Hi, pleased to meet you on the forum, and Happy Thanksgiving.

These kits are pretty scarce. There is all kinds of speculation about the shells, but the general consensus is that these are really fine drums.

This looks like a kit that was up for sale on eBay a while back, and I think is the final version (maybe just using up the lugs) of the post Camco kits.

Just off the top of my head, the timeline was something like this:

Camco / Hoshino Camco (USA) / Tama's (Royalstars) with Hoshino Camco lugs (like your pix) / Camco by Tama.

The last one listed were Rockstar's or one of Tama's budget kits.

As far as shell speculation goes, search this site, and the web for Hoshino Camco and you should find information on these as well.

Pix lifted from various sources on the web...

I remember the Royalstars bou not with round lug's though.

Those shells are very similar to my 82 Cherrywine Superstars-interior stain and all. I'm not a big fan of the tom mount/leg brackets with the screw directly tightening against the L-arm/leg. I remember those sets @ Thoroughbred Music in Tampa during the early 80's.BIG Tama dealership.

Like Fish said,there's some speculation as to what exactly those shells are.Royalstars were said to be 8 ply with a 6 plys of "straight grained" wwod,and 2 plys of sheena wood.

The hardware on those drums looks like the less expensive stull,Tama used on Royalstars and swingstars

Later Royalstars were 9 ply luan.Some believe that those drums,with those lugs,were made in the Bethsalem PA warehouse with Keller/Camco shells.There is zero evidence of this happening.Many believe if the shells are stained on the inside,that the're birch.

One more thing....the L arms on the tom holder are upside down.

Steve B

Thanks Steve.

Yeah I put them that way to try out a certain way of setting up the kit.. I run a Rack on my kit I play regularly.. I forgot to turn them back before I took pictures.. Ive been told they made very few of these drums kits and I have been pondering on buying them or not.. Kinda on the fence.. Guy that has them wants $500.00 bucks for them and I just want to see if they are worth that or should I pass on them.. I know it is what I wanna do as far as buying them but don't want to be killed in the process with my wallet either.. I've looked on web for these but nothing good enough to let me know anything about them.. Thanks a bunch also for the other replies everyone.. Happy Thanksgiving also..

Thanks..

Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.. :-) This set came from a friend of mine that owns a few vintage sets and wanted to sale this one.. He is wanting $500.00 for the set.. He is saying that these are rare. I just don't know and I looked up more info and still not sure lol.. Thanks again for your help and very happy to be here on the forum.. God Bless..

I dislike the word 'rare' in most instances. I prefer 'scarce'... probably just because of the odd way I think. However, I do agree that these are quite scarce.

I would think this version of Royalstars weren't luan. Like tamadrm, I've always heard these were birch. The Hoshino Camco's, the original drums to wear these lugs, were indeed made in the USA, at least that's what the badge says. These, I'm certain are Japanese. At least the badges I've seen attached to this incarnation all have the Tama "T" and are marked MIJ.

It sounds like you've had the opportunity to play these. If you have, and you like the way they sound, $500.00 bucks is kind of a deal in my opinion. I'd do it.

Welcome buddy! I like the $500.00, but I would love $450.00 even more...

I'm afraid I don't know much about these, but it wouldn't hurt to negotiate a little on the price... my :2Cents:

The diameter and depths are good,they look to be in good condition,they are uncommon,I think 500.00 is a good deal if you want them,anything under would be a great deal IMO.