TAMA is one of the world’s biggest builders of drum equipment. They offer drum gear for every level from beginner to seasoned pro.
Hoshino Gakki began manufacturing drums in 1961 under the name “Star Drums”. Hoshino, the family name of the founder, translates to “star field,” thus the selection of the “Star Drums” brand name. The drums were manufactured at Hoshino’s subsidiary, Tama Seisakusho, which had opened in 1962 to manufacture Ibanez guitars and amplifiers. While the production of guitars and amps was moved out of the factory by 1966, the production of drums there continued to grow. The two higher lines of drum models, Imperial Star and Royal Star, were introduced to the American market and were successful lower-cost drums competing against more expensive American-made drums offered by Rogers, Ludwig, and Slingerland at the time.
By 1974, Hoshino decided to make a concerted effort to make high-quality drums and hardware and start marketing its drums under the Tama brand. Tama was the name of the owner’s wife, and is also a homophone with the Japanese word meaning “jewel”. “Star” continues to be used in the names of Tama’s drum models to this day.
Products: Drum Kits, Snare Drums, Percussion, Hardware, Marching and Concert Percussion, and Accessories
Artist Affiliations: Kenny Aronoff, Charlie Benante, Ronald Bruner Jr., Stewart Copeland, Peter Erskine, and many more
Price Range: ~ $100 – $4,000
“Tama is one of the finest drum makers around. They use the best materials and the best drum makers available. Especially for the price, you can’t go wrong with any Tama product. Each drum has its own unique voice and looks beautiful, too!
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