The Original 1980 Tama Bell Brass Snare Drum - DCP Review 

Fair use FTW

A beast. Almost bought one in '84, but ended up getting an 8x14 birch instead. I need to be slapped.

„Smells like De-monitization“ - You guys just won the internet today 😂

"Smells Like De-Monitization" was a perfect throw-in caption for that portion of the video 😂

In my opinion, it IS the greatest sounding snare ever. I own a DW 6x14 Collector's Series Cast Bronze snare that i think sounds really close to it. It didn't cost me too much but for the sound that it has, the price was well worth it. Thanks for posting.

My old drummer had one of these. The practice was at my place and he left it on my kit for a bit. I'm a bassist and amateur drummer and I played on it. Fantastic drum. The 2nd edition. Shiny and very heavy. Exspensive is a understatement.

Damn this snare drum in this video sounds just like the perfect studio snare sample. Goes to show so many people shoot for this drum’s sound when looking for that perfect snare sound.

The best snare drum ever imo. The king of all snare drums. There’s nothing else like Tama bell brass.

Thank you for this video Shane!!! So glad we got to take a pic of this, and my 1980 Tama Bell Brass side by side. Keep up the great videos guys!!!

Really great snare drum. That’s crazy how it sounds exactly like the Nirvana track. You guys nailed it. For me, it’s hard to justify the price.

One of the best snares ever.

I wonder if Tama will consider another type of reissue given the popularity. I would be interested for sure.

WOW... that drum sounds in this video are PHENOMENAL! Major props!! ❤🙌👌

You guys make incredible videos and i surely love every piece of gear i bought from you, quality service!!! thanks

I was hoping to hear a comparison between this and the other versions you mentioned in the video. Amazing video! Also LMAO at those demonitization stuff and the references. That made it even better

Yes!!!! Thank you guys! I think many of us would LOVE to also hear the N&C Zildjian snare and original HLD590 recorded by you guys. Pretty please?

Thanks Shane for this awesome video on an awesome drum.

Just listen to Black album by Metallica. Used one of those! HUGE sound!

The Tama Praetorian Bell Brass is worth every penny. Thank you for your passion. Great channel!

Thanks and Blessings Shane! I'm happy with my DW 3MM Brass that does it for me! You Da Man!!!

I used this exact snare on our catch without arms album recorded Terry Date

Smells like a Hit!, testify that classic sound!. Enter the brass shell,

Wow! What a sound

"We speak snare drum." Whelp, that puts you a cut above many businesses out there. Keep up the great content!

Definitely a dream snare!

the canopus solid brass is an incredible snare too. i wish tama sees this video and decide to bring it back as a regular item. but right now, i think someone could be very happy with a canopus solid brass. but there is no denying those old tamas had the sound. i regret not having bought one when they were available.

Very cool. You can hear the distinct snap which allows it to sit in that bed, with tons of body behind it.

Great video guys!. Can we see a TAMA bell brass review in the near future, comparing all the different models of this drum, from 80s until de 2015 reissue?, that will be amazing!.

That snare sounds insane! Total rocker.

Hey Shane, Thanks for doing this, great presentation btw! I think if there is any one factor that could bring back the , "Terminator" to original spec, it would be you, and your shop. I'd buy one for Shure. Would be great if Tama brought back some other models, from back in the day as well. I'd like to see the 8" depth come back into fashion again. Hopefully their watching this?! Thanks again for making that Sonor Bronze happen, my clients have been pleased!

Love the Sound

Good golly... That snap is unreal

Bruce Gary (RIP) played a Tama Terminator on the Knack's debut album, "Get the Knack" released in June 1979.

ive got one of these, wow, never ever imagined it to be so rare our historic

I have a Tama bell brass with the bell brass rims . The bell brass rims sound & record amazing. I love my drum.

I really think that supersensitive snares make big difference. I don´t understand why it isnt used anymore

OMG thats sounds sooooooo PERFECT!!!!!

I was checking out wall coverings and that wooden pattern in the back is what I picked out. ...lol.... it would be so nice if these guys had a small store in Washington State.

Killer mixing Tony!!!!

I'm from México ... I have a king beat Tama, acrolite 67's and Vistalite ludwig and sonor Piccolo brass 70's

Saying this is my favorite snare is kinda like saying my favorite guitar is the '58 Flying V, but both are true. This snare is nearer to obtanium, however. As I do not have the means to yet acquire a BB drum, I have settled for my second, which is also a Tama: Stewart Copeland Signature. Another fantastic offering.

Sounds great!

never clicked faster on a video lol..

The most perfect kick in the world. Amaaaazing.

By any chance would you have the head pitches (notes) for the recording, both heads? Sounds amazing

Thank you so much for this quality video. I love the sound that the 1980 Tama Bell brass snare drum has. Thank for the info on where the snare was used. I always loved the snare sound that Guns n Roses had in Appetite for Destruction and now I know why it sounded so beautiful.!! I wish I could buy one of those few valueble snare. Great video!!!

Great as always. Thanks

of course that snare sound is absolutely amazing. But guys, that kick on enter ulrich was right on the point!

Great video! Love that snare. What about doing the same with Sonor Horst Link and Jeff Ocheltree?

Coincidentally, I was loading some Toontrack drum samples recently, and, well there was this "Tama bell brass" (ok, I didn't really know), And, OH YES, that be a fun thing to hear when I hit my Roland Vdrum snare pad ! Of course not going to replicate the actual playing experience of the real thing, but, still, that puppy sure cuts through ! I'm old enough to have bought the original. I remember they also had a Noble Cooley Zildjian brass shell back there in the 80s too, which was tempting. Something to remember, if I do get to time travel back and try it 'one more time'....

Bravo! The best snare EVER, in my opinion! (this one looks very familiar! haha!)

Thank you for the videos. I have a 14x6.5 Toma Star Classic. I your opinion what is the best head for rock music on this snare?

That snare sounds Fantastic but I would have love to hear the Tuning Range on it!!

Brass is and will always be king......nufff said.

Is it the 'best'? I don't think so. Is it absolutely unique? Absolutely! It has a trait unlike any other drum...you know what it is when you hear it! It is iconic in that you know what it is when you hear it, and it has been used in so many iconic songs that you get to hear it a lot!

Love the sound of that drum. I'm just like you Shane. Hit it once and you can feel it as well as hear it. Would've been nice hearing Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Demonitization !!!

👍🥁amazing sound👋🥇

I reaaaaaaaaally hope some day you can try and maybe make a video of an Oriollo BellMaker 7.5" deep full edition. You will be blown away... 25lb bell bronze snare, skull cracking rimshots via the also bell bronze hoops. And that tone.... This Tama is for sure a golden standard but this Oriollo is saying 'excuse me, that's my snare stand.'

Great video !!!

The best bell brass snare ever made. Sound looks quality.

Definitely the king. The only drum I’ve ever heard that can hang with it is the DW Sabian Vault Edge snare that they only made a few of.

Please,Review Tama Superstar Hyperdrive Duo

This snare is fantastic, its possible to know what cymbals are playing in the video? Tnx

Hi, what tune bot settings for batter and hazy?

That pop. Ugh 🤤🤤😍😍

I had a Tama Bell Brass back in the 80's and bought the re-issue Tama BB and although the re-issue sounds warm and full it lacks a certain "mojo" if you will that the 80's Tama BB have. Could be a number factors like bearing edge, throw-off and butt, casting or material who knows? Still enjoy the sound my newer BB delievers.

Legendario sonido

I like the reissued snare more, super cut and slam. Surprised but thanks for showing both. I tested some brass snares in different size combos once and the singer of my band said I am not gonna let you get one of those, I just can't sing with that near me, so I stick with my cheap Tour Custom wood snare.

Shane, you did it with Sonor, you can do it with Tama. Have them sand cast a few the old way. You will make us all happy and become a legend in the process. Screw the reissue, bring back the original, and the first one is mine !!

After the 80s Terminator you reviewed, came the Superstar badged Tama Mastercraft Bell Brass in the 1981 catalog, same oversized shell, same extended snares throw-off, longer Superstar lugs and die-cast hoops, Holy Grail #2 so to speak...then came the Power Metal series Bell Brass in 1988 with the bell-brass hoops, the other Power Metal BB you have shown as a picture in your video, came in 1998... ...the recent others are re-issues....

What was the cymbal set up for this vid? Loved the bell of that ride.

My "holy grail" snare. Bucket list No 1.

Amazing. What would be the price of such an original 1980 Tama BB-156?

An older gentleman I met at Guitar Center whose been drumming for a longtime even said that this snare was the best one he recorded with besides a Black Beauty!

A. That snare is awesome... B. Can you do a sound sample of the the Ronald bruner jr sig snare.. that has me very interested and theres zerrrrrrrrro vids of it

What ride is that? Sounds awesome...

The Drum Doctor Ross Garfield owns the original Snare used on Nirvanas Album. He is the definitive expert on this drum.

@Adam Nesbitt FYI : I will be deleting my comments on this from 2 years ago, as apparently somehow my comments were linked to a completely different video, & this is not the snare drum I was talking about, the one I remember in a video I saw was much newer, & had no muffler control knob (& certainly not with presets!) or extended snare wires & this somehow was switched to a different video (weird!), I think the drum demonstrated in this video is actually a very good drum, so I will be deleting my previous comments accordingly. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

I have a tama birch superstar 14 x6.5 from 82 and I thought it sounded good. But this drum is like the holy grail

Cool

I don’t understand why companies don’t capitalize on the idea of oversizing their shells slightly to recreate that tone. Tama should do another reissue and just make the shell molds a few mil thicker

Greatest snare I've ever heard on You Tube by a country mile. What snare do you sell that comes closest to it's sound? (I saw the other bell brass video, but would like to hear your guy's opinions.)

the instant he started played it I heard "Teen Spirit" by Nirvana. Holy SMOKES man!

Shane , can you give us a list of snare drums available today that come real close to this drum?

How similar would the Imperialstar chrome snare be to this? That snare has the exact same look, hardware, etc. only it's chrome, of course...

My god that Tama sounds good 😎

Powerfull!!!

Had mine since 1983! Been in the loft for past 20 plus years 6.5. Going to bring it back to life, new skins snare wire chrome rechrome. Brass/bronze just a damp cloth. Would be a mistake to clean . Would I sell? It needs to be played but at the right price

what are the crash cymbals being used here??

Imagine Buddy Rich having played on this...😳 It actually reminds me of an expensive, big brother version of the Tama SLP bronze snare.

Ludwig Supraphonic and Rogers Dynasonic

Shane, any chance of doing a side by side with my other "dream/wish list" snare drum of myth and legend - the Ochletree 6.5" Paiste 2002? Pretty please?! :-)

Best snare ever ❤

What ride is that? It’s sounds great!!

8:14 🤣👌 Spot on!

I own a ffs pearl 6:5x 14 1981 made in japan l love it extended snare wires can’t live witout it l’d love to own the tama bell brass hope that my dream come thrue🥁🥁🥁🥁🤩🤩

"Smells Like De-monitization" Hahaha. Luckily you can't copyright a drum beat! Also, thanks to this video the 1980 Tama Bell Brass just got more expensive and harder to find. THANKS A LOT DCP! :-D

The 1980 catalog lists the drum as "5mm thickness " and is offered in 5x14(BB155) for $685 and 6 1/2 × 14(BB156) for $750. The 1982 catalog shows the polished finish and only offers the larger drum, for $790. It says "3mm". I believe the drum we are hearing here, with the original rough finish, is a 5mm thickness.

Is this the same snare as Abe Cunningham’s on the Deftone’s ‘White Pony’ album?

I wonder what happens if you swap out Tama's BB hoops and put them on another 6.5x14 3mm bell brass snare. It's got a distinctive rim shot, but a lot of that would come from the hoop, so maybe that's the secret sauce???