Mass guy like me with your accent and all. Pretty cool vid. Thanks for posting. P.S. I also owned a Gretsch set that I traded a North set for. Didn't care for the North.
What's even funnier is this was in Gilford! Haha crazy! I just didn't think anyone would know specific towns, easier just to mention the lake.
I have a rockstar set out in my garage I picked up off the side of the road. They're good drums too! I took a few lessons from Dave Dicenso when I was a kid! Wish I stuck with it, he's a nice guy and hell of a player/teacher!
Never to late to pick those sticks up again man! As I said, I had stopped for at least a decade, probably longer thinking about it. Thanks for watching!
Virgin kicks are pretty rare to find in early ( pre-86) Tama kick drums.
Very cool! Thanks!
Those are awesome Shawn ! Reminds me of Gil Moore or Joe X Dube !
Just googled him, for sure! I'll have to check them out. Thanks!
Beautiful kit! Now I have to go listen to Just a Game and Allied Forces just because.
Haha for sure! Love Gil's playing!
came for the drums, stayed for the new england accent
Haha thank you 🙏
Nice KIT!
Thanks!
Bought a set in 1988 for $500 - except mine only came with the single 22x18 kick and my rack toms were all the shorter double-headed versions.
Sounds like an awesome set! I like traditional size double headed toms myself but I couldn't pass this up either haha thanks for watching man!
I have owned my 1981 Tama Imperialstar in the "Platina" color like this one since 1989. I have the double head version with 12, 13, 14, and 15 inch rack toms, and 16 and 18 on the floor. I also have the 24" bass drums. This drum set is 9 ply mahogany wood. Try to buy a mahogany set these days and it will cost a small fortune. I love the way these drums sound. They have an iconic 70s and 80s sound that we know well from the numerous, as you pointed out, famous drummers and hit songs recorded using this set. I wish you luck finding the double head toms you spoke of, and just to let you know they do pop up on E-Bay from time to time so be on the lookout. Cheers.
That's awesome! Sounds like a killer set! They're great drums for sure! Some of my favorites and thanks for watching! Take care!
@@shawnsdrumcave I don't play professionally but I jam with some old players like me every Monday for fun and my set is as sturdy and holds a tuning like it was brand new. Thanks for posting this video, as you could probably tell I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
Ah, the sounds of the 70's!
Yup 👍🏻 thanks for watching!
Years ago when I was in middle school. There was a set like this in one of the practice rooms. 3 big rack toms. Single floor, single kick. Hats, crash, and ride symbols. When I wasn't late for school... lol. The music teacher would let me come in before class started and let me bang on the kit. So cool!!!
This was Tama in its hey day!
For sure!
Gil Moore was the drummer for Triumph in The 80’s always had Monster Tama Concert Tom kits solid drummer also Joe X Dube played for Starz who I saw when they opened up for Rush on The Hemispheres our another guy with a Monster Tama kit he was also one of the first guys I ever saw using Boom stands with the cymbals hanging down instead of up a very cool look at the time late 70’s
That's awesome!
Triumph's kit(Gil Moore)!
I'm a fan!
What an awesome purchase for you, Shawn. This set is so cool and sounds great. Do you plan on adding the 3 smaller toms to it? I’m sure that I would. Anyway, have fun with this one and as always, thank you for sharing this with us.
Thank you! I definitely plan on adding them! Tough thing with these finishes is the metallic white, hairline chrome and platina all look similar in pictures and people often screw up which is which, so when I find the right set I'll definitely grab them! Thank you for watching!
@@shawnsdrumcave Shawn, I love your content and always have my eyes peeled for what comes next.
these were in the catalog as saturn 7or 9 .
Interesting! Is that the configuration? Thanks for watching!
When you put new resos on the bass drums, try putting either a 5-inch or 6-inch center cut hole in them. Should be significantly more boom than the big 8 or 10-inch hole they seem to currently have, but it should have a fast decay and a clean sound to it due to the evenly distributed amount of remaining reso head. Not to mention REALLY easy to mic the front head from inside and get a lot of punch that way.
Totally! That's what I did with my Yamaha RC's, these were the only two matching heads I had kicking around and they are kinda fitting for the era haha but it gets to the point with large holes like these it's more attack than I like. Thanks for watching!
@@shawnsdrumcave Oh, you actually have small center-hole kicks that you regularly use? Dude I need the video link. It's SO difficult to find examples of people using 1/4 or 1/5 diameter-sized center holes so I hardly have a strong conception of how they sound, mostly just theory.
Hey Shawn recently found your channel and love it. Also just bought what looks to be the same kit but am searching for 16 tom that matches and wondering if you would sell one of yours for the right price?
thank you! unfortunately i can't, i sold this set a few months back. thanks for watching and take care!
PS Joe X Dube was also the drummer in Looking Glass of Brandy Fame No Tamas then though lol
Gonna check him out, thanks!
that snare is impressive. is it a steel shell? if it is then it's exceptional. a lot of times steel can be tinny and thin sounding. did you do anything to it with muffling or fancy heads? I'd be interested in a video on that snare and any other vintage Tama snares.
it's a seamless steel shell, Tama king beat, no muffling, just a two ply head. Good suggestion! Thanks for watching!
Damn 500? How could you pass it up!
Right? Thank you 🙏
How in the world do you find something like that for $500??? On my planet the snare alone would go for $1200. Seriously, can you look for a Rolex for me? 😳
Deals don't pop up everyday but if you are patient and look 20 times a day, everyday eventually something pops up 🤣 funny enough my brother in law use to flip Rolex's. I stick to my wheel house, if I bought a cheap Rolex, I'm sure it would be fake haha thanks for watching!
I've been looking for some of these. Do all the imperialstars that have concert toms have the Zola coating? I'm guessing the concert tom era was somewhat brief and the wood and coating was the same on them all? thx
Yes they have Zola coat interiors, the coating is the same but shell construction changed from fat rering's to smaller rering's to no rering's at all. Thanks for watching!
I love it!
I have that snare. Does yours have the parallel strainer? Mine has the guards and the nice strainers but it's not parallel. Apparently there were options. Mine sadly has a bit of pitting too, but it's a great snare just the same!
Thanks! this has the parallel strainer and extended wires. I have a powerline that's the same sell just triple flage and a simple strainer, I also have a master craft which is the same shell with the rollers and diecast. 3 different versions of the same drum lol they all have a little bit of pitting lol
@@shawnsdrumcave mine has the die cast as well. Beautiful snare. Weighs about 147 pounds. 🤣
Hey man
Looking for tama imperialstar from 70’s early 80’s in dark blue
Powertom sizes
The midnight blue are definitely harder to come by, if I see any I'll let you know! Thanks for watching!
Did you sell this set ty Vernon
Nope!
I wish I could send you a picture of my set is there a way love to show you my tama imperialstars royal pewter please ty Vernon 🙏
Hi sir I'm Vernon I have a set of royal pewter double bass set
Awesome Vernon! Thanks for watching!
ZOLA COAT