TAMA’s identity has always been closely tied to snare drums designed to do a particular job extremely well. The range runs from affordable first upgrades, through genre-focused workhorses, to premium Japanese-made instruments and artist signature models. The common thread is a very TAMA approach: purposeful voicing, dependable hardware and snares that tune easily and hold their sound consistently.
TAMA snares continue to be a popular and worthwhile choice for our customers, and it is easy to see why. Whether you want a crisp steel backbeat, a warm wood-shell voice, a dry aluminium response or the depth and authority of a premium copper or bell-brass drum, there is a clearly defined option in the range.
Metalworks and Woodworks cover affordable first upgrades; S.L.P. offers deliberately different, sound-specific designs; Starclassic is the long-running professional core; and STARPHONIC, STAR and STAR Reserve move into premium materials, specialist construction and Japanese craftsmanship. Signature models then add artist-specific combinations of shells, depths, hoops and snare wires.
These are the accessible entry points: straightforward, affordable and ready to use.
Built with the beginner and advancing player in mind, Metalworks snares use a 1.2mm steel shell to provide professional snap at an accessible price. The Metalworks 14" × 5.5" has a bright voice and tight crispness when tuned high, with smoother resonance at lower tunings.
Woodworks is the warm, affordable wood-shell alternative. Its 8mm, 8-ply poplar shell produces a full, warm tone with a medium attack. The Woodworks 14" × 6.5" is a strong choice for players who want extra body without moving into a premium price tier.
S.L.P. is the “choose your flavour” tier: distinct models built around specific shell and hardware concepts, helping you find a particular sound without having to decode an enormous range.
Starclassic has been part of TAMA’s professional identity since 1994, combining carefully selected hybrid shells with die-cast hoops and robust hardware.
The 6mm shell combines four outer plies of birch with two inner plies of maple. Birch supplies focused attack while maple adds warmth and body; zinc die-cast hoops give the drum a direct crack and a stable feel.
This modern hybrid combines the focused attack of birch with the darker low-mid warmth of walnut. The result is an articulate backbeat with a firmer, fuller body underneath.
STARPHONIC is a “one family, many materials” platform. Crafted in Japan, these drums use specially developed lugs and hoops while offering shell materials that produce clearly different voices.
STAR is TAMA’s flagship, made-in-Japan platform, with shell designs intended to maximise resonance, sensitivity and refined playing feel.
STAR Maple
TAMA’s five-ply STAR Maple construction uses a 2mm solid maple core ply within a cross-laminated shell. It delivers a bright, open maple voice with warmth, body and a wide dynamic range.
STAR Solid Mahogany – 14" × 6"
Deep, dark and warm, with clear articulation and a solid attack.
STAR Reserve is the concept-led extension of STAR: specialist and limited-production builds created to explore distinctive sounds, materials and construction methods.
TAMA’s Signature line is deliberately specific. Each model is built around an artist’s response, projection and tonal requirements, with materials, depth, hoops and snare wires selected to create a recognisable result.
The range includes signature models for Lars Ulrich, Stewart Copeland, Mike Portnoy, Simon Phillips, Charlie Benante, John Tempesta and Peter Erskine.
