I have a set of tama imperial star . i have been told by few people who have been around for many years and have had different kits and one worked for a music store and said. they look just like they was from 1974. the kit deff shows some age. some broken lugs been replaced what i could find at music go round in a box with the same threads and width in lug mount screws. very hard to find parts for these that actually work. i have had a different set of imperial stars i got for parts. and they didnt work on the bass drum but did the toms.

their is a coating inside the drums which i was told was done at the factory and only during the early make of tama. little did i know when i got this kit. which i have had 8 yrs now. that 1974 was first year of tama. so i would like to know what i can look for and or find to see for sure if from 1974.

the coating in side would hide all stamps. and the serials from what tama said. they have now clue, and the gentleman i talked to on the phone had now idea for me to look for.

i have had other kits. at one time i had this kit and 3 other kits. 2 in packages still. and these drums sound better then the brand new rockstars out the box. with new heads of course. the way i explain the sound in these drums is like taking big rocks and throwing them into deep water. the thud that u head is the same these drums produce. i love the low wet end they have. i can tell by looking at what wood i can see is it is kinda dark. its not light colored like alot of 80's drums i seen. and 90's/ the wood dont look like its normal smooth craftsmanship. its kinda hard to explain i guess. the wood looks very old. and the craftsman ship looks like he wasnt using modern tools to make the drums. was some inperfections in the rims where head meets wood. and can tell this was done at the factory with a file.

i notice the coating on the inside is very thick. its hard to get screws as long as the factory screws. and as thick. i have had trouble finding new screws from percussion shops that fit. they are all to small. i end up digging through a parts bix. buying hand full of parts at a time mixed matched. my poor drums need help big time. they really show some age. i figured if i can get them identified as a true 1974 tama imperial star. im sure tama would like to know that one of their first kits are still floating around. lol when i got the drums they had wood rings for the bass drum. it was weak and couldnt take my tight feel i love. so i have mixed matched rings. the wood ones i done lost and or made to a fire. cause one was coming apart and it wasnt repairable. it was bad shape. very weak wood. wasnt meant to hold a super kick 2 with tight settings. all the wing nuts on the drums hardware is deff old. i like to know with them if thats how can identify. as i havent ever seen on any of the old drums i have seen. the wing nuts like these. they are kinda like the tama symbol. real big and wide and thick wings. and they are square not smooth wounded like other tama i have seen.

the bass drum feet. i use the spikes. i have the rubber ball. they are really really hard rubber. i dont use them cause bass drum runs away from me.

please and thanks for your time. sorry i wrote a book about my drums. i could keep going. i have had these drums in the studio about 5 different times. and self recorded hundreds. my pearls had same exact heads. and could never sound that good. even after i got rid of that peeeeeaarrrrllll sound. u know that darn ring that is near impossible to get rid of unless u spend 12$ on moon gel and 25$ on evans emad dampeners for the bottoms heads. yeah sorry pearl but u drove me nuts. lol i was in middle of a show and the pearls would lose tuning. like the lugs would turn i thought my set was cursed. these tama imperals. have had the same heads for the past 7 yrs. they dont have a ring. they have not lost the tight feel i love. i have hardly ever had to tighten them up. this is why i feel they are from 1974.

they dont build things like they used to. this set went though a basement floor. 14inches of water. bass drum was full of water. i drained basement took drums to garage not out in the sun. drained the water left the heads on tight. took towels to dry the inside of the drum. and that coating was a water barrier. no mildew no warp nothing went wrong with the drums. just ended up with some rusty hardware down the road. still today no warps.

i have played festivals in the rain with these drums. been in the back of a car in the hot sun on way to from at gigs. no warps. my pearls had cases and always pampered and they warped just from being to thin.

please thanks for time everyone.

guitar3