Tama snare drums
Tama snare drums can be found in studios and stages all over the world. Their incredible build quality and tone makes them beloved by professionals and amateurs alike. Whether you want wood or metal shells, hit the twos and fours hard with a high-quality Tama snare drum.
Tama percussion accessories
From rugs and cases to clips and clickers, percussionists use all sorts of fun accessories to help them keep time and take care of their drums. Tama is ready to make life easier for drummers everywhere with a wide range of percussion accessories to fit just about any need.
You can even find Tama replacement heads and drum rings to either fix equipment that has taken a beating on the road or grab the perfect upgrade to take your kit to the next level!
History of Tama
Tama Drums was created in 1961 by the parent company Hoshino Gakki. Its original name was “Star Drums,” named after the family name Hoshino — which means “star field” in Japanese. The first Star drums were manufactured in Japan under a subsidiary company called Tama Seisakusho, the same manufacturer that made Ibanez guitars (which was also owned by Hoshino Gakki).
There were originally two lines of Tama drum models: the Imperial Star and the Royal Star. These lines made a big splash in the American market for being cheaper than their U.S. competitors like Ludwig, while still maintaining the decent quality drummers needed.
By the mid- ‘70s, the company officially changed its name to Tama and started to manufacture more high-end drums and hardware, which continued to gain popularity around the world. Around the same time, the company also bought out the then-bankrupt Camco Drum Company.
Camco was known for its incredible engineering and high-quality designs, and Tama began integrating many of Camco’s designs into their own manufacturing processes. Quality improved almost overnight!
Originally, Tama planned to continue manufacturing their low-end beginner models under the Tama name and market the high-end professional sets under the Camco name. However, because of their affordability and (now) high-quality hardware, many professionals continued to use Tama drums. Eventually, Camco drums were largely phased out, and all new drum models were marketed under the Tama name.
Today, Tama is still one of the biggest names in the percussion industry. Their drum sets and accessories are used by beginners and professionals all over the world. Even top musicians like Lars Ulrich, Mike Portnoy, and Neil Peart have used Tama drums when they take the stage. When you’re ready to take your beats to the next level, you can’t go wrong with a set of Tama drums.