Some of the most attractive things about the vintage Japanese drums were the great wraps. One of the most original and desirable wraps is Star’s Pearl Fantasia. Also known as Fantasia Pearl, this wrap has the depth and reflectiveness of white pearl and the contrast of random black swirls on top. It’s believed that Star introduced the Pearl Fantasia in the late 60’s, but the first documentation was in Star’s 1972 catalog, with its last appearance being in Tama’s introductory catalog in 1974.
My snare drum is believed to be in that late 1960’s to 1971 era based on the combination of lug style and shell type. This drum arrived to me unbadged with over 20 extra holes drilled into it. The shell and wrap were repaired separately and the drum was completely restored.
The shell is a thick (0.34”) 9-ply Luan construct with the interior painted gray, and repainted by me in a very similar shade of gray.
The 8 lugs are Star’s “No. 923” which is a tribute or downright theft of the Sonor teardrop “T5B” lug. Star in 1972 modified the design adding a lip at the base of all their Sonor styled lugs. This is what makes this drum a pre-1972.
The strainer is Star’s “No. 940” “Super Strainer” which was cataloged from 1967-1972. It is a far more functional and stable strainer than the common “No. 930” strainer.
The butt is the “No. 941” “Fast-Tension Snare Bracket”, which is an adjustable butt that was usually paired with the Super Strainer.
The tone control is the “No. 939” “One-Touch Internal Tone Control”. This control allows a quick on and off with fine tuning. In the 1972 catalog it was listed as “patent pending” and was continued well into the Tama era drums.
The hoops are typical 1.6 mm Triple-Flange which first appeared in the 1965 catalog.
For heads I have a modern Coated Remo Ambassador on the batter side and on the snare side I have an Evans Snare Side 300 Level 360 head.
Overall the drum is very solid, has a reliable throw, is flexible in tone styles, and looks amazing. Some drums I keep because of their looks, or rarity, or stability, but this one checks all the boxes and gets plenty of use.
For more Pearl Fantasia drums George Lawrence wrote an article on his Lido Supreme kit: https://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/not-so-modern-drummer/2023/4/8/update-my-mij-lido-supreme-4-pc-jazz-kit-in-fantasia-pearl-project
For a Pearl Fantasia mug: https://www.teepublic.com/mug/46356590-fantasia-pearl-drum-wrap-mug-and-pin?store_id=2676683
Other drum merch: https://marc-patch.webadorsite.com/merch