Tama Star Snare Drum Shootout - 10 Snares Tested!

The ultimate comparison of @TAMAofficial Star Series snare drums!

Links to purchase these snare drums:

Tama Star Bubinga Snare Drum 14x6.5 Dark Red Cordia

Tama Star Reserve Bubinga/Walnut Snare Drum 14x6.5

Tama Star Bubinga Snare Drum 14x5.5 Dark Red Cordia

Tama Star Maple Snare Drum 14x6.5 Gloss Sycamore

Tama Star Maple Snare Drum 14x5.5 Smoky Black

Tama Star Reserve Hand Hammered Copper Snare Drum 14x6.5

Tama Star Reserve Maple/Bubinga Snare Drum 15x8 Caramel Olive Ash Burst

Tama Star Solid Maple Reserve Snare Drum 14x5 Oiled Natural Maple

Tama Star Walnut Snare Drum 14x6.5 Red Burgundy

Tama Star Snare Drum Zebrawood 14x6

Drum kit in this video:

Tama Star Bubinga 4pc Drum Set Natural Indian Laurel

Hi hats in this video:

Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Hi Hat Cymbals 14"

Follow us on:

[phillamoore]

I've come back to watch this again, after what must of been at least 2-3yrs, and I'm just stunned at how good all of these drums sound. I'd be proud to own any one of these. Tama's star series is starting to separate themselves from literally everyone, if you can afford them.

[andyham]

They literally all sound amazing. The hand hammered copper reserve, the 14x6.5 burgundy walnut, the 14x6.5 red cordia bubinga, and the zebrawood were standouts to me.

[FanaticDrummer]

I have a 14” SLP Vintage Hand Hammered and SLP 14” Quilted Bubinga. Amazing value and incredible sound for any application. They have SO many to choose from. Tama has the best all around sounding drums from kits to snares. Unlike other companies who go for looks and prestigious hype, Tama accomplishes that because of their products. Not marketing. I knew Tama was my kit because at age 9, without knowing ANY drummers or biased influence on gear, the quality matched the look when I saw them on the top shelf of a local store. The brand logo is as strong as the drums are. I aim to be with Tama in my professional career and will gladly pass on other companies until I get into the Tama family. If you cant buy new, buy used. The SLP series have every material imaginable in all depths and sizes, all under $350.

[DrummerGrrrl]

After watching perhaps twenty of these videos, one thing is certain for me: I love so many different brands of drums! Tama, Yamaha, Sonor, Pearl, Ludwig...so, I can't say I would only play one brand of kit. I'm a poor, disabled drummer and right now I'm looking at the lower-priced Mapex and Pearl drum kits. These Tama snare drum are making me drool. But Yamaha drums do too! Same with cymbals. I bet I'm not the only one. LOL. I'm just going to enjoy this video. :-)

Although...that 5"x 14" Solid Maple Reserve is making me want to weep with happiness! Good Lord, what a wonderful snare drum!

[DrumsJulz]

I don't know about you guys, but i've just heard the best sounding snare drums in a long while!
This is really nice!

[philliah]

I want them all!
Tama makes the best snare drums on the planet.

[Diatonicth]

Tama is really killing it now with their snares. That 14X5 Star Solid Maple sounds amazing!

[johnbertasius]

I would be happy to own any of these drums. They all sound great to me. They also look good to my eyes. Here in Thailand we have CMC drums manufactured in various woods and metals. They are extremely low in price but sound great. Not sure what their overseas profile is like, but if you see them check them out.

[lou-elvis]

I played the walnut snare drum in a drum store lately and fell totally in love with it.

[SalMichael]

Star Bubinga /Dark Red Cordia 14x5.5 wow!

[bbfoto]

+Drum Center of Portsmouth

Fantastic demo, Gentlemen! There are obviously some very fine drums in that group! I usually prefer walnut and bubinga shells, and my favorites here were:

1. 14x5.5 Bubinga Dark Red Cordia
2. Solid Maple Reserve Oiled
3. Zebrawood
4. Maple Smokey Black

Though I'm sure that A LOT of this preference comes down to the specific tuning of each drum in the demo.

There's no denying the fantastic build quality, finishes, hardware, and sound of the Tama Star snares!

However, with a bit of careful head selection, tuning, and selective muffling, I'm positive that you can easily match the Sound Quality of these drums with many of the less expensive Tama S.L.P. snares, or any number of other brands & models.

What you pay for here is a museum-quality piece that has nearly unmatched quality of construction and great sound to boot. And there's nothing wrong with that! :)

Keep up the great work!

[dreammachine]

The Zebrawood was my favourite in this comparison. Just sounds so cool! It has some body and power to it, and makes a lovely crack when played harder. The ring after a big hit sounds like it could have come from a metal snare drum - no wonder DCP on their website the sound reminds them of aluminium and mahogany drums - but it still has the woody warmth that I like and just seems to sound pleasant whatever is done to it. I like the dryness to the sound too, but it's not too overly dry. It looks fantastic too!

I actually bought the Zebrawood model and this video from DCP was a big help in deciding that it was the first snare I'd get from the 'dream snares' list in my head. It's cool to know I have an instrument that is unqiue in a number of ways. It's a shame Tama discontinued it (I wonder why - maybe a difficult wood to source or work with) - the Star solid & stave shell snares aren't cheap so I was planning on saving up for a number of months and then treating myself but I noticed one day it had disappeared from the Tama website and all the UK retailers were out of stock. I could only find one seller in Europe that had one - a German music shop that had two ex-display models so I bought one of those. Funnily enough DCP appeared to be one of the only other dealers that had stock - one left priced at $999. This was a little more than the German shop but the import & shipping fees from US to UK would've been a killer so I got mine from the German shop. I really hope someday I'll buy something from DCP or even better check out their store and buy something in person when I get round to visting America as I find their videos so helpful and really would like to give them some of my business in appreciation.

The 6.5 and 5.5 maples snares also sounded fantastic here. And that kick drum too sounds huge - I was amazed to read its a 22x14! Although maybe the shorter depth is helping sound more punchy whilst the Bubinga maintains the low end. The sound quality in this shootout is incredibly crisp - probably the best sound I've ever heard from a reviewer. I've even been tuned on to that K Custom hi-hat thanks to this video even though I'm not so much of a Zildjian guy.

[vacuumelite]

The amount of work you put into these videos is much appreciated. :-) :-)

[hellion]

woooow, what a quality high level test! thank You very much!

[beauwolf]

well, i am not even a drummer but a guitarist, but listening to these snaredrums was a bliss. For what it's worth; i liked the bubbinga 5.5 the most.

[ofirsaadon]

thank you very much for the elaborated videoes that you are making - its truly a service for the community - keep on the good work

[drummaman]

Bubinga 5.5 was a standout to my ear, as well as the Zebrawood. It's like picking your favorite child, it really is!! They're all so good. That 15" snare can be in the 14" floor tom position a la Sput setup. Chris Dave was on to something 10 years ago when he just set his kit up with snare drums and a kick with cymbals...

[StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

Your comments about sound are fascinating...

I remember attending a guitar luthier festival a couple of years ago... and a truly seasoned luthier commented on how many gorgeous looking guitars from independent 'artisans' there were all around that sounded TERRRRIBLE... and it was true... they looked stunning but were flawed in terms of the essentials of superior sound/projection.

Fortunately TAMA DRUMS has a superb history of producing drums that are as stunning to the eye as they are splendid sounding to the ear.

[drumblasts]

Another great Star review by you guys! A+++!! Tama Star drums are destroying the competition by leaps and bounds! Any chance you guys are going to get some more Stave Ash snares?? Also, I sent a link to my buddy of this videos yesterday, and the Gloss Sycamore was on it's way to Pennsylvania within 2 hours, LOL. Keep up the incredible work gentlemen!!

[butchcassidy]

Just bought the slp bubinga. I can't wait til it arrives. Got a steal on it from a friend. All of the reviewed drums sounded great, but one can only dream of the Zebrawood.