Its a birch shell snare drum, and that series was the series Billy Cobham helped design.

I have that same Tama 6.5 Rosewood drum..the serial# is 104714..so I'm not sure what that means. I bought this new in NYC at Sam Ash in the early 80's..it is the 1st lug older style.

I'm glad this thread has gotten started, because I have what I think is the same drum and have had some questions about it. I bought it off of eBay not too many years ago, and it's been my primary snare since then. The guy I bought it from had switched out the Tama throwoff and butt w/some Ludwigs; I can't say I regret it.

What I had gotten worried about, though, was whether it was really rosewood. I'd read somewhere that Tama had issued some snares in African Mahogany, and the color of this drum is much darker and less ... striated, i guess? than the rosewood on my old Sonor kit (and let's don't even mention how insane the grain is on newer Sonors). I took it with me to Memphis for a recording session a few weeks ago, though, and the guys at Memphis Drum Shop said it was indeed rosewood and that they remembered the model.

Pix below. You really have to catch the right angle to get the subtle color variations. These don't seem to go for anywhere near the price of the rosewood Superstars with the long lugs, but I sure love this drum.

really great looking drum, is that a muffler I see in the one pic?

Yep...thats definately rosewood..

I have the exact same drum..

It was my road snare for years..

And if anything..the darker stuff is more the real high end rosewood..

The type used on the neck of expensive guitars..

Dark and beautiful..

[IMG]http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm78/templsounds/TamaRosewood1981.jpg[/IMG]

Yep, it's the only muffler I've ever found really useful for a snare: Tama's One-Touch Tone Control. I generally like my drums wide open, but you can quickly get a useful sound for low-volume or acoustic sets with it.

I have one of these snares as well. It is my go to snare,has never let me down. Mine has the roller snare strainer making this snare extremely sensitive and crisp.

No one's really addressed the value of these, but I'd guess around $300, maybe a little more to the right buyer. Sound right?

I bought a 6.5x14 on the 'bay about a year ago for $400. Only missing piece is the muffler knob. The rolling strainer is intact. Love this snare!

-Eric