Tama Artwood 6.5”×14” Omni-Tune (Gladstone-Style) Snare Drum – Made in Japan – Late 1980s

Rare find! Up for sale is a late-1980s Tama Artwood 6.5”×14” snare drum featuring Tama’s legendary Omni-Tune 3-way tuning system — their faithful rendition of the classic Billy Gladstone tension rod design. Serial number 007746. Made in Japan.

Features

• Gladstone-style PAT30 3-way tuning lugs — tune the batter head, snare-side head, or both heads simultaneously, all from the top of the drum

• Maple shell with white lacquer finish

• 10-lug configuration for precise, even tuning

• Die-cast chrome hoops (original)

• Cam-lever throw-off (original)[reverb]

• Currently fitted with an Evans Genera Dry batter head

Condition

Drum is in excellent, like new playing condition. Shell and hardware show little wear. Chrome is clean with no major pitting or rust. All lugs and tension rods function properly. The three-way tuning mechanism works as intended.

Why This Drum Matters

Tama produced these Gladstone-inspired Artwood snares for only a brief window in the late 1980s, making them one of the most coveted vintage Tama snare drums ever made. The 3-way tuning system was directly inspired by Billy Gladstone’s 1937 patent — a design so revered that original Gladstone snares regularly sell for $20,000+. Tama’s version delivers that same innovative top-tuning functionality in a professional-grade Japanese-made instrument. These don’t come up often — don’t miss it.

Ships securely in double-boxed packaging. Message with any questions.