Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. What you're looking at is a faithful reimagining of a rare Vox/Trixon kit from the mid- to late-'60s. The Telstar's iconic "flat tire" chambered bass drum was originally designed to support two pedals at once, allowing players to achieve distinct bass drum tones just by adjusting their playing position. But as time went on and the Telstar fell out of fashion, this kit has gone down as a real rarity among vintage enthusiasts. Fortunately, the good folks at Vox and Sakae have resurrected these curious kits for today's drummers to play and behold. The 2020 Vox Telstar remains relatively faithful to the original with a few exceptions. First and foremost, the birch bass drum is now a non-chambered design, so you get the full resonance of its oblong shape. Next are the revitalized Silver Croco wrapped shell finishes and heritage Vox Ampliphonic badges. Just like the classic, the Vox Telstar supports a high tom and ride cymbal directly from the bass drum. But unlike the original, the snare now sits in an included flat-base stand — which is good news, since the snare arms on these vintage kits were notorious for failing. The Vox Telstar includes a full set of flat-base retro hardware (kick pedal, hi-hat stand, snare stand, and tom and cymbal arms) and Remo USA coated heads for improved performance.
A bass only a mother could love
It's quirky, all right. But the Vox Telstar/Speedfire's chambered oval bass drum gave players of the '60s and '70s — including Dave Holly of Bill Haley and the Comets — a way to shape their tone just by sliding their pedals. Moving to the left produced a tighter sound. Sliding to the right supplied a fuller, woolier resonance. Sakae and Vox's craftsmanship really bring this design into the modern fray. Its quality tonewood shells (birch kick, alder toms and snare) gives the Telstar a rich, competent tone for live performance and session work — made all the richer thanks to the kick drum's non-chambered design. This rare Vox/Trixon lineup has found a niche audience among such high-profile collectors as producer Sylvia Massy and vintage authority Steve Maxwell. And thanks to the Vox Telstar's re-introduction, even more players can enjoy this abstract piece of drum history — but only for a limited time.
Reimagined wraps, badges, and lugs
Today's Telstar looks certifiably smashing in its modern Silver Croco shell wraps with heritage Vox Ampliphonic badges. Modernized lugs, as well, give the Telstar a more uniform look and tune than could ever be achieved on the classic kits.
Ready to bop with Vox hardware
What are you going to do — outfit your vintage Vox with the latest triple-braced touring hardware? Of course not! That's why your Telstar ships with a full outfit of lightweight and vibey flat-base hardware. Not only do they look great, but these stands and holders make loading in a setting up a breeze.
Vox Telstar 4-piece Drum Set with Hardware Features:
- Inspired by the rare Vox Telstar (known internationally as the Trixon Speedfire)
- A favorite among vintage drum enthusiasts
- Brought to you by Vox and Sakae Osaka Heritage
- Quality hardwood shells breathe new life into this mid-/late-'60s kit
- Reimagined wraps, badges, and lugs bring this kit into the new millennium
- Non-chambered elliptical bass drum makes an impression on any stage
- Standard-sized toms and snare are easy to buy heads for
- Includes a full set of flat-base hardware: kick pedal, hi-hat stand, snare stand, and bass-mount tom and cymbal arms
- Outfitted with Remo USA coated heads
- Shell sizes (depth x diameter): 7.5" x 13" tom, 15.5" x 16" floor tom, 5" x 14" snare drum, 13" x 18+12" bass drum