1980's Tama Superstar Birch Snares

I started looking for these snares after I purchased my 1980's Tama Superstar drum set - birch shells with a mahogany finish. Still looking for a nice Mahogany finish, but I have managed to find a couple of nice maple finish snares (they also were produced in a cherry wine finish like the kits). These snares have a roller system for the extended snare wires, diecast hoops, and box style throwoffs. I have a 6.5X14 and an 8X14. Apparently these snares were also produced in a 5x14 but I haven't come across one of those yet.

The 6.5x14 I own has had the lugs replaced (original single lugs replaced with double lugs by a previous owner, and unfortunately extra holes drilled, after one of the original lugs cracked), so it's not a true collector's item, but it still sounds great of course. The 8x14 is in almost pristine condition. Here are some pictures of the 8X14. (Update - I sold the 6.5 x 14 in late 2011, still looking for a 6.5 x 14 in top condition).

Yamaha SD-493 Brass Snare

Yamaha made a line of brass snare drums from the late 1980's to the early 1990's that included this 3.5x14. It appears to be pretty closely related to their David Garibaldi snare (same dimensions, the Garibaldi has a nice blue finish). I like the throwoff/ butt plate system that allows use of snares that extend beyond the drum head. Super high quality. Apparently this drum was widely used by some big names (Weckl, Coliauta, Garibaldi, and others). When I bought the drum the original extended snare wires had been replaced with a standard length set, so I installed a set of extended length Pearl wires that work very well.

Yamaha Maple Custom Definitive

I haven't found out alot about this line of Yamaha drums. It appears they were only in production for a short time (2003-2006?), made of 6 ply Chinese maple, and designed for a "vintage sound". Apparently were the forerunner for the Tour Custom series. In any event, I'm quite happy with this 4x13 snare, typically excellent Yamaha shell, components, and construction.

Update - sold on EBay March 15, 2011

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52926

http://www.yamaha.ca/content/drum/products/drumsets/TOUR%20CUSTOM/keyfeatures.jsp

Two Ply Blue Topo

Another one from Tom Wells of Wells Custom Drums. This is a "prototype" two ply (maple cherry) that I love the sound of. Also very fond of the wrap, a "blue topo" I don't believe is available any longer (Precision Drum still carries a gold topo).

www.wellscustomdrums.com

Tama Lama Ding Dong ...

This is not about Tama's "Bell Brass" cast brass snares from the early 1990's, which command a HIGH price (out of my range at least). Tama also made a line of more affordable brass snares at the time. This, as far as I can determine from my research, is the PB-365 model from the early 1990's. I've seen them online occasionally with different lugs (that look like modified tube lugs, and also appear to have been on some of their Artstar snares) and different throwoffs. Unfortunately this one currently has one broken lug - the genius who shipped it to me packed it in too small a box, and when I unpacked it it looked like the lug had taken a direct hit in shipping that snapped off the posts going through the shell; I've had my eyes open for a similar lug but haven't found anything yet.

UPDATED - finally found some replacement lugs in mid 2012 (thanks to another member of DrumForum), and replaced the broken lug. These pictures have been updated too, post-replacement.