I am a reggae record collector. Recently found a Hoshino USA Tama Drum endorsement contract inside for drummer Willie Stewart of Third World (reggae band). With letters, photos and correspondents from Willie, Tommy Kato and more. A few letters were written in Japanese. Being a reggae fan, this was an incredible find. I am trying to track Willie Stewart down to see if he wants this.
My first introduction to Tama drums was around 1977. What caught my eye was the innovation and quality of drums and hardware. They were the springboard to double braced hardware before anyone during that time period.
I remember Stewart Copeland talking about his selling point with Tama was not just the drums alone. He liked the fact that he could climb around on the stands.
Is TAMA related to DRUM MATE drums? My first set I learned on was drum mate in 1977. Went on to play in a street fairs-clubs band called silver wings ✈️ test flight in the late '70s and 1980s. Still have the drum mate set. Thanks my mom for buying my first complete set ❤
Where can I find the Tama history book? I have a small collection of Tama kits (only 7 - room for more!) - and my uncle worked at Tama in Japan back in the 80s. I would love a hard copy of this book, but I can't find it anywhere - only the .pdf online. Does anyone know? Thanks!
If I owned a drum company, I would hire John Palmer. He is a great asset; go back and look at the many online interviews during his previous assignments. He knows his products, down to the screw size.
My first double pedal, Tama. First kit after 5 years off from playing, Tama imperial star. First high end snare, Tama SLP G Bubinga. Now, after playing for 25 years, first REALLY nice drum kit?? TAMA Starclassic Performer. It hands down beats everything else in category.
Haha, I sold my Roland td12 kit for 1000. Bought a Tama rockstar. Few years later got slp tamo mocha maple snare. Now I own a Tama star mahogany and the same snare :) like 15 years between
The first Starclassic performer was not 100% birch . Crestar was changed to Granstar. The Bell Brass snare .. The 80”s was a tremendous time for Tama it was their Golden era a lot of innovations that lead to the Starclassics .
Man Tama is just killing it in the mid-price, working drummer market with the Starclassic line. Last night I took a look at what the competition was offering in birch, and their drum set looked like a toy compared to the Tama drums. Now granted, I'm not talking about Recording Customs, SQ1's, or Canopus ( though I would put the Starclassics right alongside any of them in a product shootout without batting an eye ), because those drums are sold as the top end products of each company they represent.
I owned Tama Royalstar , Tama Starclassic maple , Tama Starclassic Elite bubinga and my nnext purchase wil be Tama Star maple . the strongest name in drums ! the best hardware period ! ( PS - TAMA means DARK in all south slavic languages , ex-Yugoslavia ) !
