Guys, First time I've come across one of your videos. I have to say it is, hands down, one of the most detailed, thorough, and comprehensive comparison videos I've watched. Your explanations of what you two hear and feel while playing the drums coupled with the excellent recordings gave me a real sense, without actually playing the kits myself, of the differences in tone and character between the three shell types. I also like that each of you took two rounds per kit, and then ended the video with back to back to back isolated comparisons on each individual drum. I think videos like this would be super helpful for drummers who want to order one of these expensive high-level kits, but is reluctant to do so because their local music store may never have any of the kits available to try. Really nice job on the video, glad I stumbled across it. I did subscribe and look forward to future offerings. When I get some time, I'll have to go back through the archives as well. Cheers
Meh, your opinion. Not saying you don't have a valid point brother, but imho... my heart's decision absolutely has to gravitate towards bubinga; and if not purely (only) the bubinga shells, then MAYBE perhaps a bubinga fusion... (obviously meaning bubinga plus either walnut, maple or something else..?? My PoV's opinion would probably be (if not again, PURELY only just the bubinga, then) a bubinga &, say, a birch combination... but that's just this drummer's opinion/perspective.... thanks for sharing tho broseph
I have the walnut, kinda disappointed in them. Had to use hydraulic heads or a lot of muffling to get the right sound or they just wouldn't sound right.
Me too! Only difference I almost bought the SQ2 Beech but I didn’t. Working within the car industry I’ve learned about sales & sale pitches that they generate in order to get you to buy something. Almost like a Ford vs. Chevy vs. Mopar thing, but you just can’t go by what they tell you. You have to experience these things for yourself over a course of time. Also being that I grew up on a Rockstar DX Kit (underrated sound) I knew if the low end budget sounded awesome, I expected nothing but great things from the Star line.
@@JanusJanavas In my opinion it has more tone than the heavy beech and a lower timbre. So for the sound I'm looking for it does sound better. Nothing against Sonor. I actually have a thin shell Scandinavian Birch SQ2 on order. That and the Star Walnut will be all I need going forward.
The head to head really tells the tale. The walnut is a perfect blend of the best characteristics of the other two kits. The bass frequencies bloom like the Bubinga, but the midrange tonality of the Maple is present but more controlled. What an absolute winner of a shell.
@@drumcenternh Tama really has advanced as a drum maker since the late 80's. They've never been my brand of choice, but they've certainly earned my respect by their determination and willingness to try new things, spend legitimate time and money on R & D, and dare to set themselves apart from the pack while continuously coming with some great hardware to boot. I would definitely consider Star walnut for my next kit. Great video as always, guys!
Great video fellas! I own a Star walnut kit, among other Tama kits, and owned a Star bubinga before I sold it in favor of the walnut. The move to walnut was actually driven by the availability of the Japanese sen indigo burst finish, which I just fell in love with. As someone who has owned and played both the bubinga and walnut kit, they’re both amazing. Soundwise, I don’t have a preference, though there is a slight difference, probably influenced more by the rerings, or lack thereof, vs. the difference in wood type. Taste is clearly subjective, however, I find the Star drums to be the best production drums that I’ve ever heard.
I absolutely love that Japanese sen finishes. Best finishes I’ve ever seen in my life. And yeah I’ve only seen them with the walnuts. Imo the walnuts sound the best in the star line. I prefer the bubinga sound with the starclassic line being more aggressive and thicker in that line which sounds best for bubinga wood imo. But the walnut stars are out of this world. Want to own it one day but I’ll stick to my starclassic bb hyperdrives since im perfectly happy with them.
I've watched these videos for years and I've noticed how Shane has gotten better and better over time. This man deserves some work. He's knows what he's doing.
for 2020 the star walnut has slightly thicker shells. 7 ply 7mm bass drums and 6 ply 6mm toms, floors and snare drums. and has also 2 new exotic veneer finishes. light indigo japanese chestnut and cinnamon japanese chestnut. i think tama has realized that these walnut drums are maybe the most incredible of the star line and they have decided to make them the best they could. walnut is a holy grail material to make drums. it has gigantic dynamic range and sound enormous. fat like a 60 years old Kentucky fried chicken frying pan.
@@gaboogablah Not even a sliver of truth in that statement. i have a walnut kit and I am telling you that it blows any kit i've ever owned or played out of the water. Extremely versatile, purest tone, highest build quality, there is not a single bad thing to say about these drums
I have a star walnut with 4 rack toms and 2 floor toms and a 20 x 18 bass, plus the matching 14"x6.5" walnut snare. They are a work of art. All toms are deeper than the normal depth shells because i ordered everything to the sizes i wanted. Unfortunately I found out production for Starclassic was moved to China when I was putting in the order, and I didn't want a Chinese set, so I ordered the star. The hardware is still Chinese and it had defects. Rusty tension screws and dull scratchy flinish on the bottom of the cast hoops. Mine came directly from Japan because i wasn't in the states, i was in Asia when i ordered them, hoshino USA is much better than dealing with hoshino Japan. Don't tell me anything, I have a complete 8 piece set with snare and special ordered shell depths. All Satin Charcoal Japanese Sen. And 14 Paiste 2002 cymbals and hihats. Most of the cymbals were from my old 8 piece double bass tama Philippine mahogany set from the 80s. But i got a couple new 2002, a 602 and a twenty series. A pair of mini tymps and a Roland TM-2 and a couple pads for effects.
@@norcoriders99 you probably got your drums from hoshino USA and they assemble everything there, and probably took more notice of the components during assembly than Japan did on mine. It was Japan, my dealer than me. Even with my dealer agreeing on the problems, Japan wouldn't admit it. So my dealer ate the cost for the replacement parts. I have a contact at hoshino USA and he said he'd replace the items but since I didn't buy it in the states he couldn't help me. Just be glad you're in the states buying tama.
@@norcoriders99 what wasn't the truth? The Starclassic are made in China, and they were better. The Starclassic maple was a great set and sounded better than the star maple, but I didn't want any Chinese drums, and i liked the star walnut better than the maple and bubinga. I never really liked anything bubinga but that's my preference and to me, the star walnut sounded better than the star maple, so I special ordered a complete 7 piece shell pack with a matching snare. That's an 8 piece complete set of walnut. I got a two section power tower rack, but i continued to use my pearl hihat and double pedals. The hihat stand is better than the best one from tama, i got one but didn't like it so I got a pearl red line hihat stand, and I'm still using my eliminator dual chain cam shiftet pedals. I also have a sonor double pedal but that is on my Roland vdrums set. I've been playing 45+ years and there's no reason to not be honest about anything drum related. I've had many sets from many manufacturers, and more cymbals than most people see in their lifetime.
You can tell just by watching Shane hit these toms, that these toms don't don't fight back and the sticks seem to sink in..I like that. It makes drums even more fun to play.
@@drumcenternh Hey guys! I've watch several of your videos (mostly Ludwig, DW & Tama) & I was curious,because this is the only kit that I've heard you guys mention good for playing Gospel. Now, I dont only play Gospel, but I also play, Hip-hop, RnB & Funk. I've been playing a 6-piece Studioease Mapex Meridian Birch kit for 8 years now (not the F.A.S.T. version with the shallow toms). Which kit (kits) for under $1,500 (my kit was $875) would you guys recommend for the genres that I play? Drummers with similar musical backgrounds & applications as myself would be Eddie & Gerald Heyward, Calvin Rodgers, Chris Kee, Chris Dave, Tony Royster & Aaron Spears.
@@callen7436 We are blowing out the remaining Tama Starclassic Birch/Bubinga kits. That sound would work really well for what you do. Here's a link: www.drumcenternh.com/tama-starclassic-performer-b-b-4pc-drum-set-coral-red-sparkle
This is the video I’ve been waiting for. One of the employees commented on a previous post and said there’s a special video coming for the Tama guys out there and this is definitly it. Love this and no other drum store does comparisons and videos like this with this great quality. I hope they compare the entire Tama range like they did with the Yamaha ranges. From either the superstar classic, silverstar, superstar hyperdrive, starclassic B.B., Maple, bubinga, and then Tama star. Really want to hear the differences side by side. Or at least the starclassic and star drums side by side. I have a starclassic B.B. hyperdrive and it’s just the perfect kit for me and at such an amazing price point with the same hardware as the star drums expect a few little things. But the fact Tama brought down the star hardware down to the starclassic lines and made the starclassics cheaper it’s just the best out there for the money. My kit is Chinese made and I cannot tell the difference between my starclassic maple Japan made kit and starclassic B.B. hyperdrive made in China. Both are phenomenal but I actually prefer the bbs over the maples.
Andy Ham I have Japan made B/B and China made B/B and there isn’t one bit of difference except for the sticker on the shells. I actually think they do better finishes on the China kits. Less environmental laws. My Red Sparkle Burst finish is amazing! Looking at it really closely it’s a red candy clear over silver sparkle over a black base coat. I don’t even think the Pearl finishes are that trick.
Joe Rico yeah exactly. Anyone who shits on the China made Tama Drums haven’t even tried one. Also have a Tama silverstar which was Chinese made and paid just 400 bucks barely used for it and that kit is amazing as well, not as good as the starclassic B.B. hyperdrive but still a great kit for the money and I use as a backup and gigging kit.
Adam Frost haha yeah man that’s for the heads up. Been waiting after you commented on the previous video. Hope there’s more to come with Tama. You guys are the best
I know it's a pretty old video, but jeeeeez I love what you guys do and how you do it. I came back because I wanted to hear the bubinga again. I've never played or been in the same room with one but lots of videos like this always left me with... basically no impression of bubinga. This video was no different. But wow, the maple and walnut, holy smokes. If I had unlimited budget I'd mix walnut toms and maple kick and like a copper snare. Anyway, thanks for doing what you do and doing it so consistently. I love all of this stuff so much. Really a killer channel, the absolute best drum demo videos I've seen.
I always thought I liked the bubinga best but after really taking a listen through good headphones, the walnut sounds best for my preference. I have a starclassic maple (late 90's) and may consider getting a star walnut. Thanks for the most in depth review on the Star series!
Thanks for this video!!! It was great to hear the difference between the different woods!! As far as I know I've never heard the bubinga drums before. I really like the sound of those!!
Walnut sounds amazing. I got a walnut/birch starclassic kit from DCP a couple weeks ago and I am blown away at ow amazing they sound right out of the box.
You guys tuned those drums damn near perfect. And they all sound fantastic. I have never been a huge fan of Tama but these drums are all special. Even with just room mic’s. Impressive drums. Ps I don’t have a favorite sound wise but that maple finish is gorgeous.
You've started making great videos lately (not that the older ones were bad. but..) Congratulations! These are exactly what anybody searching sounds on the internet wants - professional review paired with clear head to head comparison. Great work!!
Tama star is the pinnacle of drums. The bubinga and walnut sound best to me. I seriously can’t pick between those two. They both sound amazing. I think I would go with Tama star walnut cause I actually prefer the Tama starclassic bubingas more. Just more thicker sounding and more aggressive but idk can’t go wrong with starclassics or star drums. Tama is just killin the game
gaboogablah tama has the best hardware in the game. Their air cushioned floor tom legs, bass drum spurs, the swivel wing bass drum mounting system for the starclassics and the star hardware on the star drums are the best hands down. Their affordable widely popular road pro hardware is the most reliable and best hardware and has never failed me and I’ve used them for so many years now and haven’t had one problem touring with them and playing nonstop shows. Their star stands are just the most innovative stands as well. Not sure why you think Tama hardware isn’t as good as their drums cause even their first chair drum thrones, iron cobra and speed cobra pedals and hi hat stands are all the best imo.
Remo makes great heads, but I genuinely believe if you put some Evans G2’s on those Toms and an EMAD on the kick, those drums would BOOM!! Just my thought. The dog is awesome!! Great review. Now if you can review a way to make them affordable. Lol
Cranked my headphones for that final comparison. . . Really interesting, subtle differences in the woods! They all sound really great. The throatiness of the walnut speaks to me.
Really enjoyed this video thank you. I've been playing starclassic maple for years now and they still make me smile. Great tone, build quality and look amazing.
Well done guys ! -This was a very much needed documentation on these amazily thoughtful and finely crafted instruments -I’m very surprised Tama themselves did not create and push a marketing campaign for this line -
I guess I can dream. That Bubinga sounds amazing!! I have a cheap hyper drive kit that I have made sound really good for what they are. It took me a LONG LONG time to get it to that point. I get a lot of comments on the sound I pull from them.
Another great video! Really love these head to head comparisons. Really lets us see the differences in tone and the all around sound of the kits. Keep it up!
You are right, Jetty. UFIP are excellent cymbals, but unfortunately they are still underestimated today. this is a pity and also absurd because they are good quality cymbals and with the new UFIP lines they also made improvements in the sound of their Crashes, and we can hear it from this video
Thanks for this video, really much appreciated. Usually you don't get to hear all three types side by side, so this is a really valuable demonstration of the Star series. All of those drums sound - hands down - really good and the difference are - on the toms - quite small, but much more prominent with the bassdrums. I like the look and sound of the Star Maple the most, but I would like to see Tama make an all birch Star-Kit. That would be a great addition to an already great (but really expensive) series of drums. And it would probably sound awesome. I really love birch kits and it's a pity that they do not offer a pro-level 100% birch-kit anymore.
Maple for me always, they’re the most versatile. With that said they all sound nice but the biggest take away here for me is “Hand Crafted In Japan”. That’s so important for me.
If these drums haven't sold yet, I'd be gobsmacked. I'm a Sonor SQ2 owner and if there was any other kit I'd buy, hands down, a Tama Star. Power, clarity, tone, definition... absolutely sublime craftsmanship.
I just want to say, THANK YOU for this review!...is one of the best ones regarding Tama Star series, we really appreciate the effort behind it, keep shining guys! If you can do something similar for Starclassic series, that will be another hit!.
Fantastic video, guys! Thanks for posting this. As a drummer, I‘d go for the Walnut (what a massive sound!), as an engineer, I‘d probably prefer the Maple ;)
these guys are the masters of demoing drums and they get the best drum sounds, they rival any big name studio's drum sounds imo. I'm going back to TAMA !!
Great job on the vid.. The tom on tom comparison at the end is the best. That clarifies the difference between all the individual drums and makes you guys TOPS! I'd really like to see that comparison on the Starclassic line. I've been torn between the B&B and the Maple and haven't been able to find a place to compare the two in person. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for this, I always thought my dream wood was Bubinga, I have heard acoustic guitars made of bubinga that are pretty much a religious experience to hear in action. But I must say I really love the slight nuance Walnut brings. A bit less sustain, and very focused attack. Bubinga tends to sing a bit more like my present all birch kit. I do believe this might well be a turning point for me. Walnut might be a better choice for me.
Thank you Drum Center. This video is a service (along your others) to the drumming community - Look at the comments! I've been wanting to compare these kits like many others I'm sure have. It's just not always feasible to walk into your local music shop and try this stuff out. With top-end gear these videos become invaluable. Well done! I'm half way around the world from you but you get my two thumbs up and a big thanks!
My choice is maple. That’s what I play now and it works. No need to change. I do prefer the wood finish over my gold sunburst fade but it all comes down to the sound. Coated Emperor on top, and coated Ambassadors on the bottom.
Brilliant videos playing all the drums different mic settings and important having different players too! the same set can sound different from a aggressive player to a more laid back one! make more please! ..
you guys do the reviews with such passion and dedication that travels across my monitor, is really enjoyable watch your videos, keep it that way, greetings from Argentina
Thank you so much for this amazing job! I mean, all i wanted to say is to comment this vid like "Now i can clearly say i love Walnut, which is unexpected!" But then i realized what volumes of job you guys do to clarify the many aspects for us! Thank you so much! Subscribed around 3 years ago and have no single regret! P.S. i still look for this magic video about tom/bass drum depth sound comparison :)
Supervisor cameo at 16:33 Great video, guys. These Star drums are legit, and the more drummers know about them, the more they should be saving their pennies to buy a set!!! Cheers!!
The puppy is the best part of this video! Well, I think I "wood" pick different "woulds" for different sizes...Probably bubinga for smaller sizes, Maple mids- lows, and Walnut lows...I have no idea about the bass drum...Whichever one you can literally feel the soundwaves most when you play it so it fills a room mike I guess...
Walnut, bubinga, maple. I did order a custom made bubinga star snare early on to the star release. Had it made with only inlays on the inside of the rings and I had it made with top and bottom lugs bc I am not a fan of a center lug with really long screws on an 14x8 snare. Love it!!!!
Another quality review video thank you! When I heard the unmic'd kick drum of a guy's Starclassic B/B Performer kit I knew I had to get me some TAMA drums... a year later and I have a B/B kit of my own! The quick-lock mounting system is a godsend for gigging drummers like me. I also own a few SLP snares which are marvelous. In the review, the description of the Walnut is spot on - pretty much Maple on steroids... also a bit more attack to the sound. Having previously owned a Mapex Saturn which is Maple/Walnut configuration, I can attest to the sound. If I had a chance to make my own Tama shell formula, I would do Bubinga/Walnut with no rings. DCP rocks, keep em coming guys!
These have got to be the best drums I have ever ever heard I used to own a N & C CD Maple kit, I would really like to hear a kit comparison of Stars vs CD Maples and Horizon 😀
The Tama Performer Bubinga/Birch in Molten brown Burst is the kit i bought last month..And i Love My Ufip Cymbals as well..They are still one of the best kept secrets IMO because you don't see them for sale in the GTR Center and Sam Ashtray..Some of the best sounding cymbals i have heard....Period...Natural Series..Class Series..Vibra Series...Comparable to Paiste Signature and Zildjian/Sabian as far as product but not quite as expensive...If you can,check em out..If you play enough of the different lines you will be sold on the sound..
That bubinga bass drum in the full mix sounded absolutely divine 😍 I've never had a real high end kit.... had a pearl kit and 80s imperial star kit (loved that one) a silverstar kit few years ago and I currently have a 2018 imperialstar and a Ludwig rocker kit from the late 80's and with the right heads and tuning sounds pretty good. I'm hoping one day I can get my hands on a new starclassic maple 🍁 kit.... thats the dream! Love the channel and thanks for reviewing these amazing drums 💯
Oddly enough in another video, Shane said he can be a bit "ham fisted and aggressive" with his playing style but when he got into the bubinga he was adding some more articulate notes, so maybe that's the way to go Shane! Every drummer I've seen has a style and also plays to the kit, which is a great part of making music with drums but I noticed that Shane is more slight in his changes, but with this bubinga kit his style change, subtly, stood out to me.
Great video as always, those are my dream drums and to top it all you have a dog strolling around the shop. Love the dog just strolling around while your guy is playing the walnut kit.. You guys should feature the dog in one of your videos.. Drum loving doggie lol!
Geez it tough but for me I think it's the bubinga then walnut and lastly maple. But honestly it's tough. They all three sound like heaven and I don't think you could go wrong with any. Hands down you guys do the best product reviews on TH-cam. I really appreciate it and I when I'm ready to buy a new snare, I will be giving you a call. Thanks!
Best drums in the business. Hands down. Always leading, never following. Also says volumes about Remo’s coated heads, that they won on Tamas highest level kits. However, Bubinga drums sound the best in person. I have never been fond of the raw sound of drums, even audiences find it harsh or dry. But, Bubingas have such a dynamic percussive element that the attack and bottom end mixed with punchy presence just sound great in person. You can play them in a acoustic setting and everything is articulate, and pleasant. They sound EQ’d in person where as Maple does not. It sounds more hollow because your ears dont pick up the sonic ranges that you do with Bubingas and the overtones are nice. You dont need any treatment. But if you do, they punch and rebound even better for faster playing.
FanaticalDrummer EXACTLY, well said. I played Maple drums for years but they didn’t match the sound I had in my head. Finally Tama brought the Bubinga to the for front, I was blown away, that void was filled. Mic’d drums live in concert have that undeniable sound, well Bubinga brings that without mics. The kick drum in an un mic’d setting has always lacked in attack and punch. Well no more, that Bubinga kick is Phenomenal, it is everything I ever wanted, makes me smile every time I kick it. Still love maple overall for my snare though. Would love to hear a walnut kit in person un mic’d.
Larry Tate Pick up a used Starclassic Bubinga now while they can still be found. Some of the best drums ever made and every bit equal to the Star drums. My 16” Bubinga Elite floor tom can be tuned just above wrinkled and the low end that comes out of that drum is something I never thought was possible playing Maple and Mahogany drums all my life. Now I need an 18” and my life will be complete. The Starclassic Bubinga bass drums are even more impressive than the Star line. That slightly thicker shell gives them more grunt down low and a bit more punchy attack.
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Guys,
First time I've come across one of your videos. I have to say it is, hands down, one of the most detailed, thorough, and comprehensive comparison videos I've watched. Your explanations of what you two hear and feel while playing the drums coupled with the excellent recordings gave me a real sense, without actually playing the kits myself, of the differences in tone and character between the three shell types. I also like that each of you took two rounds per kit, and then ended the video with back to back to back isolated comparisons on each individual drum. I think videos like this would be super helpful for drummers who want to order one of these expensive high-level kits, but is reluctant to do so because their local music store may never have any of the kits available to try. Really nice job on the video, glad I stumbled across it. I did subscribe and look forward to future offerings. When I get some time, I'll have to go back through the archives as well. Cheers
John - This means a lot to us. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment!
I love all if these drums.thinking about purchasing the maple.
@@drumcenternh
Yes, yall’s videos are excellent and thorough!
4:47 star bubinga
8:40 star maple
13:43 star walnut
Walnut seems to have the best qualities of the other two. They are all amazing, but I’d say the walnut gets the nod to my ears.
Agreed.Mapex is big on Walnut also.
Meh, your opinion. Not saying you don't have a valid point brother, but imho... my heart's decision absolutely has to gravitate towards bubinga; and if not purely (only) the bubinga shells, then MAYBE perhaps a bubinga fusion... (obviously meaning bubinga plus either walnut, maple or something else..?? My PoV's opinion would probably be (if not again, PURELY only just the bubinga, then) a bubinga &, say, a birch combination... but that's just this drummer's opinion/perspective.... thanks for sharing tho broseph
@@M.RQ.Mittag910 Would def mix and match the walnut and bubinga shells myself!!!!!
they all sound good, but for me, the star walnut is my choice. it sound incredible.
I have the walnut, kinda disappointed in them. Had to use hydraulic heads or a lot of muffling to get the right sound or they just wouldn't sound right.
agreed. It has more of a full sound than the others. Better attack .
@@gaboogablah having better luck with the star walnut now? After living with them a while maybe you've found the sweet spot
@@iloveNgany with enough muffling, they're great. Without muffling they are hard to find the studio sound because they sing so well.
@@gaboogablah I'm playing SC maples right now and they do the same thing. Half a moongel and they're the cats a$$
I had a Sonor SQ2 kit heavy beech. Sold it and bought a 2021 Tama Star Walnut in Cinnamon Japanese Chestnut. I absolutely love these drums.
Me too! Only difference I almost bought the SQ2 Beech but I didn’t. Working within the car industry I’ve learned about sales & sale pitches that they generate in order to get you to buy something. Almost like a Ford vs. Chevy vs. Mopar thing, but you just can’t go by what they tell you. You have to experience these things for yourself over a course of time. Also being that I grew up on a Rockstar DX Kit (underrated sound) I knew if the low end budget sounded awesome, I expected nothing but great things from the Star line.
@@bmack1447 I got the SQ2 Hvy Beech kit, pre owned, for dirt cheap and was able to actually make a couple hundred when I sold them.
What was the reason to sell it? Does the star kit sound better compared to an SQ2?
@@JanusJanavas In my opinion it has more tone than the heavy beech and a lower timbre. So for the sound I'm looking for it does sound better. Nothing against Sonor. I actually have a thin shell Scandinavian Birch SQ2 on order. That and the Star Walnut will be all I need going forward.
I love that they feature full mix and also overhead and room mics only.... The best channel!
Thank you! We aim to please.
The head to head really tells the tale. The walnut is a perfect blend of the best characteristics of the other two kits. The bass frequencies bloom like the Bubinga, but the midrange tonality of the Maple is present but more controlled. What an absolute winner of a shell.
A lot of us thought the same thing!
@@drumcenternh Tama really has advanced as a drum maker since the late 80's. They've never been my brand of choice, but they've certainly earned my respect by their determination and willingness to try new things, spend legitimate time and money on R & D, and dare to set themselves apart from the pack while continuously coming with some great hardware to boot. I would definitely consider Star walnut for my next kit. Great video as always, guys!
Thanks, Jason. Glad you liked the video!
@@drumcenternhis it hard to order individual shells? I like the bubinga rack toms but liked the walnut floors and kick
16:34 the dog noticed how good the drums sound!
I love dogs
same
@@drumcenternh which wood is the snare made of as you tested the kits?
Those must be warm drums. My labs hated drums, thunder, fireworks, and loud sounds alike. That's a good boi!
Great video fellas! I own a Star walnut kit, among other Tama kits, and owned a Star bubinga before I sold it in favor of the walnut. The move to walnut was actually driven by the availability of the Japanese sen indigo burst finish, which I just fell in love with. As someone who has owned and played both the bubinga and walnut kit, they’re both amazing. Soundwise, I don’t have a preference, though there is a slight difference, probably influenced more by the rerings, or lack thereof, vs. the difference in wood type. Taste is clearly subjective, however, I find the Star drums to be the best production drums that I’ve ever heard.
I absolutely love that Japanese sen finishes. Best finishes I’ve ever seen in my life. And yeah I’ve only seen them with the walnuts. Imo the walnuts sound the best in the star line. I prefer the bubinga sound with the starclassic line being more aggressive and thicker in that line which sounds best for bubinga wood imo. But the walnut stars are out of this world. Want to own it one day but I’ll stick to my starclassic bb hyperdrives since im perfectly happy with them.
Oh my god that bubinga legit made me cry. It may just be a TH-cam video but that's probably the best-sounding drum I've ever heard
I've watched these videos for years and I've noticed how Shane has gotten better and better over time. This man deserves some work. He's knows what he's doing.
Great demo! Now it is time to do a comparison between the Tama Star, Sonor SQ2 and Yamaha PHX!
My head would explode...
for 2020 the star walnut has slightly thicker shells. 7 ply 7mm bass drums and 6 ply 6mm toms, floors and snare drums. and has also 2 new exotic veneer finishes. light indigo japanese chestnut and cinnamon japanese chestnut. i think tama has realized that these walnut drums are maybe the most incredible of the star line and they have decided to make them the best they could. walnut is a holy grail material to make drums. it has gigantic dynamic range and sound enormous. fat like a 60 years old Kentucky fried chicken frying pan.
Almost 23 minutes of heaven
Tama is just killin it.. damn they make some great looking/sounding drums
Another reason why you guys are the best in the biz! Thanks for taking the time to do this and hope to see/hear more in the future!
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Love all three. But the Walnut. THE WALNUT!!!
Only good thing about the walnut are the finishes. Starclassic was better but they're made in China now. Save money and get them.
@@gaboogablah Not even a sliver of truth in that statement. i have a walnut kit and I am telling you that it blows any kit i've ever owned or played out of the water. Extremely versatile, purest tone, highest build quality, there is not a single bad thing to say about these drums
I have a star walnut with 4 rack toms and 2 floor toms and a 20 x 18 bass, plus the matching 14"x6.5" walnut snare. They are a work of art. All toms are deeper than the normal depth shells because i ordered everything to the sizes i wanted.
Unfortunately I found out production for Starclassic was moved to China when I was putting in the order, and I didn't want a Chinese set, so I ordered the star. The hardware is still Chinese and it had defects. Rusty tension screws and dull scratchy flinish on the bottom of the cast hoops. Mine came directly from Japan because i wasn't in the states, i was in Asia when i ordered them, hoshino USA is much better than dealing with hoshino Japan. Don't tell me anything, I have a complete 8 piece set with snare and special ordered shell depths. All Satin Charcoal Japanese Sen. And 14 Paiste 2002 cymbals and hihats. Most of the cymbals were from my old 8 piece double bass tama Philippine mahogany set from the 80s. But i got a couple new 2002, a 602 and a twenty series. A pair of mini tymps and a Roland TM-2 and a couple pads for effects.
@@norcoriders99 you probably got your drums from hoshino USA and they assemble everything there, and probably took more notice of the components during assembly than Japan did on mine. It was Japan, my dealer than me. Even with my dealer agreeing on the problems, Japan wouldn't admit it. So my dealer ate the cost for the replacement parts. I have a contact at hoshino USA and he said he'd replace the items but since I didn't buy it in the states he couldn't help me. Just be glad you're in the states buying tama.
@@norcoriders99 what wasn't the truth? The Starclassic are made in China, and they were better. The Starclassic maple was a great set and sounded better than the star maple, but I didn't want any Chinese drums, and i liked the star walnut better than the maple and bubinga. I never really liked anything bubinga but that's my preference and to me, the star walnut sounded better than the star maple, so I special ordered a complete 7 piece shell pack with a matching snare. That's an 8 piece complete set of walnut. I got a two section power tower rack, but i continued to use my pearl hihat and double pedals. The hihat stand is better than the best one from tama, i got one but didn't like it so I got a pearl red line hihat stand, and I'm still using my eliminator dual chain cam shiftet pedals. I also have a sonor double pedal but that is on my Roland vdrums set.
I've been playing 45+ years and there's no reason to not be honest about anything drum related. I've had many sets from many manufacturers, and more cymbals than most people see in their lifetime.
You can tell just by watching Shane hit these toms, that these toms don't don't fight back and the sticks seem to sink in..I like that. It makes drums even more fun to play.
I love Tama!! I’m happy to pay for any Tama drum!!
You guys do the best reviews, period. Thank you.
Thanks, Matt. That's nice to hear. Glad you enjoyed it!
Could be the Yamaha PHX from our Yamaha 6 kit comparison, or maybe the White Sparkle SQ2, or the DW Exotic shootout?
@@williamperri3437 oh, yeah. It was out Tama Star Maple unboxing video - olive ash burst!
@@drumcenternh Hey guys! I've watch several of your videos (mostly Ludwig, DW & Tama) & I was curious,because this is the only kit that I've heard you guys mention good for playing Gospel. Now, I dont only play Gospel, but I also play, Hip-hop, RnB & Funk. I've been playing a 6-piece Studioease Mapex Meridian Birch kit for 8 years now (not the F.A.S.T. version with the shallow toms). Which kit (kits) for under $1,500 (my kit was $875) would you guys recommend for the genres that I play? Drummers with similar musical backgrounds & applications as myself would be Eddie & Gerald Heyward, Calvin Rodgers, Chris Kee, Chris Dave, Tony Royster & Aaron Spears.
@@callen7436 We are blowing out the remaining Tama Starclassic Birch/Bubinga kits. That sound would work really well for what you do. Here's a link: www.drumcenternh.com/tama-starclassic-performer-b-b-4pc-drum-set-coral-red-sparkle
This is the video I’ve been waiting for. One of the employees commented on a previous post and said there’s a special video coming for the Tama guys out there and this is definitly it. Love this and no other drum store does comparisons and videos like this with this great quality. I hope they compare the entire Tama range like they did with the Yamaha ranges. From either the superstar classic, silverstar, superstar hyperdrive, starclassic B.B., Maple, bubinga, and then Tama star. Really want to hear the differences side by side. Or at least the starclassic and star drums side by side. I have a starclassic B.B. hyperdrive and it’s just the perfect kit for me and at such an amazing price point with the same hardware as the star drums expect a few little things. But the fact Tama brought down the star hardware down to the starclassic lines and made the starclassics cheaper it’s just the best out there for the money. My kit is Chinese made and I cannot tell the difference between my starclassic maple Japan made kit and starclassic B.B. hyperdrive made in China. Both are phenomenal but I actually prefer the bbs over the maples.
Andy Ham I have Japan made B/B and China made B/B and there isn’t one bit of difference except for the sticker on the shells. I actually think they do better finishes on the China kits. Less environmental laws. My Red Sparkle Burst finish is amazing! Looking at it really closely it’s a red candy clear over silver sparkle over a black base coat. I don’t even think the Pearl finishes are that trick.
Told ya. :)
Joe Rico yeah exactly. Anyone who shits on the China made Tama Drums haven’t even tried one. Also have a Tama silverstar which was Chinese made and paid just 400 bucks barely used for it and that kit is amazing as well, not as good as the starclassic B.B. hyperdrive but still a great kit for the money and I use as a backup and gigging kit.
Adam Frost haha yeah man that’s for the heads up. Been waiting after you commented on the previous video. Hope there’s more to come with Tama. You guys are the best
Simply the best sounding overall are the Tama Lapel Star drums.
Great video - love Tama’s sound. The Star series is off the charts. The head-to-head at the end was really helpful. Star maple suits my ear best.
I love that maple kit. Sound is amazing.
I know it's a pretty old video, but jeeeeez I love what you guys do and how you do it. I came back because I wanted to hear the bubinga again. I've never played or been in the same room with one but lots of videos like this always left me with... basically no impression of bubinga.
This video was no different. But wow, the maple and walnut, holy smokes. If I had unlimited budget I'd mix walnut toms and maple kick and like a copper snare.
Anyway, thanks for doing what you do and doing it so consistently. I love all of this stuff so much. Really a killer channel, the absolute best drum demo videos I've seen.
The Star Maple are the best sounding to my ear! Seriously interested with purchasing the Star Maple drums.
I always thought I liked the bubinga best but after really taking a listen through good headphones, the walnut sounds best for my preference. I have a starclassic maple (late 90's) and may consider getting a star walnut. Thanks for the most in depth review on the Star series!
Thanks for watching, Robbie!
Thanks for this video!!! It was great to hear the difference between the different woods!! As far as I know I've never heard the bubinga drums before. I really like the sound of those!!
Walnut sounds amazing. I got a walnut/birch starclassic kit from DCP a couple weeks ago and I am blown away at ow amazing they sound right out of the box.
Yes! Thanks so much for the support and enjoy them!
You guys tuned those drums damn near perfect. And they all sound fantastic. I have never been a huge fan of Tama but these drums are all special. Even with just room mic’s. Impressive drums. Ps I don’t have a favorite sound wise but that maple finish is gorgeous.
Thanks, Scott! It's hard not to be impressed with these drums. Thanks for watching!
You've started making great videos lately (not that the older ones were bad. but..) Congratulations! These are exactly what anybody searching sounds on the internet wants - professional review paired with clear head to head comparison. Great work!!
Thanks for the kind words, Ivan. Glad you liked it!
Tama star is the pinnacle of drums. The bubinga and walnut sound best to me. I seriously can’t pick between those two. They both sound amazing. I think I would go with Tama star walnut cause I actually prefer the Tama starclassic bubingas more. Just more thicker sounding and more aggressive but idk can’t go wrong with starclassics or star drums. Tama is just killin the game
Too bad the hardware isn't as good as the drums. Why couldn't they make the hardware in Japan as well.
gaboogablah tama has the best hardware in the game. Their air cushioned floor tom legs, bass drum spurs, the swivel wing bass drum mounting system for the starclassics and the star hardware on the star drums are the best hands down. Their affordable widely popular road pro hardware is the most reliable and best hardware and has never failed me and I’ve used them for so many years now and haven’t had one problem touring with them and playing nonstop shows. Their star stands are just the most innovative stands as well. Not sure why you think Tama hardware isn’t as good as their drums cause even their first chair drum thrones, iron cobra and speed cobra pedals and hi hat stands are all the best imo.
Remo makes great heads, but I genuinely believe if you put some Evans G2’s on those Toms and an EMAD on the kick, those drums would BOOM!! Just my thought.
The dog is awesome!!
Great review. Now if you can review a way to make them affordable. Lol
Cranked my headphones for that final comparison. . . Really interesting, subtle differences in the woods! They all sound really great. The throatiness of the walnut speaks to me.
Really enjoyed this video thank you. I've been playing starclassic maple for years now and they still make me smile. Great tone, build quality and look amazing.
Well done guys ! -This was a very much needed documentation on these amazily thoughtful and finely
crafted instruments -I’m very surprised Tama themselves did not create and push a marketing campaign for this line -
I guess I can dream. That Bubinga sounds amazing!!
I have a cheap hyper drive kit that I have made sound really good for what they are. It took me a LONG LONG time to get it to that point. I get a lot of comments on the sound I pull from them.
Walnut is KILLER sounding!
Another great video! Really love these head to head comparisons. Really lets us see the differences in tone and the all around sound of the kits. Keep it up!
Glad you liked it, Doug. Thanks for watching!
P.S. I've am so in love with those UFIP cymbals you chose to accompany these kits. In my opinion the most underrated symbol company ever
You are right, Jetty. UFIP are excellent cymbals, but unfortunately they are still underestimated today. this is a pity and also absurd because they are good quality cymbals and with the new UFIP lines they also made improvements in the sound of their Crashes, and we can hear it from this video
@@mistermaster4801 zildjian for life
@@cartshal7185 it's a matter of tastes
Thanks for this video, really much appreciated. Usually you don't get to hear all three types side by side, so this is a really valuable demonstration of the Star series. All of those drums sound - hands down - really good and the difference are - on the toms - quite small, but much more prominent with the bassdrums. I like the look and sound of the Star Maple the most, but I would like to see Tama make an all birch Star-Kit. That would be a great addition to an already great (but really expensive) series of drums. And it would probably sound awesome. I really love birch kits and it's a pity that they do not offer a pro-level 100% birch-kit anymore.
You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it, it was a pleasure to make!
Awesone. Love the end of this video. I would love to have my dream kit build by 12 maple, 14 bubinga, 16 walnut and 22 Walnut.
i agree
you surely do the best reviews online. this is so exactly what we want to hear and see ! thanks guys !
BEST DRUMS AND COMPANY IN THE WORLD!!..PERIOD!! AWESOME SOUND!😈
Maple for me always, they’re the most versatile. With that said they all sound nice but the biggest take away here for me is “Hand Crafted In Japan”. That’s so important for me.
If these drums haven't sold yet, I'd be gobsmacked. I'm a Sonor SQ2 owner and if there was any other kit I'd buy, hands down, a Tama Star. Power, clarity, tone, definition... absolutely sublime craftsmanship.
Yet another incredible review ! Thank you guys for the very best reviews on YT ! I share and forward all of these.
Fantastic video. Well done. I especially like the head to head comparison at the end. Excellent format and excellent drums !
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, it was a lot of (fun) work.
I just want to say, THANK YOU for this review!...is one of the best ones regarding Tama Star series, we really appreciate the effort behind it, keep shining guys!
If you can do something similar for Starclassic series, that will be another hit!.
Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video! I really lobved the Walnut the most, Maple being second. And the UFIPs sound amazing. Well done!
oh God! That Bubinga kick drum is Heaven
Lebay lu
Thank you for this amazing review! You guys make the best video reviews!
I'm really digging this Bubinga wood!!!!!
in the head to head, the bass drum difference is insane. Heard the maple and was like wow, cant get better than that. Then it did
Absolutely incredible drums. Japan has pure quality! 👍🎶🥁😎DC
Superb video showcasing these works of art!
Thanks, Brian!
Just found you all and watched the Ludwig video and now this. Loving the content!
Fantastic video, guys! Thanks for posting this. As a drummer, I‘d go for the Walnut (what a massive sound!), as an engineer, I‘d probably prefer the Maple ;)
these guys are the masters of demoing drums and they get the best drum sounds, they rival any big name studio's drum sounds imo. I'm going back to TAMA !!
Great job on the vid.. The tom on tom comparison at the end is the best. That clarifies the difference between all the individual drums and makes you guys TOPS!
I'd really like to see that comparison on the Starclassic line. I've been torn between the B&B and the Maple and haven't been able to find a place to compare the two in person. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for this, I always thought my dream wood was Bubinga, I have heard acoustic guitars made of bubinga that are pretty much a religious experience to hear in action. But I must say I really love the slight nuance Walnut brings. A bit less sustain, and very focused attack. Bubinga tends to sing a bit more like my present all birch kit. I do believe this might well be a turning point for me. Walnut might be a better choice for me.
UFIP cymbals, italian pride! Thanx guys for the choice!
Thank you Drum Center. This video is a service (along your others) to the drumming community - Look at the comments! I've been wanting to compare these kits like many others I'm sure have. It's just not always feasible to walk into your local music shop and try this stuff out. With top-end gear these videos become invaluable. Well done!
I'm half way around the world from you but you get my two thumbs up and a big thanks!
That's great to hear. Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
My choice is maple. That’s what I play now and it works. No need to change. I do prefer the wood finish over my gold sunburst fade but it all comes down to the sound. Coated Emperor on top, and coated Ambassadors on the bottom.
Brilliant videos playing all the drums different mic settings and important having different players too! the same set can sound different from a aggressive player to a more laid back one! make more please! ..
you guys do the reviews with such passion and dedication that travels across my monitor, is really enjoyable watch your videos, keep it that way, greetings from Argentina
Thank you so much for this amazing job!
I mean, all i wanted to say is to comment this vid like "Now i can clearly say i love Walnut, which is unexpected!"
But then i realized what volumes of job you guys do to clarify the many aspects for us!
Thank you so much!
Subscribed around 3 years ago and have no single regret!
P.S. i still look for this magic video about tom/bass drum depth sound comparison :)
Thanks, Victor. Glad you liked the video!
Supervisor cameo at 16:33
Great video, guys. These Star drums are legit, and the more drummers know about them, the more they should be saving their pennies to buy a set!!! Cheers!!
Not gonna lie. There's some good drumming happening on my favourite drums of all time here.
The puppy is the best part of this video! Well, I think I "wood" pick different "woulds" for different sizes...Probably bubinga for smaller sizes, Maple mids- lows, and Walnut lows...I have no idea about the bass drum...Whichever one you can literally feel the soundwaves most when you play it so it fills a room mike I guess...
Absolutely love your videos. A great service to the drumming community.
Thank you, Timothy. We're glad you liked it!
Walnut, bubinga, maple. I did order a custom made bubinga star snare early on to the star release. Had it made with only inlays on the inside of the rings and I had it made with top and bottom lugs bc I am not a fan of a center lug with really long screws on an 14x8 snare. Love it!!!!
Another quality review video thank you! When I heard the unmic'd kick drum of a guy's Starclassic B/B Performer kit I knew I had to get me some TAMA drums... a year later and I have a B/B kit of my own! The quick-lock mounting system is a godsend for gigging drummers like me. I also own a few SLP snares which are marvelous. In the review, the description of the Walnut is spot on - pretty much Maple on steroids... also a bit more attack to the sound. Having previously owned a Mapex Saturn which is Maple/Walnut configuration, I can attest to the sound. If I had a chance to make my own Tama shell formula, I would do Bubinga/Walnut with no rings.
DCP rocks, keep em coming guys!
Wow what a fantastic comparison video. You guys did a great job!!!
These have got to be the best drums I have ever ever heard I used to own a N & C CD Maple kit, I would really like to hear a kit comparison of Stars vs CD Maples and Horizon 😀
Ithink bubinga is the best by a mile on the kick drum. Sounds incredible. For Tom's and snare it's closer but I still prefer bubinga
my cymbals of choice! not many people have heard of Ufip
Pretty impressive comparison. I actually dig the Bubinga! So when you gonna do the Sonor SQ2 Maple v Beech v Birch shootouts?
The Tama Performer Bubinga/Birch in Molten brown Burst is the kit i bought last month..And i Love My Ufip Cymbals as well..They are still one of the best kept secrets IMO because you don't see them for sale in the GTR Center and Sam Ashtray..Some of the best sounding cymbals i have heard....Period...Natural Series..Class Series..Vibra Series...Comparable to Paiste Signature and Zildjian/Sabian as far as product but not quite as expensive...If you can,check em out..If you play enough of the different lines you will be sold on the sound..
Great review as alway's.Tuning is excellent,you alway's know what you're getting with these guy's.
Right on! Shane and co.
Walnut have that early 80’s Superstar growl. Sound great!
Love the juxtaposition between the two drummers, gives a sense of rockish druming or jazzish drumming.
Save your money and just get the Chinese Starclassic. Same quality.
The star walnut snare is nice though. I have a 14"x6.5".
That bubinga bass drum in the full mix sounded absolutely divine 😍
I've never had a real high end kit.... had a pearl kit and 80s imperial star kit (loved that one) a silverstar kit few years ago and I currently have a 2018 imperialstar and a Ludwig rocker kit from the late 80's and with the right heads and tuning sounds pretty good.
I'm hoping one day I can get my hands on a new starclassic maple 🍁 kit.... thats the dream! Love the channel and thanks for reviewing these amazing drums 💯
Oddly enough in another video, Shane said he can be a bit "ham fisted and aggressive" with his playing style but when he got into the bubinga he was adding some more articulate notes, so maybe that's the way to go Shane! Every drummer I've seen has a style and also plays to the kit, which is a great part of making music with drums but I noticed that Shane is more slight in his changes, but with this bubinga kit his style change, subtly, stood out to me.
Love my star bubinga/birch i just picked up from you guys. Nothing better than supporting your local shops!
Thanks, Isaac!
Star classic right?
Great video as always, those are my dream drums and to top it all you have a dog strolling around the shop. Love the dog just strolling around while your guy is playing the walnut kit.. You guys should feature the dog in one of your videos.. Drum loving doggie lol!
That's Franklin. He's a good dog.
great video! i use the same combo myself, TAMA drums and UFIP cymbals
These are amazing sounding drums !
Some of the very best out there!
8:38-9:42 might be the best playing I've ever seen from Shane.
The maple kit sounds perfect for playing fast Punk rock music or something along those line. Btw AWESOME REVIEW
One day I will own a Tampa Star kit... one day. A drummer can dream right?! The Indian Laurel finish is beautiful. Keep the videos coming DCP!
Geez it tough but for me I think it's the bubinga then walnut and lastly maple. But honestly it's tough. They all three sound like heaven and I don't think you could go wrong with any.
Hands down you guys do the best product reviews on TH-cam. I really appreciate it and I when I'm ready to buy a new snare, I will be giving you a call. Thanks!
The Star Bubinga bass drum sounds so mighty.
i just ordered a bub set! double bass 4 rack toms and a floor tom!
Great video! Good work Shane
These are my dream drums!!
Tough choice between the Maple and the Walnut.
If I am ever in New Hampshire I definitely will need to stop at this toy store, you guys have it all.
Walnut Tama sounds great!
Best drums in the business. Hands down. Always leading, never following. Also says volumes about Remo’s coated heads, that they won on Tamas highest level kits. However, Bubinga drums sound the best in person. I have never been fond of the raw sound of drums, even audiences find it harsh or dry. But, Bubingas have such a dynamic percussive element that the attack and bottom end mixed with punchy presence just sound great in person. You can play them in a acoustic setting and everything is articulate, and pleasant. They sound EQ’d in person where as Maple does not. It sounds more hollow because your ears dont pick up the sonic ranges that you do with Bubingas and the overtones are nice. You dont need any treatment. But if you do, they punch and rebound even better for faster playing.
FanaticalDrummer EXACTLY, well said. I played Maple drums for years but they didn’t match the sound I had in my head. Finally Tama brought the Bubinga to the for front, I was blown away, that void was filled. Mic’d drums live in concert have that undeniable sound, well Bubinga brings that without mics. The kick drum in an un mic’d setting has always lacked in attack and punch. Well no more, that Bubinga kick is Phenomenal, it is everything I ever wanted, makes me smile every time I kick it. Still love maple overall for my snare though. Would love to hear a walnut kit in person un mic’d.
Really?? Wow I gotta hear a bubinga in person and consider it for my next kick.
Larry Tate Pick up a used Starclassic Bubinga now while they can still be found. Some of the best drums ever made and every bit equal to the Star drums. My 16” Bubinga Elite floor tom can be tuned just above wrinkled and the low end that comes out of that drum is something I never thought was possible playing Maple and Mahogany drums all my life. Now I need an 18” and my life will be complete. The Starclassic Bubinga bass drums are even more impressive than the Star line. That slightly thicker shell gives them more grunt down low and a bit more punchy attack.
Walnut for sure! Wow, just...wow.😮