@Jonny McIlroy That's a bit subjective. A lot of factors in tuning, heads, snare wires, mic placement, room size, dryness, gain etc etc.. I think it boils down to the application of the kit itself.
@Θάνος Αλε You're crazy if you think the head alone can change so dramatically the sound. If you pair the head with the wires, rings, and all the screws, then it can. But the quality of the snare is crucial, I mean, c'mon!
The 7-piece sounds stellar! Just even hearing you move around the drums creates an instant sense of more flavor for me. Obviously both kits sound amazing though. Let's get a few extra toms & an extra bass drum for your vintage superstar, Simon Phillips style 😉
I like both too. If I were to spend money to obtain one, I think I’d go with the modern version. Seems more versatile to me, and the tone is really nice. I do like bigger/deeper toms though. Very tough choice the more I think about it
I have a 1980 Tama superstar 7 peice. It has concert toms, and it a transparent green lacquer. I've never seen the finish on any other Tama kit before. I worked my ass off when I was younger to buy this kit, it's my favorite!
I played a vintage Tama Superstar (piano white) kit for years and loved it. It had an 18" x 18" floor tom (square sized toms on the whole kit) and it created seismic shockwaves when you hit it. I don't know why drummers don't go for those sizes anymore.
Both of these kits sound so freaking amazing and it goes to show that despite the price difference, Tama drums will always sound like they cost the same
I'll never forget my 14th birthday in 1984, just 4 months after giving up the guitar and taking drum lessons my dad and grandparents got me a 7 piece Tama Superstar kit in cherry red with 1 bass, 3 racks, 2 floors & snare and a set of 7 Paiste 505 Series, 14" medium hi-hat, 20" heavy ride, 16" & 18" crash, 15" China and 10" splash. I count the hi-hat as 1 piece. Later I added a Ludwig bass, a 14" Sabian crash a Zildjian 16" China and a cowbell because you can never have too much cowbell. I can still close my eyes and see myself playing it. I miss my drum kit.
I’ve been saving up and wanting the superstar classic doing tons of research on it and to have one of my favorite youtubers do a sorta review and give his insight is the best
Modern stuff every day of the week for me. Parts are available, no deterioration due to age just yet (dried out wood, wraps that are falling off, etc), and the whole sound thing, in my opinion, is largely solved by head choice, tuning and having the right bearing edges cut. But to each their own. Ultimately, if you don't like your instrument, you won't play as well because you're pissed of and looking for issues. For me the current market provides everything I want, I don't need to look at "vintage". Which in turns leaves more for those that prefer the vintage stuff, so we both win. :-)
That's true, having good drums, drumheads, tuning, solid hardware, and cymbals etc, so that everything sounds good and works like you want, so nothing is bothering you, makes you play better, a good drumkit is a joy to play.
Going with vintage Tama kit!!! I love the finish, the size of drums, the birch shell construction. That beefy low sound from the birch sound I love. The kit new Tama looks great, just prefer the vintage.
They both sound spectacular! In the 1st configuration when the 3 guys came over I would have picked the vintage. When the other drums were added to the classic I leaned more to it. If I was invited over and had to pick out of the 2 to play I would go with the maple set.
Its like comparing my "green sparkle" 1963 Gretsch RB kit to the one I built in 2004 out of keller maple shells. I love them both but for different reasons. Good heads, good bearing edges and laminate process of the shell and shell size are the most important. Hell, I bought a snare drum (pre-pearl, hoshino, called a "Jupiter") I filed a snare bed into it, recut the bearing edges, shaved it a half inch (now 5x14) and took a 3/4 hole saw, and put two large "port holes", and I swear to God that thing records more consistently than any other snare I've owned.
I actually decided to pull the trigger on the Superstar Classic in Tangerine Burst, and this video was the one that introduced me to the kit. So, thanks for hookin' me up, Dave. Just playing the waiting game at the time of this comment.
I have a Tama Silverstar, all Birch. Nice brown natural finish too. Looks like the vintage but much darker brown. I have a 6 piece. 3up 1down. 8 10 12 16. The toms are shallower like most modern kit setups but the all birch has a rich resonance. I love it!
Oh Hell Yea!! Vintage Tamas all day long. And thank you for showing the difference in bearing edges. My kit is modeled like Stet Howland's kit from his time with W.A.S.P. Two massive 26"x16" kicks out to the sides, 14"x16" deep floor tom, 16"x16" deep floor tom in between the kick drums, then a 18"x16"deep floor tom to my right and a 20"x16" deep floor tom to my left. I re-did all the bearing edges on my shells to give them a bit of a tune up [pun intended]. This kit just sounds BIG! My snare is a vintage all brass Pearl that i bought in Japan as a non export. It has hinged lugs to expedite rapid head changes. This snare has a powerful crunch that will cave you head in. It has been with me since 1988, and has gone through two overhauls. This snare is my signature sound, and it goes very well with the rest of this double kick drum set. I wanna thank you for sharing these videos on RUclips, your tactics and experimentation has given me the knowledge and confidence to build this drum set that I've always wanted to go with my snare.My kit is not much to look at, its all black, but its my kit, and it gives my hours upon hours of thrilling drumming, Rock on rDavidr, and Heavy Metal Forever!!
I have the 7-piece Superstar Classic in indigo burst. I am blown away every single day by how goo it sounds. I feel like the video doesn't do the 16" floor tom justice. The sound that thing gives with an Evans EC2 is MASSIVE.
Recently bought an 80-81 Superstar in Super Mahogany and this video, plus the others highlighting the Superstar model, helped me with my decision. Huge kit with a warm sound... now trying to find a 10" tom has been such a challenge. Thanks for info!
I sold my 1986 Superstar and bought a new Superstar Classic kit. What a difference!!! The new Superstar Classic kit sounds amazing! Only problem was the snare drum. Would not cut through when playing with the full band, so I traded it in and bought a 14 x 6.5 15 ply maple snare by DW. That did the trick.
Tough choice! If the vintage Superstar also was a 7-piece, I'd go with that one. I've also always liked their styling; The look of the lugs, brackets, thumb screws, even down to those cream-coloured nylon cymbal screws they'd made back then! I'll have a vintage Superstar like Stewart Copeland's old studio kit one day (His drum tech owns it now), including octobans 😁👍
Ended up buying a barely used new Superstar Classic 7-piece a couple of weeks ago - largely because I remembered you saying what a bargain they are. My new #1 gigging kit.
To me the new kit sounds cleaner, more like you hear on modern recordings, but the old kit has more character. They both sound great, but I'd go with the vintage 🤟
The vintage kit sounds tighter all around. That surprised me a little. Owned one for over 30 years and loved it. Only sold it because I don't have space for two kits!
You can get large Toms for the Superstar Classic. I bought a used 7 pc Classic kit in Blackburst. First thing to go was the Snare. Just couldn't get it to sound right. Now using an LM-402. Found a used 14 in Rack tom and have added a 13 Rack and 18 floor to the kit. Now I'm using the 12,14,16,18 toms. Sounds great.
Cool video Dave thanks 👍 I own both kits and recently hauled the originals out to do a rock show for some friends because the new classics have a logo head from my primary band. No comparison in room volume and presence, the vintage kit sounds amazing. Classics are mic’d 100% of the time, original kit was kick only. Great to hear them both tuned well and eq’d nicely for your video. Well done 🤟😎👍
@@Mickey-hf4bq 😂 there's that.... I would if I had the appropriate gig, ( or I'd take a 4 or 5 piece with rototoms ), but the few gigs I've done in the last few years were on small kits, and that's more for spacial limitations, than ease of setup and teardown. My main gig and kit is at church, though, so it's a pretty big kit 😂 lots of cymbals, too. It's tightly packed together, because I still have fairly limited space for other band members, but it's a well populated kit, and it doesn't go anywhere. I have traveling drums if I need them.
It’s hard to say which is “better”. I’d personally consider these as two different kits given the size, material and shell thickness difference. In a studio, i’d use them in different applications. Great kits!
my All birch Starclassics came with 10" and 12" rack toms, 14" hanging "floor tom" and 22 kick, but i felt the same about it, so i moved the 10" tom to the hanging mount and the 14" to the bass drum tom holders, and picked up some 16" and 18" floor toms, i love the sound of my kit now
I’m biased. The first quality set I purchased new was in ‘85, a Tama Superstar in Supermaple finish, Xtra series toms, 11x12”, 12x13”,16”x16, 16”x18”, 16”x22”, 6 1/2”x 14” Powerline Snare. So Consequently, I’ve been a fan of birch shells for the last 37 years. When Tama released the vintage Superstar series I was bummed to say the least, the fact that the shells weren’t birch rendered them useless in my opinion…after watching this video, I’d say there is definitely a place for these drums, but I still feel Tama sullied the Superstar line with this and the prior Superstar releases. They should have retired the series when they started pushing the Granstar line in the mid to late 80’s. Great comparison video, I really enjoy your content 🤘🏻
Man, I came across a Vintage 9-piece double bass yrs ago when I was playing and man, those things would punch! It handled even the loudest guitar play without miking the drums
The vintage look and sizes would be my choice. Had an Artstar II back in the day that was incredible. Tama fan. Although haven’t had a Tama kit since. Great channel btw. Thank you.
I like the vintage as I play one up two down but it’s so much fun to play big kits once in awhile specially when shedding. With that said they both sound great. Starts with great tuning so as with the video of redoing the kids kit you can make anything sound good
I liked them both. Impossible to choose one as "better" for me. I have a few kits, and while I love my self built, undersized, punchy maple kit, when I switch over to my oversized Tama ES, I feel like the God of thunder. Great job recording, btw. It all sounded so good!
To honest, the Superstar Classics sounds much better than I thought it would. I expected it to be more thin sounding. They sound really good BUT...The vintage Superstar has the “IT” factor. It’s got “it”. Love those big thunderous drums! Yet they can be tuned up to bop levels and sound good. Elvin played them! But their real strength is low end. Great vid!
This was a great comparison video really liked a lot, both kits are great I probably favor the newer Superstars with the maple shells and would love them in a blue color. They are a good value. I do like the natural color and thickness of the birch shells Also gretsch catalina maples Floor toms are 14x14 and 16x16 Which I think sound better than the newer Tama floor toms.
i personally like the 22x18 bass drum size and tone better than a 14" depth. But now that i myself has gotten my first 18" floor tom I love the bigger bolder sizes. But I'm also caught in a tough choise because I LOVE a good 7 piece. I love how much more you can do from high to low. But I do like the more natural look vs the burst.
The SS classics sound really, really good. For me it was between that and a Catalina Maple. I like a 3-up 2-down setup, and you can score them for right around 1K. The CM is an amazing kit for the price; I couldn't be happier!
It should be noted you can get the Superstar Classics in bigger sizes than come in the 7pc pack. They have a 24" bd and a 18" floor, plus more tom choices.
I've been getting into a lot of Liberty DeVitto's playing recently, especially on Billy Joel's Turnstiles album, so I'd have to go with the 7-piece SC. How he uses his racks for melodic fills on that album just speaks to my soul. Not the typical 16ths down the toms fills. Check out his playing on Prelude/Angry Young Man. Very reminiscent of Behind The Lines by Genesis, and it came out 4 years before.
I have a Tama superstar classic 7 piece. I picked it up off Facebook market place for $250. The owner no longer played it and was in the process of moving. I got a set of zildjian classic A cymbals and several cymbal stands and a iron cobra double bass and a iron cobra hi hat stand. After cleaning and new heads I still cannot believe I got all that for $250. You just never know what you’ll find out there.
I've played Tama drums since 1980. Owned several sets, all Japanese-made vintage units. My understanding was Artstars were birch ply shells covered in cordia (similar to today's bubinga sets.) Superstars were maple ply with maple exteriors. The Artstars shined (focused & tight) in the studio, where Superstars were best (brighter & louder) in live situations. Neil Peart's iconic Superstar set being a great example. To me: The Artstars "sound better" from BEHIND the kit. Is that true out front? I doubt the average squirrel has a clue there is a difference...just my opinion. A good soundman can make absolute junk sound amazing nowadays...that wasn't always true. I love that you have a passion for these drums! I bonded with Tama over 40-years ago, and still think they were the best ever made.
Overall, it's got to be the vintage, but I love the finish on the classic. I usually like big drums too, but that small tom on the classic is a really killer sound.
Well let’s see. With the superstar, I’ve always wanted a kit like that with a 22x14 bass drum and an 18” floor that I would surely never use idk, but now that I’m playing more pop, reggaetón and trap, I would live to have the superstarclassics to have all those sounds, even though I don’t like the color... and also as you said, I don’t like how both floor toms could sound the same when tuned, that’s when I would rather have the 14” and 16” floor toms!
before seeing the video i had not thought about that much difference! The more i hear modern drums of this age, i prefer the classic ones! The vintage on just sound perfekt and more harmonic to me...the newer are more hifi! Its a bit like digital vs. analog to me. Perfect comparison!
Vintage snare is crisp and I prefer that bass drum size, in fact I handcut my Mapex Mpro BD down from 22 by 18 to 22by14 for a punchier sound.Also easier to carry from gig to car to practice room without getting stuck in doorways...bonus space saver and backsaver!
Which kit would you play?
Defently the 7 pc
Im a metal drummer😂🥁🥁
Either, they're both better than my tornado with sbc cymbals 😂😂
The dank one
rdavidr I like the Vintage Tama Stuperstar, but I like the size of the Tama Superstar Classic
Vintage for sure
the real winner is the snare on the vintage kit. That thing is tight
@Jonny McIlroy That's a bit subjective. A lot of factors in tuning, heads, snare wires, mic placement, room size, dryness, gain etc etc.. I think it boils down to the application of the kit itself.
Agreed the best sound would probably be the new kit with the old snare!
@Θάνος Αλε You're crazy if you think the head alone can change so dramatically the sound. If you pair the head with the wires, rings, and all the screws, then it can. But the quality of the snare is crucial, I mean, c'mon!
Tru
Could be really good with the modern kit kick
How many likes can this video get before RUclips changes that theres only 6 views
I love your vids man!! YOU'RE SICK!!
You read my mind? Just thought the same
Mine made it 666 😈
1k likes and 8.2k views right now bro! Let’s make sure it is recorded.
ehh didnt last long haha
David using more than two toms? What has the world come to
Oh No It's Ethanol I know I thought the same XD
Maybe he should check for Corona
FullForceDrummer 🤣😂👍🏻👌🏻
The 7-piece sounds stellar! Just even hearing you move around the drums creates an instant sense of more flavor for me. Obviously both kits sound amazing though. Let's get a few extra toms & an extra bass drum for your vintage superstar, Simon Phillips style 😉
Ive been searching!
I like both too. If I were to spend money to obtain one, I think I’d go with the modern version. Seems more versatile to me, and the tone is really nice. I do like bigger/deeper toms though. Very tough choice the more I think about it
I have a 1980 Tama superstar 7 peice. It has concert toms, and it a transparent green lacquer. I've never seen the finish on any other Tama kit before. I worked my ass off when I was younger to buy this kit, it's my favorite!
I played a vintage Tama Superstar (piano white) kit for years and loved it. It had an 18" x 18" floor tom (square sized toms on the whole kit) and it created seismic shockwaves when you hit it. I don't know why drummers don't go for those sizes anymore.
Vintage kit for sure love how warm and fat they found. Love the sizes
I assuming the vintage one has way more white lithium grease on the lugs so I’m definitely going with that one.
😏 😂
its always a good day when David posts
Easton Mitchell amen to that!!
Its what I look forward to now adays!
That intro was sick, dude! Nice work.
Both of these kits sound so freaking amazing and it goes to show that despite the price difference, Tama drums will always sound like they cost the same
I'll never forget my 14th birthday in 1984, just 4 months after giving up the guitar and taking drum lessons my dad and grandparents got me a 7 piece Tama Superstar kit in cherry red with 1 bass, 3 racks, 2 floors & snare and a set of 7 Paiste 505 Series, 14" medium hi-hat, 20" heavy ride, 16" & 18" crash, 15" China and 10" splash. I count the hi-hat as 1 piece. Later I added a Ludwig bass, a 14" Sabian crash a Zildjian 16" China and a cowbell because you can never have too much cowbell. I can still close my eyes and see myself playing it. I miss my drum kit.
I’ve been saving up and wanting the superstar classic doing tons of research on it and to have one of my favorite youtubers do a sorta review and give his insight is the best
Modern stuff every day of the week for me. Parts are available, no deterioration due to age just yet (dried out wood, wraps that are falling off, etc), and the whole sound thing, in my opinion, is largely solved by head choice, tuning and having the right bearing edges cut.
But to each their own. Ultimately, if you don't like your instrument, you won't play as well because you're pissed of and looking for issues. For me the current market provides everything I want, I don't need to look at "vintage". Which in turns leaves more for those that prefer the vintage stuff, so we both win. :-)
Yeah I'm on team drums have never been made better than they are right now, also.
That's true, having good drums, drumheads, tuning, solid hardware, and cymbals etc, so that everything sounds good and works like you want, so nothing is bothering you, makes you play better, a good drumkit is a joy to play.
Yes definitely
Thanks for not competing in the vintage drum market. Please tell all your friends to do the same! ♪
@@EarthtonesCymbals some of the vintage stuff has crazy pricing. If you want it, great, but it really doesn't do much for me. 🙂
Who else gets the Craigslist bug after watching a rdavidr?
Eddy Palogrande
I don’t have nearly the luck though.
Dang! What a great video! Loved everything about it, clear & honest! I appreciate your time in making this!
That vintage kit sounds so amazing. Great tuning. Also very valuable comparisons. Thanks
Sick vid man!!Love how you played both at same time
Now, That intro was impressive.
Going with vintage Tama kit!!! I love the finish, the size of drums, the birch shell construction. That beefy low sound from the birch sound I love. The kit new Tama looks great, just prefer the vintage.
The kick on that vintage kit is amazing! My very first set was the vintage Tamas in 12/13/16/14 with mahogany finish. I so regret selling it.
I love both toms and your new set up!
I think you should use all of your gear to make a monster kit!
They both sound spectacular! In the 1st configuration when the 3 guys came over I would have picked the vintage. When the other drums were added to the classic I leaned more to it. If I was invited over and had to pick out of the 2 to play I would go with the maple set.
Its like comparing my "green sparkle" 1963 Gretsch RB kit to the one I built in 2004 out of keller maple shells. I love them both but for different reasons.
Good heads, good bearing edges and laminate process of the shell and shell size are the most important.
Hell, I bought a snare drum (pre-pearl, hoshino, called a "Jupiter") I filed a snare bed into it, recut the bearing edges, shaved it a half inch (now 5x14) and took a 3/4 hole saw, and put two large "port holes", and I swear to God that thing records more consistently than any other snare I've owned.
I actually decided to pull the trigger on the Superstar Classic in Tangerine Burst, and this video was the one that introduced me to the kit.
So, thanks for hookin' me up, Dave.
Just playing the waiting game at the time of this comment.
I have a Tama Silverstar, all Birch. Nice brown natural finish too. Looks like the vintage but much darker brown. I have a 6 piece. 3up 1down. 8 10 12 16. The toms are shallower like most modern kit setups but the all birch has a rich resonance. I love it!
Oh Hell Yea!! Vintage Tamas all day long. And thank you for showing the difference in bearing edges. My kit is modeled like Stet Howland's kit from his time with W.A.S.P. Two massive 26"x16" kicks out to the sides, 14"x16" deep floor tom, 16"x16" deep floor tom in between the kick drums, then a 18"x16"deep floor tom to my right and a 20"x16" deep floor tom to my left. I re-did all the bearing edges on my shells to give them a bit of a tune up [pun intended]. This kit just sounds BIG! My snare is a vintage all brass Pearl that i bought in Japan as a non export. It has hinged lugs to expedite rapid head changes. This snare has a powerful crunch that will cave you head in. It has been with me since 1988, and has gone through two overhauls. This snare is my signature sound, and it goes very well with the rest of this double kick drum set. I wanna thank you for sharing these videos on RUclips, your tactics and experimentation has given me the knowledge and confidence to build this drum set that I've always wanted to go with my snare.My kit is not much to look at, its all black, but its my kit, and it gives my hours upon hours of thrilling drumming, Rock on rDavidr, and Heavy Metal Forever!!
I have the 7-piece Superstar Classic in indigo burst. I am blown away every single day by how goo it sounds. I feel like the video doesn't do the 16" floor tom justice. The sound that thing gives with an Evans EC2 is MASSIVE.
Recently bought an 80-81 Superstar in Super Mahogany and this video, plus the others highlighting the Superstar model, helped me with my decision. Huge kit with a warm sound... now trying to find a 10" tom has been such a challenge. Thanks for info!
I sold my 1986 Superstar and bought a new Superstar Classic kit. What a difference!!! The new Superstar Classic kit sounds amazing! Only problem was the snare drum. Would not cut through when playing with the full band, so I traded it in and bought a 14 x 6.5 15 ply maple snare by DW. That did the trick.
Proud to be one of the hundreds of people who make up your 6 viewers.
Love the slightly choked snare sound on the vintage one
That Superstar Classic is beautiful. It sounds so good!
That 8 inch tom sounds stellar
Just acquired a vintage Superstar and it sounds great! Birch all day!
That intro section had me losing it. So good. So intentional. 🙌🏽
I have a Superstar Classic with a finish I have never seen before and isn’t advertised and I’m telling you I love that set
The vintage sound better, the snare is perfect
Speaking of Superstars, stellar tuning job on these.
Tough choice! If the vintage Superstar also was a 7-piece, I'd go with that one. I've also always liked their styling; The look of the lugs, brackets, thumb screws, even down to those cream-coloured nylon cymbal screws they'd made back then! I'll have a vintage Superstar like Stewart Copeland's old studio kit one day (His drum tech owns it now), including octobans 😁👍
Ended up buying a barely used new Superstar Classic 7-piece a couple of weeks ago - largely because I remembered you saying what a bargain they are. My new #1 gigging kit.
Those high toms on the classic are amazinggggg
Looove the sound of the higher toms on the classic
I LOVE my superstar classic. My first drum kit.
To me the new kit sounds cleaner, more like you hear on modern recordings, but the old kit has more character. They both sound great, but I'd go with the vintage 🤟
That 8x12 is absolutely perfect bro!
The vintage kit sounds tighter all around. That surprised me a little. Owned one for over 30 years and loved it. Only sold it because I don't have space for two kits!
kick sounds massive in this video. great job!
You can get large Toms for the Superstar Classic. I bought a used 7 pc Classic kit in Blackburst. First thing to go was the Snare. Just couldn't get it to sound right. Now using an LM-402. Found a used 14 in Rack tom and have added a 13 Rack and 18 floor to the kit. Now I'm using the 12,14,16,18 toms. Sounds great.
Cool video Dave thanks 👍
I own both kits and recently hauled the originals out to do a rock show for some friends because the new classics have a logo head from my primary band.
No comparison in room volume and presence, the vintage kit sounds amazing. Classics are mic’d 100% of the time, original kit was kick only.
Great to hear them both tuned well and eq’d nicely for your video.
Well done 🤟😎👍
Nevermind the finish, more toms always wins for me 😂 and throw in the 18" from the other kit for good measure.
3 floor toms? 😮 yup that would be cool
I used to think this but then I tried carrying a 7 piece kit around.
@@Mickey-hf4bq 😂 there's that.... I would if I had the appropriate gig, ( or I'd take a 4 or 5 piece with rototoms ), but the few gigs I've done in the last few years were on small kits, and that's more for spacial limitations, than ease of setup and teardown. My main gig and kit is at church, though, so it's a pretty big kit 😂 lots of cymbals, too. It's tightly packed together, because I still have fairly limited space for other band members, but it's a well populated kit, and it doesn't go anywhere. I have traveling drums if I need them.
@@Mickey-hf4bq 🥵
Awesome comparison video! I'd love to see you build your own double bass pedal.
Bro the kicks sound so good
It’s hard to say which is “better”. I’d personally consider these as two different kits given the size, material and shell thickness difference. In a studio, i’d use them in different applications. Great kits!
Amazing video! Love me some tama drums! I’ve got an old rockstar!
I actually play the Tama 7 piece kit at my church and I think they sound great !!! Great video by the way !! 👍😎
The vintage one, definitely, but with the haircut at 7:41 💇🏻♂️👍🏻 BTW, great comparison vid, you guys rock 🤘🏻
You well educated me David, but like the Classic Look! Thanks.
Vintage kit but both bass drums sounds amazing!
my All birch Starclassics came with 10" and 12" rack toms, 14" hanging "floor tom" and 22 kick, but i felt the same about it, so i moved the 10" tom to the hanging mount and the 14" to the bass drum tom holders, and picked up some 16" and 18" floor toms, i love the sound of my kit now
I have a 70's superstar and it's awesome!
I’m biased. The first quality set I purchased new was in ‘85, a Tama Superstar in Supermaple finish, Xtra series toms, 11x12”, 12x13”,16”x16, 16”x18”, 16”x22”, 6 1/2”x 14” Powerline Snare. So Consequently, I’ve been a fan of birch shells for the last 37 years. When Tama released the vintage Superstar series I was bummed to say the least, the fact that the shells weren’t birch rendered them useless in my opinion…after watching this video, I’d say there is definitely a place for these drums, but I still feel Tama sullied the Superstar line with this and the prior Superstar releases. They should have retired the series when they started pushing the Granstar line in the mid to late 80’s. Great comparison video, I really enjoy your content 🤘🏻
Both! I have a Tama Starclassic B/B Exotix for my modern sounds, and a 1967 Ludwig super classic for the vintage tones. Each have a time and place.
Man, I came across a Vintage 9-piece double bass yrs ago when I was playing and man, those things would punch! It handled even the loudest guitar play without miking the drums
Classic, easy to tune and change sound, plus with 5 toms you can mix it up
Like the look of the vintage, sound of the Superstar Classic kick, sound of the vintage toms.
Great video! Both kits sound excellent. I prefer vintage drums because I am old. Thanks for the demonstration.
The vintage look and sizes would be my choice. Had an Artstar II back in the day that was incredible. Tama fan. Although haven’t had a Tama kit since. Great channel btw. Thank you.
One of the best intros
I like the vintage as I play one up two down but it’s so much fun to play big kits once in awhile specially when shedding. With that said they both sound great. Starts with great tuning so as with the video of redoing the kids kit you can make anything sound good
both tama kits and both sound dope!!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
I liked them both. Impossible to choose one as "better" for me. I have a few kits, and while I love my self built, undersized, punchy maple kit, when I switch over to my oversized Tama ES, I feel like the God of thunder. Great job recording, btw. It all sounded so good!
I've been waiting for this video for so long ever since you posted it on Instagram story.
I love both. The Suerstar looks and sounds great, but that 7 piece classic is amazing. Wish it was on loan to me.
To honest, the Superstar Classics sounds much better than I thought it would. I expected it to be more thin sounding. They sound really good BUT...The vintage Superstar has the “IT” factor. It’s got “it”. Love those big thunderous drums! Yet they can be tuned up to bop levels and sound good. Elvin played them! But their real strength is low end. Great vid!
Social distancing is easy for drummers, the only people that want to hangout with us are other drummers.
This was a great comparison video really liked a lot, both kits are great I probably favor the newer Superstars with the maple shells and would love them in a blue color. They are a good value. I do like the natural color and thickness of the birch shells
Also gretsch catalina maples
Floor toms are 14x14 and 16x16
Which I think sound better than the newer Tama floor toms.
I recently bought an 80's 6 piece Arstar. Sounds better then 2 DW kits I have owned.
i personally like the 22x18 bass drum size and tone better than a 14" depth. But now that i myself has gotten my first 18" floor tom I love the bigger bolder sizes. But I'm also caught in a tough choise because I LOVE a good 7 piece. I love how much more you can do from high to low. But I do like the more natural look vs the burst.
After having short floor toms (14X12 and 16X14), I see the benefit of a more controlled floor tom sound. Thanks for the video.
Both sound great, but as you said; for different uses. I would choose the vintage in a heartbeat
Finally, rdavidr with more tom-toms
The SS classics sound really, really good. For me it was between that and a Catalina Maple. I like a 3-up 2-down setup, and you can score them for right around 1K. The CM is an amazing kit for the price; I couldn't be happier!
I bought the classic. I like the extra toms - warm and punchy . No regrets!
Thanks for the inspiration. Think I'll set up my drum kit this week 😁
It should be noted you can get the Superstar Classics in bigger sizes than come in the 7pc pack. They have a 24" bd and a 18" floor, plus more tom choices.
Extra toms alwayssss. The crack of an 8 inch tom always makes me grin
Love my birch 2007 Superstar with 10',12',13',16',22' sizes. I can do just about anything on them.
The vintage looks amazing, but I do prefer the sound of the Superstar Classic.
I've been getting into a lot of Liberty DeVitto's playing recently, especially on Billy Joel's Turnstiles album, so I'd have to go with the 7-piece SC. How he uses his racks for melodic fills on that album just speaks to my soul. Not the typical 16ths down the toms fills. Check out his playing on Prelude/Angry Young Man. Very reminiscent of Behind The Lines by Genesis, and it came out 4 years before.
Love the tama superstar classic...its literally my kit
I have a Tama superstar classic 7 piece. I picked it up off Facebook market place for $250. The owner no longer played it and was in the process of moving. I got a set of zildjian classic A cymbals and several cymbal stands and a iron cobra double bass and a iron cobra hi hat stand. After cleaning and new heads I still cannot believe I got all that for $250. You just never know what you’ll find out there.
I've played Tama drums since 1980. Owned several sets, all Japanese-made vintage units. My understanding was Artstars were birch ply shells covered in cordia (similar to today's bubinga sets.) Superstars were maple ply with maple exteriors. The Artstars shined (focused & tight) in the studio, where Superstars were best (brighter & louder) in live situations. Neil Peart's iconic Superstar set being a great example. To me: The Artstars "sound better" from BEHIND the kit. Is that true out front? I doubt the average squirrel has a clue there is a difference...just my opinion. A good soundman can make absolute junk sound amazing nowadays...that wasn't always true. I love that you have a passion for these drums! I bonded with Tama over 40-years ago, and still think they were the best ever made.
Overall, it's got to be the vintage, but I love the finish on the classic. I usually like big drums too, but that small tom on the classic is a really killer sound.
I like them both! that 8" tom has some pop
Well let’s see. With the superstar, I’ve always wanted a kit like that with a 22x14 bass drum and an 18” floor that I would surely never use idk, but now that I’m playing more pop, reggaetón and trap, I would live to have the superstarclassics to have all those sounds, even though I don’t like the color... and also as you said, I don’t like how both floor toms could sound the same when tuned, that’s when I would rather have the 14” and 16” floor toms!
Tune the 18 to where you want it and then tune the rest up from there. At least that's what I do.
On Tama's website, you can order an 18x16 for this series.
That gd snare on the vintage kit though. 😩👌
before seeing the video i had not thought about that much difference! The more i hear modern drums of this age, i prefer the classic ones! The vintage on just sound perfekt and more harmonic to me...the newer are more hifi! Its a bit like digital vs. analog to me. Perfect comparison!
Vintage snare is crisp and I prefer that bass drum size, in fact I handcut my Mapex Mpro BD down from 22 by 18 to 22by14 for a punchier sound.Also easier to carry from gig to car to practice room without getting stuck in doorways...bonus space saver and backsaver!