Tama Imperialstar vs. Ludwig Element Evolution Drum Set - In Depth Review

Head to head comparison of the Tama Imperialstar and Ludwig Element Evolution drum sets!

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[drumcenternh]

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[bobbobbyb]

I like both but I believe the Ludwig set gives a better total value and they sound great. The Tama drums also sound very good. I prefer Ludwig. Great comparison.

[ronaldzeoli]

PLEASE do more of these comparisons between different brands of drum sets at similar levels. THis is a great video, very helpful to drummers and the buying public

[abhimanyugarg]

The Ludwig sounds better to my ear, it’s snare is worlds ahead.

[ocotillodavid]

The Zildjian crash cymbal is also too clangy, but the ride sounds great. Ludwig’s drums have far better timbre.

[h.i.mcdunuogh]

Bought my first drumset in 1985. A Deep Ocean Blue Pearl Export kit. It sounded good with great drum heads and a good knowledge of tuning. These two sets would've been professional series kits in 1985. Amazing to see the progression in sound technology. I also think that Mapex has OUTSTANDING sounding kits for around $800.00.

[fearthechin]

I wish kits that sound this good were available when I bought my first "intermediate" kit in 1994!

[josephrushing]

The Ludwig had a much better sound all around to me.

[andyham]

Tama imperialstar. Best beginner drum kit hands down. Actually sounds like a mid level pro level kit when you hear it live with mics with a band.

[ehleroo]

Both totally respectable. I thought I would prefer the Imperialstar, because I still own and play one from the mid-2000s and love it. But I think I gotta go Ludwig on this one. Cymbals were much easier on the ears as well.

Crazy what you can get a quality drum set for these days. Thanks for the shootout.

[jostan]

I’ve got a Tama star kit now a lot more expensive. But I’ve owned both of these kits and my imperial star with the right heads and tuning they really do sound good. Better than my Ludwig’s did in my opinion. Tama for life !

[MyDyerMaker]

I expected the Tama to sound better than the Ludwig, but it didn't. The Element sounds more like a maple kit. The Tama's kick was a bit weak and muddy.

[JakeStaffin]

This video is exceptional, I'd love to see an update to this either with the newer versions of these kits and even comparisons with others such as the Pearl Export, Yamaha Rydeen, Mapex Venus, and others- either as shell packs alone, or complete kits.

[tmaddrummer]

Ludwig, Zildjian, and but either way for under $800, not bad! My first kit was a Beverly, and my second kit was the closest connection I ever had with Ringo, and how I'd love to still have both of those kits. In case anyone is wondering, the Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl 4 piece Super Classic kit with Zildjian cymbals and Ludwig hardware was about $430, and back around 1964-65, $400 was a heck of a lot of money, and how my Dad made it happen, thanks Dad for everything! Those words I never got to say to him while he was still Always great Drum videos from DCP! Thanks and Blessings!!! (I know it's already old, but so am I!!!)

[vivekteega]

This is how drum reviews should be. Great video guys!!

[JulianFernandez]

I use my Imperial kit for local gigs and I get comments on how good they sound all the time!

[abrahammazon]

I just bought a Ludwig Element Evolution drum set with one more floor tom, bigger than the other regular one...so with these two toms i can make more sounds and solos...definitely an excellent choice for any drummer...i am an advanced drummer and i prefer the ludwig kit... it is cheaper too!!!

[scottvelardo]

I’d agree with this review. (And, thanks for making it an actual review - lots of vids claim to be reviews and turn out to be merely announcements.)
I have to ask why drum companies seem so obsessed with this gigantic bass drum size. It’s unwieldy to carry, for anyone gigging. It doesn’t fit in a bedroom, for kids playing at home. It’s too big for many young players to set their toms above it, which leads to bad ergonomic choices, which leads to difficult technique development. There are 20” bass drums available in these series (and 18” in the Tama; I don’t know about the Ludwig), so one would think that, since these all-inclusive kits are most likely to be bought for beginners, that the manufacturers would emphasize the availability of smaller bass drums as a selling point. After all, if you’re 6’4”, you can still play a small drum if the music calls for it, but if you’re 4’5”, these big kits are near useless. That’s just diameter I’m talking about so far. As for depth, power toms make setup problems worse, and there is ZERO doubt (to me anyway) that 18” drums sound worse and are harder to play than 14”. You have to hit them harder to get them to speak, which is bound to be a problem for smaller players. They don’t behave as well with higher tunings, which renders them less versatile (a concern for drummers who can likely only afford to have one drumkit for school jazz band and weekend garage rock jams. And again, the 14” will take up a little less space onstage or in the bedroom. Young players don’t need an optional 8” tom (although that’s cool) but a 13” snare option — again for the benefit of the short-leggeds — would be a good idea. If these big drums are meant for adults on a budget, they’re perfect. But they are also (perhaps primarily) aimed at young beginners, so it would be wise to aim the options at their needs, and enthusiastically market them that way.

[zoradulaney]

This was really helpful! Personally, I think the Ludwig sounds better all around.

[bishlap]

as soon as he hit the Ludwig's I knew the winner.