Fifty years. Just two words, but within them lies a vibrant tapestry of drums and the stories they tell. Here, we trace the storied history of TAMA, woven through the iconic instruments that shaped its every beat.
2014-NOW Continual Variations on a Theme
The rise of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube has significantly accelerated the diversification of musical genres. This coincided with the increased functionality and affordability of smartphones, which have enabled easier music creation and distribution than ever before. This "democratization" has empowered independent artists to reach broader audiences, bypassing the traditional gatekeepers.
Beyond kits and hardware however, the expansion of TAMA's peripheral products such as accessories and bags for transport were expanded extensively during this period as a way to focus on making drummers' lives easier in the moments between performances, which was something else that became far more visible resulting from the rise of social media. The growth of social media platforms has fostered closer connections between TAMA and its customers, allowing for the identification of drummers' previously unseen needs and contributing to them more effectively.
PRODUCTS
As genres changed and multiplied, the need to cater to constantly varying styles was evident, inspiring the release of the uniquely featured STAR hardware, simplistic CLASSIC stands, and easily portable Club-JAM series. Alongside the instruments, TAMA also focused on offering a broader range of bags and accessories. The rise of social media during this period brought TAMA closer to its users, increasing the ability to produce new and innovative products with every type of drummer in mind.
The Cocktail-JAM kit addresses two common challenges for drummers: limited space and equipment portability. While the concept of the standing cocktail drum dates back to the mid-20th century, the Cocktail-JAM's innovation lies in enabling comfortable seated playing.
Unlike most standing cocktail drums that combine the floor tom and bass drum in a single shell, the Cocktail-JAM separates them. This ingenious design allows the floor tom to be positioned lower, accommodating a seated playing style similar to a traditional drum set.
Furthermore, the kit utilizes TAMA's signature clamps, allowing for a complete cymbal setup without requiring additional stands, simplifying the process and saving space.
The "Cocktail-JAM" Kit and its successors are designed to be compact and bag-friendly, offering drummers the fun and convenience of playing in diverse settings.
Solid and sturdy, this hardware series boasts unwavering stability, lauded by professionals for its combination of thick leg plates, large pipe diameter, and thoughtful weight distribution. However, stability is just the beginning. The cymbal tilter and boom arm offer infinite positioning possibilities, while J-shaped tom holders provide wider tom placement compared to traditional L-rods.
TAMA's meticulous research on the impact of hardware on sound resulted in specialized cymbal felt that mitigates unwanted vibrations and die-cast joints that enhance stand stability and minimize vibration transfer. This focus on minimizing unwanted resonance allows the natural tone of drums and cymbals to shine through, contributing to the series' high praise from professional artists.
Iron Works, TAMA's high-end microphone stands, cater to professional settings like recording studios and live stages. The top-of-the-line Iron Works Studio Series prioritizes exceptional stability to prevent microphone vibrations and maintain pristine sound quality. The Iron Works Tour Series, designed for live performances, balances stability with ease of setup, adjustment, and breakdown for optimal efficiency.
TAMA's microphone stand history dates back to the early 1980s, predating their established presence in drums and hardware. Initially intended for business diversification, microphone stands have significantly evolved over 40 years. Iron Works stands represent the culmination of TAMA's accumulated knowledge and technology, enhancing their presence within the professional audio industry.
Iron Cobra pedals were launched in 1993 and have been continuously evolving ever since. The most striking change from the 2016 redesign is the revamped beater head, the iconic symbol of the Cobra pedals. While retaining its core function of capturing the bass drum head for impactful attack, the beater's weight balance was meticulously redesigned to achieve a powerful, focused sound. However, the improvements extend beyond the beater. A refined shaft structure, a redesigned frame, a revamped spring attachment, and numerous other subtle design tweaks have preserved the signature "Cobra feel" while enhancing playability to an impressive degree. This evolution might even lead one to believe it's an entirely new pedal. Once synonymous solely with hard-hitting styles, Cobra pedals have become a versatile masterpiece embraced by a wide range of players across many genres.
Drum cases traditionally fall into two categories: hard cases for high-level protection and lightweight, highly portable nylon bags. While hard cases were long favored for their security, the desire for easy portability grew alongside the popularity of compact kits like the Cocktail-JAM and Club-JAM in the 2000s.
The POWERPAD® drum bag emerged to address this evolving need. While semi-hard cases with rigid inner walls existed, POWERPAD® innovated by incorporating multiple layers of cushioning material for enhanced protection without sacrificing portability.
Further distinguishing itself, the POWERPAD® bag featured bold red zippers (TAMA's brand color) and a unique, high-grade PVC head cover, contributing to its widespread appeal among drummers. The subsequent success of the POWERPAD® Designer Collection, known for its even more stylish designs, solidified the series' impact.
Since its founding, TAMA has prioritized both functionality and stability in its hardware. The Classic Stand series embodies this, exemplifying simplicity and lightweight design. Despite its vintage look, solid rods ensure stability, even supporting a ride cymbal.
Following this success, TAMA expanded the series with the HH55F hi-hat stand, HS50S snare stand, and HP50 drum pedal. All of the stands are compact, lightweight, user-friendly, and feature intuitive design for efficient setup.
While retaining a retro aesthetic, The Classic Stand series highlights TAMA's cutting-edge development capabilities, seamlessly blending the brand's expertise with modern knowledge to create a series that resonates with both seasoned and new drummers alike.
The STAR Reserve series pushes the boundaries of snare drums, offering a distinct character through innovative sounds and unique aesthetics. Each model embodies a unique approach, featuring distinct manufacturing processes, finishes, and material combinations.
While the diverse characteristics might suggest the models vary greatly, which to some extent they do, they also share a key principle: seeking original designs. Each STAR Drum incorporates novel elements, pursuing an individual sonic identity that sets it apart. This includes venturing into untested production methods, sometimes leading to unexpected discoveries. For instance, techniques developed for one model can influence the production of others, fostering a continuous cycle of innovation.
Beyond its high-end status, the STAR Reserve series holds significance for both drummers and TAMA. It serves as a platform for exploration and inspiration, constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
Since the 2000s, the popularity of easily transportable compact drum kits has grown in tandem with the rise of busking. The TAMA Club-JAM Kit capitalized on this trend, offering both a popular vintage aesthetic and a surprisingly rich drum sound despite its small size. This combination made it highly sought-after by drummers.
Other models in this popular series include:
Club-JAM MINI(2018): Features a simple bass drum and snare drum setup.
Club-JAM Flyer (2020): Features ultra-compact size and a 14" bass drum
Club-JAM Suitcase (2021): An ultra-compact nesting style drum kit
Club-JAM Pancake (2022): Features ultra-shallow shell depths for ultimate portability
The S.L.P. Drum Kit series aimed to capture the philosophy of its namesake snare drums, by transcending traditional limitations to capture the essence of desired sounds. This series broke free from the mold, freely combining elements to achieve unique sonic expression.
Furthermore, the S.L.P. series didn't shy away from venturing beyond conventional materials. While offering the renowned Maple shells, the series also embraced unique challenges, including unusual shell materials such as Hickory and Kapur.
Breaking free from the constraints of ridged, predetermined specifications, the S.L.P. Drum Kit series exemplified the spirit of TAMA – a company constantly pushing boundaries and forging new paths in the drumming world.
TAMA's Dyna-Sync pedal is a unique offering within the lineup, being the only direct drive model. Direct drive pedals are generally known for their speed due to their gapless design, but they can also be seen as favoring specific playing styles due to their distinct feel. The Dyna-Sync addresses this by incorporating a refined direct link structure between the cam and footboard, aiming to blend the advantages of both direct drive and chain drive pedals.
This innovation results in a natural playing experience that differs from both traditional styles.
Initially, the Dyna-Sync was initially considered for inclusion in the Cobra pedal line. However, due to its distinct action and lack of the Cobra's various adjustability features, it was ultimately launched as a separate series. The name "Dyna-Sync" reflects the pedal's focus on dynamic action and power, coupled with responsiveness and control that feels synchronized with the drummer's footwork.
Drummers often struggle to balance realistic practice with volume limitations. Conventional practice kits prioritize quietness, often sacrificing the feel and nuance of a real drum set. The TAMA True Touch Training Kit challenges this notion, offering a low-volume solution that prioritizes the immersive playing experience of a traditional kit.
Unlike most practice kits, which use a single pad design for all drums, the True Touch features unique pad structures for the bass drum, snare, and toms. This approach meticulously recreates the individual sound and resonance of each drum within the constraints of volume and size. The result is a playing experience remarkably close to acoustic drums, lauded by even the most discerning players.
In a world increasingly dominated by electronic drums, the True Touch Training Kit stands out as a paradigm shift for quiet practice. It refocuses the experience on the fundamental essence of drumming: the feel and sound of playing the instrument itself.
Additionally, in 2023, TAMA released the Iso-Base Sound Reduction Pad, a companion product that further reduces vibrations transmitted to the floor. This easy-to-use solution, simply placed under the drum stand's base, is highly regarded by drummers using both the True Touch and electronic kits at home.
