Identifying your modern TAMA Superstars

Disclosure: The following information comes from the old TAMA.com forums, which are no longer online. I did not write or compile this resource — that credit belongs to aje-drum. I saved a copy of the page several years ago while trying to identify a set of Tama Superstars that were formerly mine, pictured above (since sold).

Current from 2005 – 2015. Here is a breakdown by year of modern Superstars (2005 and on), as there have been numerous versions.

2005

Hybrid Birch/Basswood shell: 6-ply/6 mm toms & snare, 7-ply/7 mm bass. Innermost ply basswood for all versions; outermost ply basswood on Superstar Custom (SL) lacquered finishes.
Chrome shell hardware
Die-cast hoops
Accel depths — Tom 8×7, 10×8, 12×9, 13×10, 14×11, 16×13; Floor Tom 14×14, 16×16, 18×16; Bass 20×18, 22×18, 24×18; Snare 14×5½, 14×6½

Superstar Custom (SL)

6 lacquer finishes with chrome hardware:

Custom Amber Fade (CAF), Custom Titanium Fade (CTF), Custom Ocean Fade (COF), Custom Mahogany Fade (CMF), Custom Charcoal (CCC), Custom Blond (CBD)

Superstar EFX (SX)

4 Duracover wraps with chrome hardware:

Orange Satin Flame (OSF), White Satin Haze (WSH), Turquoise Satin Haze (TSH), Dark Blue Abalone (DBA)

Superstar (SK)

7 Unicolor wraps with chrome hardware:

Bronze Mist Metallic (BMM), Vintage Blue (VTB), Vintage Red (VTR), Midnight Blue (MNB), Gun Metal Metallic (GMM), Sugar White (SGW), Black (BK)

2006

No catalogue.

Superstar EFX (SX) — Limited Edition (Australia only)

Snow White Pearl (SWP) Duracover wrap in specific configuration:

Tom 13×10; Floor Toms 16×16, 18×16; Bass Drum 24×18 without mount; Snare 14×6½ — 40 kits

2007

Unchanged except for some finish updates.

Superstar Custom (SL)

6 lacquer finishes with chrome hardware:

[NEW] Blue Metallic Fade (BMF), [NEW] Custom Scarlet Fade (CSF), Custom Amber Fade (CAF), Custom Titanium Fade (CTF), Custom Ocean Fade (COF), Custom Charcoal (CCC)
[LOSE] CMF, CBD

Superstar EFX (SX)

5 Duracover wraps with chrome hardware:

[NEW] Vintage Nickel Sparkle (VNS), Orange Satin Flame (OSF), White Satin Haze (WSH), Turquoise Satin Haze (TSH), Dark Blue Abalone (DBA)

Superstar (SK)

5 Unicolor wraps with chrome hardware:

[NEW] Brushed Metallic Black (BMB), Brushed Vintage Blue (BVB), Copper Mist Metallic (CMM), Midnight Blue (MNB), Sugar White (SGW)
[LOSE] BMM, VTB, VTR, GMM, BK

2008

Hyperdrive shell depths introduced; previous depths and sizes discontinued.

Hyperdrive drums feature Black Nickel shell hardware and virgin bass drums
Shell layup the same as previous
Hyperdrive depths — Tom 8×6, 10×6½, 12×7, 13×7½, 14×8; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14, 18×16; Bass 22×18, 22×20, 24×18; Snares 13×6, 14×5½, 14×6½

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SL)

6 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: Dark Desert Burst (DDB), Gray Pewter (GP), Blue Metallic Fade (BMF), Custom Scarlet Fade (CSF), Custom Amber Fade (CAF), Custom Titanium Fade (CTF)

Superstar EFX Hyperdrive (SX)

4 Duracover wraps with black nickel hardware: Liquid Metal (LQM), Turquoise Satin Haze (TSH), Vintage Nickel Sparkle (VNS), Dark Blue Abalone (DBA)

Superstar Hyperdrive (SK)

6 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: Brushed Burgundy Metallic (BBM), Brushed Metallic Black (BMB), Brushed Vintage Blue (BVB), Copper Mist Metallic (CMM), Vintage Red (VTR), Sugar White (SGW)

2009

Existing Hyperdrive series unchanged apart from finish updates. Accel-Driver sub-series introduced, bringing back some original sizes. Black Nickel hardware only.

Accel-Driver sizes — Tom 8×7, 10×8, 12×9, 10×13 (no 14); Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14, 18×16; Bass 22×18; Snares 13×6, 14×5½, 14×6½

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SL)

5 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Gold Platinum Fade (GPF), [NEW] Satin Cherry Burst (SCB), Dark Desert Burst (DDB), Gray Pewter (GP), Custom Scarlet Fade (CSF) — [LOSE] BMF, CAF, CTF

Superstar Custom Accel-Driver (SL)

3 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: Satin Cherry Burst (SCY), Dark Desert Burst (DDB), Gray Pewter (GP)

Superstar EFX Hyperdrive (SX)

4 Duracover wraps with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Snow White Pearl (SWP), [NEW] Red Silk (RSK), Vintage Nickel Sparkle (VNS), Turquoise Satin Haze (TQS) — [LOSE] LQM, DBA

Superstar Hyperdrive (SK)

5 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: Brushed Burgundy Metallic (BBM), Sugar White (SGW), Brushed Metallic Black (BMB), Brushed Vintage Blue (BVB), Copper Mist Metallic (CMM) — [LOSE] VTR

Superstar Accel-Driver (SK)

3 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: Brushed Burgundy Metallic (BBM), Sugar White (SGW), Brushed Metallic Black (BMB)

2010

Shell layup changed to all birch with the same ply/thickness as the hybrid shell
All birch shells carry a sticker inside stating so; previous stickers did not mention wood type. Stickers can fall off, but basswood interiors of the old shell were almost devoid of timber grain, while grain is clearly present in birch shells
Accel-Driver name dropped, but all Accel sizes from pre-Hyperdrive drums are back
Hyperdrive has Black Nickel hardware; Accel has chrome

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SL)

5 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Midnight Spectrum (MNS), Satin Cherry Burst (SCY), [NEW] Dark Mocha Fade (DMF), Gray Pewter (GP), Custom Titanium Fade (CTF), Custom Scarlet Fade (CSF) — [LOSE] GPF, DDB

Superstar Custom (SL)

5 lacquer finishes with chrome hardware: Midnight Spectrum (MNS), Satin Cherry Burst (SCY), Dark Mocha Fade (DMF), Gray Pewter (GP), Custom Titanium Fade (CTF), Custom Scarlet Fade (CSF)

Superstar EFX Hyperdrive (SX)

4 Duracover wraps with black nickel hardware: Snow White Pearl (SWP), Red Silk (RSK), Turquoise Satin Haze (TSH), [NEW] Mirror Chrome (MRC) — [LOSE] VNS

Superstar EFX (SX)

4 Duracover wraps with chrome hardware: Snow White Pearl (SWP), Red Silk (RSK), Turquoise Satin Haze (TSH), Mirror Chrome (MRC)

Superstar Hyperdrive (SK)

5 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: Brushed Burgundy Metallic (BBM), Brushed Metallic Black (BMB), [NEW] Brushed Platinum Gray (BPG), Black (BK), Sugar White (SGW) — [LOSE] BVB, CMM

Superstar (SK)

5 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: Brushed Burgundy Metallic (BBM), Brushed Metallic Black (BMB), Brushed Platinum Gray (BPG), Black (BK), Sugar White (SGW)

2011

Accel depths culled again, leaving Hyperdrives as the only option. EFX finishes dropped.

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SL)

5 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Copper Mist Burst (CMB), Midnight Spectrum (MNS), Satin Cherry Burst (SCY), Dark Mocha Fade (DMF), Gray Pewter (GP) — [LOSE] CTF, CSF

Superstar Hyperdrive (SK)

3 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Red Chameleon Sparkle (RCS), Black (BK), Sugar White (SGW) — [LOSE] BBM, BMB, BPG

2012

Bass drum shell up to 8 mm/7-ply from previous 7 mm/7-ply; toms/snare shell unchanged

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SL) — Limited Edition

Red Banded Matte Black (RMB) and Brown Banded Matte White (BMW) with black nickel hardware in SL62HZBNS configuration: Tom 10×6½, 12×7; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14; Bass 22×18; Snare 14×5½

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SL)

4 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Blue Titanium Satin Burst (BTS), [NEW] Red Titanium Burst (RTB), Copper Mist Burst (CMB), Dark Mocha Fade (DMF) — [LOSE] MNS, SCY, GP

Superstar Hyperdrive (SK)

3 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Titanium Silver Metallic (TSM), Red Chameleon Sparkle (RCS), Sugar White (SGW) — [LOSE] BK

2013

Revised finishes only.

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SL) — Limited Edition

Exotic Brown Burst (EBB) with black nickel hardware in SL62HZBNS configuration: Tom 10×6½, 12×7; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14; Bass 22×18; Snare 14×5½

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SL)

4 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Flat Black (FBK), Blue Titanium Satin Burst (BTS), Red Titanium Burst (RTB), Dark Mocha Fade (DMF) — [LOSE] CMB

Superstar Hyperdrive (SK)

4 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Indigo Sparkle (ISP), Titanium Silver Metallic (TSM), Red Chameleon Sparkle (RCS), Sugar White (SGW)

2014

Revised finishes only.

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SO) — Limited Edition Oak

Limited Edition Oak finishes in specific 6-piece SO62HZBNS configuration: Tom 10×6½, 12×7; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14; Bass 22×18; Snare 14×5½

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SL)

6 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Bright Orange Metallic (BOM), [NEW] Transparent Black Fade (TBF), [NEW] Snow White Burst (SWB), Flat Black (FBK), Blue Titanium Satin Burst (BTS), Dark Mocha Fade (DMF), Satin Cherry Burst (SCY) — [LOSE] RTB

Superstar Custom Hyperdrive (SO) — Limited Edition Oak outer veneer

3 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: Red Rose Oak (RRO), Transparent Black Oak (TBO), Natural Amber Oak (NAO)

Superstar Hyperdrive (SK)

6 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: [NEW] Brushed Charcoal Black (BCB), [NEW] Galaxy Silver (GXS), Indigo Sparkle (ISP), Red Chameleon Sparkle (RCS), Sugar White (SGW) — [LOSE] TSM

2015

New Maple shell: 6-ply/5 mm tom/snare, 8-ply/7 mm bass
Two versions: Superstar Classic Maple (North America) and Superstar Hyperdrive Maple (everywhere else, and some US chains as an exclusive limited edition — to be confirmed)

Superstar Classic Maple

Chrome hardware, triple-flanged hoops, Star Mount system (from Silverstar), low-mass lugs modelled on the original (70s/80s) Superstar lug, Big T badges (like vintage Superstar)
Tom 8×7, 10×8, 12×9, 13×10, 14×11; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14, 18×16; Bass 22×18; Snare 14×5, 14×6½

Superstar Hyperdrive Maple

Black Nickel hardware, die-cast hoops, version 2 Star Cast mounts (from 2006–14 Starclassic), new badge (same design as previous) reading TAMA SUPERSTAR HYPER-DRIVE at the top and MAPLE SHELL at the bottom
Tom 8×6, 10×6½, 12×7, 13×7½, 14×8; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14, 18×16; Bass 22×18, 22×20, 24×18; Snares 13×6, 14×5½, 14×6½

Superstar Hyperdrive Maple (ML) — Limited Edition

Limited Edition Lacebark Pine finishes in specific 6-piece ML62HZBNSP configuration: Tom 10×6½, 12×7; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14; Bass 22×18; Snare 14×5½

Superstar Classic Maple (CK) — Limited Edition

Limited Edition 26″ Bass Drum Traditional Rock Kit in specific CK426RZS configuration: Tom 13×9; Floor Tom 16×16, 18×16; Bass 26×14 without tom holder base

Finishes (2015)

Superstar Classic Maple (CL) — 4 lacquer finishes with chrome hardware: Classic Cherry Wine (CCW), Silver Snow Metallic (SVM), Mahogany Burst (MHB), Transparent Black Burst (TPB)
Superstar Hyperdrive Maple (ML) — 6 lacquer finishes with black nickel hardware: Vintage Blue Metallic (VBM), Dark Mocha Fade (DMF), Satin Cherry Burst (SCY), Bright Orange Metallic (BOM), Flat Black (FBK), Transparent Black Fade
Superstar Classic Maple (CK) — 5 Unicolor wraps with chrome hardware: Midnight Gold Sparkle (MGD), Galaxy Silver (GXS), Brushed Charcoal Black (BCB), Indigo Sparkle (ISP), Bright Orange Sparkle (BOS)
Superstar Hyperdrive Maple (MK) — 6 Unicolor wraps with black nickel hardware: Midnight Gold Sparkle (MGD), Red Chameleon Sparkle (RCS), Titanium Silver Metallic (TSM), Brushed Charcoal Black (BCB), Sugar White (SGW), Indigo Sparkle (ISP)

Major Features Summary by Year

2005–07

Hybrid shell
Chrome hardware
Accel sizes — Tom 8×7, 10×8, 12×9, 13×10, 14×11, 16×13; Floor Tom 14×14, 16×16, 18×16; Bass 20×18, 22×18, 24×18; Snare 14×5½, 14×6½

2008–09

Hybrid shell
Black Nickel hardware
Hyperdrive sizes — Tom 8×6, 10×6½, 12×7, 13×7½, 14×8; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14, 18×16; Bass 22×18, 22×20, 24×18; Snares 13×6, 14×5½, 14×6½

2009 — Accel-Driver

Hybrid shell
Black Nickel hardware
Accel-Driver sizes — Tom 8×7, 10×8, 12×9, 13×10; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14, 18×16; Bass 22×18; Snares 13×6, 14×5½, 14×6½

2010–14

All Birch shell
Black Nickel hardware
Hyperdrive sizes — Tom 8×6, 10×6½, 12×7, 13×7½, 14×8; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14, 18×16; Bass 22×18, 22×20, 24×18; Snares 13×6, 14×5½, 14×6½

2010 — Accel (chrome hardware)

All Birch shell
Chrome hardware
Accel sizes — Tom 8×7, 10×8, 12×9, 13×10, 14×11, 16×13; Floor Tom 14×14, 16×16, 18×16; Bass 20×18, 22×18, 24×18; Snare 14×5½, 14×6½

2015 — Superstar Classic Maple

All Maple shell
Chrome hardware
Tom 8×7, 10×8, 12×9, 13×10, 14×11; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14, 18×16; Bass 22×18, 26×14 (Ltd Ed only); Snare 14×5, 14×6½

2015 — Superstar Hyperdrive Maple

All Maple shell
Black Nickel hardware
Tom 8×6, 10×6½, 12×7, 13×7½, 14×8; Floor Tom 14×12, 16×14, 18×16; Bass 22×18, 22×20, 24×18; Snares 13×6, 14×5½, 14×6½

Years by Finishes (all years inclusive)

Lacquer — Superstar Custom (Hybrid and Birch) SL, Superstar Classic Maple CL, Superstar Hyperdrive Maple ML

Custom Amber Fade (CAF) — 2005–08
Custom Titanium Fade (CTF) — 2005–08, 2010
Custom Ocean Fade (COF) — 2005–07
Custom Mahogany Fade (CMF) — 2005–06
Custom Charcoal (CCC) — 2005–07
Custom Blond (CBD) — 2005–06
Blue Metallic Fade (BMF) — 2007–08
Custom Scarlet Fade (CSF) — 2007–08, 2009 (HD), 2010
Dark Desert Burst (DDB) — 2008–09
Gray Pewter (GP) — 2008–11
Gold Platinum Fade (GPF) — 2009 (HD)
Satin Cherry Burst (SCY) — 2009–11, 2014–15
Midnight Spectrum (MNS) — 2010–11
Dark Mocha Fade (DMF) — 2010–15
Copper Mist Burst (CMB) — 2011–12
Blue Titanium Satin Burst (BTS) — 2012–14
Red Titanium Burst (RTB) — 2012–13
Red Banded Matte Black (RMB) — 2012 (Ltd Ed)
Brown Banded Matte White (BMW) — 2012 (Ltd Ed)
Flat Black (FTB) — 2013–15
Exotic Brown Burst (EBB) — 2013 (Ltd Ed)
Bright Orange Metallic (BOM) — 2014–15
Transparent Black Fade (TBF) — 2014–15
Snow White Burst (SWB) — 2014
Red Rose Oak (RRO) — 2014 (Ltd Ed SO)
Transparent Black Oak (TBO) — 2014 (Ltd Ed SO)
Natural Amber Oak (NAO) — 2014 (Ltd Ed SO)
Vintage Blue Metallic (VBM) — 2015
Classic Cherry Wine (CCW) — 2015
Silver Snow Metallic (SVM) — 2015
Mahogany Burst (MHB) — 2015
Indigo Lacebark Pine (ILP) — 2015 (Ltd Ed ML)
Red Lacebark Pine (RLP) — 2015 (Ltd Ed ML)
Black Lacebark Pine (BLP) — 2015 (Ltd Ed ML)

Duracover — Superstar EFX (Hybrid and Birch) SX

Orange Satin Flame (OSF) — 2005–07
White Satin Haze (WSH) — 2005–07
Turquoise Satin Haze (TSH) — 2005–08, 2009 (HD), 2010
Dark Blue Abalone (DBA) — 2005–08
Vintage Nickel Sparkle (VNS) — 2007–08, 2009 (HD)
Liquid Metal (LQM) — 2008
Snow White Pearl (SWP) — 2006 (Ltd Ed), 2009 (HD), 2010
Red Silk (RSK) — 2009 (HD), 2010
Mirror Chrome (MRC) — 2010

Unicolor — Superstar (Hybrid and Birch) SK, Superstar Classic Maple CK, Superstar Hyperdrive Maple MK

Bronze Mist Metallic (BMM) — 2005–06
Vintage Blue (VTB) — 2005–06
Vintage Red (VTR) — 2005–06, 2008
Midnight Blue (MNB) — 2005–08
Gun Metal Metallic (GMM) — 2005–06
Sugar White (SGW) — 2005–15
Black (BK) — 2005–06, 2010–11
Brushed Metallic Black (BMB) — 2007–10
Brushed Vintage Blue (BVB) — 2007–08, 2009 (HD)
Copper Mist Metallic (CMM) — 2007–08, 2009 (HD)
Brushed Burgundy Metallic (BBM) — 2008–10
Brushed Platinum Gray (BPG) — 2010
Red Chameleon Sparkle (RCS) — 2011–15
Titanium Silver Metallic (TSM) — 2012–13, 2015
Indigo Sparkle (ISP) — 2013–15
Brushed Charcoal Black (BCB) — 2014–15
Galaxy Silver (GXS) — 2014–15
Midnight Gold Sparkle (MGD) — 2015
Bright Orange Sparkle (BOS) — 2015