Thoughts on Tama Starclassic drums

[CJH2112]

I am looking very hard at Tama Starclassic drums again as I am considering putting my beloved dee-dubs up for sale.

I am very interested in the Bubinga/birch kits Tama offers. Does anyone have experience with these kits and how they might compare to DW?

Thanks

[razorx]

I think they look beautiful and i would do anything to get one.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

I recently played on a Starclassic Maple at a gig. My impressions:

i) Very sturdy hardware
ii) Well constructed shells, very well cut bearing edges
iii) An excellent punchy bass drum, with a good variety of available sounds
iv) A gorgeous finish (I forget what it was, but it was very nice)
v) A quality feel

All told, the kit was very nice and I'm sure capable of much more than it was being tuned to. The toms were well rounded with good attack and the kick was excellent. The hardware was functional without being over the top or elaborate and the kit felt good to play. Not necessarily my first choice of kit, but definitely a solid performer at all levels. As for the Bubinga/Birch, I've never played one but I saw a Bubinga Omni-tune in a shop recently and that was a beautifully constructed kit with an exquisite finish. Nice drums.

A solid choice. If not my first, definitely one worth consideration.

[metal overlord]

They are beautiful kits with a wonderful sound. I highly recommend them to anyone.

[hawk9290]

they're top notch kits, and the sound will be quite different from anything (commonly available) from DW, just because of the nature of DW's maple vs the Birch/Bubinga of Tama. However, once you reach that top tier of kits, they will almost all be as easy to recomend as the next by personal preference. If I was given the choice between the typical 5 piece DW and a 5 piece Tama B/B, I'd take the Tama though, I feel its got more bang for my buck and the sound is phenomanal

[Fat Elvis]

i own both a starclassic birch (performer) and a DW collectors maple. I really like them both, but i will admit that I think the starclassic sounds better to my ears. A very good constructed product -- every bit as good as the DW. If i had to choose to keep only one, honestly, it would have to be the starclassic. Partly because I just think it sounds better, but also because I own another maple kit (ludwig) and really like the birch.

in my opinion, dollar for dollar, there is no beating a starclassic -- and personally when it comes to money, it blows the DW away.

EDIT: my only gripe about the starclassic (which is something the DW excells at) is staying in tune. While the starclassic is easier to tune, the damn cast rims make it seem to fall out of tune much quicker than the DW).

[Danalog]

Tama's are great drums. The hardware is great and the shell structure is great.
the prices are exactly where they should be and the customer service is actually good.
I do not see any reason why someone wouldnt buy one.

[Thrash Drummer]

I played a Starclassic B/B kit today. In my opinion, your much better off spending a little more for the maple or bubinga. The way I hear them, they are ordered as follows:

Maple/Bubinga
B/B
Performer

maple/buginga being the best sounding.
just my 2 cents

[tomtom]

I am looking very hard at Tama Starclassic drums again as I am considering putting my beloved dee-dubs up for sale.

I am very interested in the Bubinga/birch kits Tama offers. Does anyone have experience with these kits and how they might compare to DW?

Thanks

I have a B/B kit for over a year now, it replaced my Brady kit. When I chose it I tried out 4 different kits; DW, Yamaha MCA, Tama SC maple and the B/B. It was an easy choice. To my ears the B/B´s were the warmest, punchiest, gorgeous tone and attack and those rumbling lows are out of this world. I couldn´t be happer with them.

[rmandelbaum]

one more thought, what will the kit be worth 5 years from now if you have to sell it?

If this matters to you then I would look at resale value.

[driver]

I played a set at the gig. Maple I think but before the new maples came out last year. Metal badge maples basically. They were nice but more than anything it just confirmed to me that I really hate Remo Pinstripes! Note sure I like die cast hoops on the toms either. That said the kick was really great and the whole thing was solid as a rock. I would have liked to tamper with it to how I have my kit (coated Emps nice and open) they would have been really great. If you can get down to a drum shop you can really spend some time messing around with it.