Vox Telstar 2020 Drum Kit Shell Pack with Hardware
A faithful reimagining of a rare Vox and Trixon kit from the mid to late 1960s, built with Sakae. The oval flat tire bass drum is the reason this kit is remembered, and the 2020 version keeps the shape while improving what needed improving.
- Bass drum: birch, oblong flat tire shape, now non-chambered for full resonance
- Shells: birch kick, alder toms and snare
- Badges: heritage Vox Ampliphonic badges
- Mounting: high tom and ride cymbal are supported directly from the bass drum
- Snare: sits in an included flat-base stand rather than a bass drum arm
- Hardware: full set of flat-base retro hardware including kick pedal, hi-hat stand, snare stand, and tom and cymbal arms
- Heads: Remo USA coated
The original snare arms were notorious for failing, so moving the snare to its own stand is the most welcome of the changes.
Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. This is a faithful reimagining of a rare Vox and Trixon kit from the mid to late 1960s. The Telstar's iconic flat tire chambered bass drum is the reason the kit is remembered. As the Telstar fell out of fashion it became a genuine rarity among vintage enthusiasts, and Vox and Sakae have now brought it back for today's drummers.
What changed for 2020
The 2020 Telstar stays close to the original with a few deliberate exceptions. The birch bass drum is now a non-chambered design, so you get the full resonance of its oblong shape. The shell finishes return as revitalised wraps carrying heritage Vox Ampliphonic badges. As on the classic, the high tom and ride cymbal are supported directly from the bass drum. Unlike the original, the snare now sits in an included flat-base stand, which is good news given how often the snare arms on the vintage kits failed.
An unmistakable bass drum
It is quirky, and it was quirky on purpose. The chambered oval bass drum was a fixture for players of the 1960s and 1970s, including Dave Holly of Bill Haley and the Comets.
Shells and tone
Sakae and Vox craftsmanship brings the design into the modern era. The tonewood shells, a birch kick with alder toms and snare, give the Telstar a rich and capable voice for live performance and session work, made richer still by the non-chambered kick.
Hardware and heads
The kit ships with a full set of flat-base retro hardware covering the kick pedal, hi-hat stand, snare stand and the tom and cymbal arms. Remo USA coated heads are fitted for improved performance out of the box.
A piece of drum history
The rare Vox and Trixon lineup has long had a niche following among high profile collectors and vintage authorities. With the Telstar back in production, more players can own and actually use an unusual piece of drum history rather than admire it in photographs.