I'm sorry you feel that way and hopefully I can help you out...I will need you to answer a few questions.

1 - When did you get your kit?

* 12/03/2011 Guitar Center, Naperville IL

2 - Are you the original owner?

* Yes

3 - Do you have a reciept?

* Yes

4 - When you say "Vent Rattle" do you mean the small ring vents being loose? The way to fix this is simple (if you are under warranty we can take care of this for you) but what you would do is,while making sure the vent is sitting on a hard surface, take a Ball bearing (or something hard and round) about the size of the vent, place it in the inside of the the ring (inside the drum) and tap it with a hammer, this will spread it out and secure it to the drum fixing the Rattle...Like I said it's simple but may not be something you feel comfortable doing yourself.

*I will attempt this fix but I'm a bit hesitant for fear of voiding the warranty. Thank you for the suggestion!

5 - About your Rack toms not staying in tune...what is the problem with the lugs? are they stripped...not placed correctly? do you have photos? I don't have a lot of info to go on with this one.

* The issue is simple and has been do--ented on this forum. I have at least one lug on my 10” and 12” tom that come lose at least once per week. I can hear the change in tune and normally see a wrinkle in the head pointing to the specific lug. I tension tune my heads (bottom and top) at 76 and 78 respectively. My kit has moved just once from its original placement in my practice room. This is my fourth kit in the past 15 years and the first with the issue (DW/Yamaha/Sonor). Do you have a solution for this issue?

Lead times for special order drums...This is highly advertised as the standard wait time for Tama add on drums. It is printed in every catalog and price list we have. I'm sorry if this seems like a long time but we did not try to mislead you in any way. The drums are made to order...Just for you and since this is done overseas, enough time needs to be accounted for to make sure the drums are constructed correctly.

* Your resellers do not advertise this policy for obvious reasons. Your competitors (mentioned above) do keep US stock on 8" and 14" toms in all finishes -- so this was a very disturbing surprise as noted.

If you are this unhappy with your kit (and are within your stores return period) I suggest you return it to the Authorized Tama Dealer you purchased it from.

if you are outside of the return period and within warranty, we can set you up with a return to us for repair.

also when posting on this forum please try not to post duplicate topics...your post will be answered in a timely manner and does not need to appear in several topics.

* If you can provide solutions to my issues I will retract all of my posts and report the specifics of Tama serving and resolving customer issues. I do like the sound of the kit and the finish is spectacular! I would prefer to leave positive posts regarding the benefits of Tama drums - I'm an active drummer and expect prompt solutions to do--ented problems. Guitar Center has provided no assistance and my email to Tama (via Website) has gone unanswered.


Hope this helps

Thanks

My 10 cents. My 6 month wait time for a add on Bubinga Elite 14" floor tom in QMB, was made VERY clear by my very experienced brick and mortar salesperson at a real drum shop. Not at GC or an online telephone order taker. A Family owned and operated legit "big time" player in the industry. Drummers are normally very resourceful and can figure out these issues without whining on a forum. Call me old fashioned, but I enjoyed waiting for my kit, I REALLY enjoyed seeing my sales persons face when he saw the QMB and nearly fainted. He said it made him think twice about that DW kit he waited 6-8 months for recently. At least our shells were 100% Bubinga all the way through....and the finish is art!! Peace

Ok, here goes more for the p(*&%sing match. This day and age of "I want it now" BS is sad. I've worked in custom shops for other products that can take up to 2 or 3 years to receive. Tama is a well thought out professional company that evolved and survives because of quality. Only Sonor, in my opinion can stand up to their level. I still own a 70's Maple Slingerland kit that was hand made in Chicago back in the day. Those wait times for custom or add on were similar to current TAMA. If you want it now, go buy McDonalds.
Why do we really have to wait 6 months? It's called INVENTORY management and efficiency. The Japanese are masters of efficiency. Why keep a warehouse with add on drums and wait for someone to order? That's rent, employees to "man" a warehouse, then close out sales at the end of the year that eat into profits if that color/model doesn't sell.
I'm sure your girlfriend keeps you waiting all the time!! It's usually worth the wait! Slow down your life, it goes too fast. Save your speed for the drums!!!

Tama needs more customers like you -- willing to wait an exorbitant period of time for one drum! Yamaha, DW, PDP and Sonor stock 8" and 14" toms in all popular finishes to meet the logical demand of their customers.