Derek Brimstone's Tama is a special edition model built to commemorate the Bicentenary of the US in 1975 (?date, us limeys tend to elide the year of the secession from our memories!) It has elaborate inlays including the Great Seal of the US in MOP/abalone on the back. It is indeed a superb instrument, and rare withal.

I have only come across a couple of more run-of-the-mill Tamas, and these were close copies of Martin D28s, although I suspect the back and sides were laminate rather than solid.

$500-$600 sounds like a fair price, although if it is a special edition like Derek's - PM me!!

Alan