Gear / TAMA Superstar

Restoration

TAMA Superstar Restoration

A full teardown and refinish of an early-1980s TAMA Superstar — from worn lacquer and shell damage back to a deep red, gig-ready kit. Scroll the stages below or jump straight to each phase.

TAMA Superstar

Reference

Original catalog

The Superstar line as TAMA originally marketed it — 6-ply birch shells, multiple finishes, and the specs this kit was built to.

Vintage TAMA Superstar catalog spread showing kit configurations and finishes
Original TAMA Superstar catalog pages — the kit this restoration started from.

Before

Starting condition

How the kit looked when it arrived — worn lacquer, shell damage, and years of gig wear.

TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition TAMA Superstar — Starting condition

Restoration Process

The rebuild

Teardown, stripping, booth work, and getting the shells back to bare wood.

TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild TAMA Superstar — The rebuild

After

Finished kit

Repainted, rebuilt, and back on stage.

TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit TAMA Superstar — Finished kit