Tama Starclassic
Tama Starclassic
Tama Starclassic Review (Drum Kit)
Most manufacturers have been making drums out of birch or maple for years, and only recently started branching out into the world of exotic woods. At the forefront of this revolution is Tama, with their new Birch/Bubinga mix drums.
Look/feel:
The first thing you notice about these drums when setting them up is the sheer weight of them. Bubinga (or African rosewood) is incredibly dense, and as a result adds considerably to the weight of each drum. The drums on this model are finished in a glass glitter wrap, which looks great under stage lighting, with Chrome Hardware and Tama's own Starcast floating tom mounts. The finish isn't the tidiest I've ever seen, (there is a noticeable ‘step' where the wrap overlaps) but aside from this the drums feel well made and solid.
Sound:
The mix of birch and bubinga on these drums gives a very dark, pronounced sound, with a lot of projection. The birch accentuates the volume and some of the high end, while the bubinga adds warmth and depth to the sound. Tama have got this 7-ply ‘sandwich' spot on, with a 3 ply birch core surrounded by 2 bubinga plys either side.
The 22"x18" kick drum sounds full, even without dampening, and can be played as such with very little ring on from the drum. The 10" and 12" toms are crisp and clear, although the 12" does take a little persuasion to really get the best from the drum. The 16" floor tom supplied with this modes is very dark and warm, and can easily be tuned to very low pitches, almost doubling as a ‘right hand bass drum' (words: Andy Burlace)
About the Author
Drummer, Teacher, Author and Columnist for over 15 years / founder of http://www.dansdrumlessons.com - The Online Drum School
Does a new drum kit depreciate much when kept in excellent condition?
I bought a new 4pc.TAMA STARCLASSIC BIRCH kit in 2006 and am ready to sell it. It's been kept in excellent condition. How do I go about figuring the price?? How about Paiste and Zildjian cymbs.??
You should probably be able to get about $1000 for it. Look around ebay for similar kits and use their selling prices a gauge.
As for the cymbals; if they are cast(A, K, Z, 2002, RUDE, Signature, etc.) you should be able to get 50- 60% of what you payed if they are in good condition with no cracks, dents, or keyholing(the hole in the center isn't damaged). Also, oxidation and fingerprints can diminish value. Rides and hi-hats hold their value better than crashes and rarer cymbals(not available as a part of a pack or harder to find, especially elusive Paistes)Now, if your cymbals are sheet or stamped(ZBT, ZHT, PST3, etc.) you'd be lucky to get $50 for a crash, $100 for hi-hats or a ride. You're probably better off taking them to a pawn shop and hoping they don't have an employee who knows the difference between cast and sheet.
Tama Starclassic
Soundtour of my new Tama Starclassic Performer
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Tama PLT12H $383.5 Tama PLT12H Tama PLT12H Description: PLT12A 12" 7" 12"x7" Tom Tom Starclassic Performer B/B Series Get your Tama PLT12H today! |
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Tama PLT13A $429 Tama PLT13A Tama PLT13A Description: PLT13A 13" 10" 13"x10" Tom Tom Starclassic Performer B/B Series Get your Tama PLT13A today! |
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Tama PLT14A $459.55 Tama PLT14A Tama PLT14A Description: PLT14A 14" 11" 14"x11" Tom Tom Starclassic Performer B/B Series Get your Tama PLT14A today! |
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Tama PLT14H $459.55 Tama PLT14H Tama PLT14H Description: PLT14A 14" 8" 14"x8" Tom Tom Starclassic Performer B/B Series Get your Tama PLT14H today! |
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Tama PLT16A $539.5 Tama PLT16A Tama PLT16A Description: PLT16A 16" 13" 16"x13" Tom Tom Starclassic Performer B/B Series Get your Tama PLT16A today! |
Tama Starclassic BB Review 2
Sound (cont:)
The kit is supplied with Evans G2 heads on the batter side of the toms, and G1 heads on the resonant, with an Evans EQ4 on the kick drum batter, and a white Tama display head. Having these heads is a definite plus point, as they accentuate the natural tone of the drum, rather than constricting it, which could easily have happened if the kit was supplied with lesser heads.
The kit is mostly suited to rock and metal players, as the volume and presence of the kit is possibly a little overwhelming for the likes of jazz and fusion players.
Value for Money:
List prices aside, you can pick up a 4 piece shell pack like this one from most drum stores for around £1400. For a kit built to this high standard (wrapping excepted), this seems to be a steal, as most other drum companies seem to be charging significantly more to delve into the world of exotic woods. Tama don't appear to have cut corners to save money either, as all of the hardware attached to the drum is of the highest quality, and everything seems to be neatly finished around the kit, with no traces of poor craftsmanship anywhere.
Overall:
The Tama Starclassic has been an industry standard for heavier players since the 1980's, and with the recent addition of bubinga shells, the Starclassic Performer B/B EFX seems to be a winner. If the finishes could be tidier, I don't think rock drummers could buy a better kit for the money. (words: Andy Burlace)
About the Author
Drummer, Teacher, Author and Columnist for over 15 years / founder of http://www.dansdrumlessons.com - The Online Drum School
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Starclassic Performer Hybrid Shell 4 Piece Shell Set in Red Sparkle Burst This new take on the Tama Starclassic set blends bubinga and birch together in each shell for a more focused attack with full resonance. Each drum has several plies of bubinga on the inside and several plies of birch on the outside. As with other kits in... |
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Tama Starclassic