Has anyone else noticed that TAMA has been giving SC Performer B/B the "short end of the stick." By this I mean, have you noticed that Performer B/B has way less options than Maple and Bubinga.

Here's some negative differences:
-No Hoop colour options
-Not as many finishes
-No minimum contact
-No "Hold Tight" washers

Positive differences:
-Better looking tom holder
-Less expensive
-More shell pack combos

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TAMA, Sabian, Evans, Vater, HQ Percussion

Be inspired, not frustrated, by drummers that are better than you. Also, try to be as creative as possible. If you take lessons, use them to your advantage. Strive to be different in some aspects. Never let your ego get in the way of the song. You'll never be as good of a drummer that's in your head, and try to keep it that way. -Brann Dailor (Mastodon)

I think they should at least add the "Hold Tight" washers.

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TAMA, Sabian, Evans, Vater, HQ Percussion

Be inspired, not frustrated, by drummers that are better than you. Also, try to be as creative as possible. If you take lessons, use them to your advantage. Strive to be different in some aspects. Never let your ego get in the way of the song. You'll never be as good of a drummer that's in your head, and try to keep it that way. -Brann Dailor (Mastodon)

Obviously they want people to buy the pure bubinga or maple kits. I'm perfectly fine with my b/b's, I really like the dark stardust fade finish on them and have ordered a 4th tom. I don't plan on "upgrading" anytime soon.

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Tama Starclassic Performer B/B in Dark Stardust Fade
Bass - 22" x 18", Toms - 10" x 8", 12" x 9", Floor - 16" x 14", Snare - 14" x 6.5"
Cymbals - Meinl Byzance 20" Dark ride, Zildjian K Custom medium thin 16" dark crash, used Zildjian ZBT 18" china
Hardware - 2007 Iron Cobra Rolling Glide twin pedal, Roadpro hihat, snare, and boom stands

If you really wanted to, you can mix and match options on your Starclassic B/B from the Starclassic Maple and Starclassic Bubinga nameplates. Of course, you're going to have to pay extra and wait a little longer but Tama should be able to accommodate you and build to your specifications. For example, if you wanted a Starclassic B/B kit in the "LU Magnetic Orange" finish, they'll make it for you. You can even select some of the now-discontinued options (such as color), but keep in mind that it'll be subject to availability. When requesting an item off of a discontinued product line, Tama might have the piece leftover in their backstock, so they might not even have to craft a new piece. Pieces that must be crafted from scratch add a potential 4 to 6 weeks to the initial 12 week wait, plus a minimum price increase of 10% to the original cost. Customizing a special order is more feasible if you use current options but, as in most cases (and if you ask nicely), the good people at Tama will do what they can to help you out.

Check out the Japanese, German, and U.S. product lines from Tama. Between those three regions, you will have the complete option list for Tama Starclassic drums.

I see where you're coming from on the whole "projected cost VS. value" deal; it's just that some people out there are real sticklers for certain options and will dump an inflated amount into customizing a special ordered Starclassic Birch/Bubinga as opposed to picking up a stock Starclassic Maple or Starclassic Bubinga kit. Needless to say, it makes poor financial sense but it does leave you with that warm 'n' fuzzy feeling in knowing that your drums were made special, just for you.

I almost went that route, but I didn't have the patience to wait 6 months for my drumkit to arrive in The States. I'm seriously considering ordering a custom-made Tama Starclassic Super G snare drum, though.

Tama will match older finishes but if anybody wants that done you have to send in a tom for clor matching purposes. As far as custom sizes go .... Ehh....... they've only bent on making six inch toms for a few guys bubinga kits on here. But other than that nope.

Perhaps, I should've been more clear. The customizing of Tama Starclassic drums is limited to only what's currently available through the assembly plant. Basically, that means Hoshino can "Frankenstein" bits and pieces together for customers but they won't do anything else outside of the catalog. The general public is able to special order preferred sizes that are listed in the current annual Hoshino dealer priceguide. Featured Starclassic shell finishes are swappable throughout all three nameplates, though some are subject to factory availability (IE: Limited Edition colors, discontinued EFX wraps, and prototype finishes are off-limits). Most of the older and discontinued colors can be replicated for new or add-on drums however, some finishes that have been reclassified to the Superstar Custom series are now unavailable. Shell hardware color choices, for the most part, are interchangeable but the OmniTune lugs are proprietary to the Starclassic Bubinga series only.

I could be mistaken, but there is/was an unadvertised option to select powdercoated shell hardware. This was made possible by an outside contractor for an additional cost, but Tama might've recently delegated that to an "Artist Only" option. It was available when I asked about it a few years back.

Some of the restrictions can be lifted for major retailers (namely, the "big two") and specialized drum shops because Hoshino tends to prioritize them over the smaller independent outlets. With that said, they absolutely will not create or design anything that might drastically modify the Tama Starclassic brand identity (tonewood type, number of plies used, bearing edge angles, etc.), regardless of who's asking.

Personally, I think that the Tama Starclassic Performer B/B is nicely equipped as-is. This is just my opinion, but the "Hold Tight" washers seem a bit insignificant when compared to the rest of the stock options like the MTH909 telescopic/sliding tom holder, a non-penetrative tom mount for the bass drum shell, and--above all else--that birch/bubinga hybrid shell. Plus, a box of nylon LugLocks work just as fine as the "Hold TIghts" and are a lot cheaper in the long run. In terms of the other Starclassic features, I feel as though they might prove to be either ineffective or irrelevant if applied to the Starclassic Performer B/B. The maple "Sound Focus" reinforcement hoops are probably best suited for the all-maple shells and the "OmniTune" lug system would be non-applicable for most drummers who use separate batter and resonant tunings.

In the end, I think that if drummers really wanted a whole bunch of other options that just aren't available in any of Tama's three Starclassic lines, they'd be playing something else. In my case, my Tama Starclassic Performer B/B is the ideal drumkit. I play Heavy Metal. I need BIG VOLUME and I prefer my sound to have an equal balance of sharp attack and bottom-end boom; something that'll keep up with the bite of the Bell Brass or the 3mm LU1465DP steel slab. I need a drumkit that not only looks and sounds good, but one that's tough enough to still be able to sing out while absorbing a fairly thick dose of punishment. When it came time to shop around and find a replacement for my long lost Artstar II Custom, I sat behind and tested my share of the heavies: Pearl Reference, Yamaha Oak Custom, DW Collector's Series, etc. They all had certain tone and visual aspects that I liked, but only my Tama Starclassic Performer B/B offered up the complete package. It's got killer looks, crisp sound, superheavyweight volume, and rock-solid resilience. If I think of anything else I might want, I can always place a special order and have it built. These Starclassic shells, by far, are the best drums that I've ever played. I won't consider anything else!

WIth that said, I think it's safe to say that we all agree on one thing: MORE COLORS! Which finish options would you like to see either reintroduced, created, or cancelled?

Here's what I'd like to see:
*Unify the Starclassic Performer, Performer B/B, Maple, Bubinga, and Bubinga Elite lacquer finish selections onto a single global palette
*More variations in the "Sparkle Fade" lacquers (green/yellow/orange/purple/magenta sparkle to solid gloss black, color sparkle fading to silver sparkle, sparkleburst finishes, etc.)
*"Cherry Wine" and "Titanium Sliver" from Artstar Custom series
*Bird's Eye Maple veneer from the Artstar II series
*Super Mahogany" from the Superstar series
*"Lipstick Red" from the Granstar Custom series
*"Walnut" from the Starclassic Performer series
*"Crimson Fade" and "Violet Shade" from the Starclassic Maple series
*Holographic sparkle behind translucent black clearcoat
*"White Diamond" metallic white, a General Motors automotive finish
*"Granite Metallic", a dark gunmetal or metallic black General Motors automotive finish
*Basic solid and translucent colors: red, green, blue, yellow, etc.
*Satin oil and wax finishes
*Cancel "Astral Black Diamond" and "Astral White Diamond" EFX wrapped finishes
*Optional solid color bass drum hoops

Again, as great as these drums are, my only real complaint is the emaciated selection of finishes. Like the bit about the "Hold Tight" washers, it's a petty issue and a tad nitpicky but it's still an issue, nevertheless. What's your take?

I've seen the "crystal blue burst" finish in person and it's an eye popper. Very nice set of drums and the B/B kits sound great. Post pictures when you get them.

Dennis

My biggest gripe is the tom holder on the Bass drum.

Make every B/B bass drum a virgin just as the Maples and Bubingas are.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that anyone would complain.

Simply include an add on tom holder for each rack tom....or no hardware like the other lines.

I don't like anything penetrating me....or my Bass drum shell.

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Tama/Zildjian/DrumWorkshop/Remo/Gibraltar