DRUM DEMO | TAMA SUPERSTAR HYPER-DRIVE DUO

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

I've been getting a lot of questions about my new Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive Duo drum set that I have in the studio. So here's a drum demo and overview of the full kit. I LOVE the Hyper-Drive Duo snare drum/floor tom combo. It allows for the option to have a really deep snare drum sound or to have another tom. You can place the Hyper-Drive Duo snare to your left as a side snare, in the tom position as another floor tom/aux snare drum, and you can even place it in the center of the kit as your main snare. Also, the matte black finish with yellow racing stripe is fire. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think of the kit!

[@yolanc3876]

How do you make those drums sound so warmm !! how do you record ?

[@mihaidrums5]

I love how you tuned these drums! Just amazing!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks so much

[@JeraCravoMyself]

Came for the kit, stayed for the tuning and drumming! Cheers

[@IndoDarahSSE033]

I have a Tama Superstar HD and use clear dual coated heads which makes the attack real nice because of the shallow shells. If you havent tried that yet i can recommend. If its too much just use some gel or slapkladz. I like the way you tuned this set i have still havent mastered that yet.

[@adrianlyord3978]

Those Drums sound fantastic! I love Tama Drums and I'm going to get me another kit someday soon! Thanks for sharing your video!

[@LyleHarmon721]

WOW!!! Beautiful tone!

[@danielmorales6151]

Demo with music too.. it's nice to see how it feels with music in the back and how it blends. I hear music but I also feel it

[@matthewwilson1700]

I think the kit sounds great all around. Not trying to knock Tama or anything, but hey, they wouldn’t give me the time of day as far as their artist relations goes, but the floor tom/snare combination came from A&F drum company, Ramy Antoun refers to it as a “SNOM”. If you haven’t heard of A&F, definitely check them out. Once again, not trying to knock Tama. I think the Tom/snare combination is awesome, just gives a drummer another tool to mix things up a bit, I know I would use one like a secondary snare drum similar to how Stephen had his set up just to his left of the hi-hats. I also like the Big Fat Snare Drum being placed on it as well. Appreciate you taking the time to share the sound of this kit. I have seen these online and wondered how they would truly sound.

[@DolkkarToyznstuff]

My first drum kit was a Tama Royalstar that I got back in 84. I owned that kit all the way until 99 and it was great. Since then I have played Pearl, Sonor, DW, eventually going to back to Tama with their Star Classic line. With my first recording gig, I got to play on a vintage Gretsch kit which was phenomenal, however, my home in terms of drums has always been Tama. Those nickel hoops are out of sight, I might go that route with my next kit. Great video yet again and a great sounding kit, thank you for taking the time to share this Stephen. Oh and that floor tom sounds amazing! Nice and boomy!

[@andyham6094]

Q's Reviews Tama starclassics all day

[@DolkkarToyznstuff]

@@andyham6094 Indeed!

[@yolanc3876]

I want my drums to sound like that !

[@jimmydunn2231]

Really impressed!!! You are getting some sounds out of that kit you usually don’t hear from those shell sizes! If I was in the business for a new kit I would at least check this out.

[@mrdrumz48]

Kit sounds really good. Playing is really good!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks!

[@hitadrumlessons]

Beautiful looking kit with Very distinctive tom sounds. Tama always put quality first into their drums. I’m playing a 1983 Tama Superstar kit with birch shells. Thanks for posting I enjoy your drumming and product reviews 🥁👍👍

[@pre_ban_andy]

That groove you're playing at 6:35 was sweet!

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Andrew Bradshaw thanks!

[@alexanderjamieson7971]

I have this exact kit and changed the stock heads with coated Aquarian force 10's on the toms, and a coated Super Kick 10 with a ported regulator. Paiste cymbals all around. My band members think this kit sounds louder than my previous kit. I think shallow depth on the toms somehow translates to a louder/punchier sound due to less distance for the soundwaves to travel and react between the batter and resonant heads. I'm from Iowa so the black and gold just did it for me looks wise.

[@andyham6094]

Alexander Jamieson they just feel and sound better to my ears and are much easier and faster to tune. I have a hyperdrive Tama starclassic bb and absolutely love it. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.

[@jusufcoralic232]

Sounds amazing! Nice playing too

[@zachsmith6866]

Those hats are AMAZING!! Great kit as well :)

[@jurekapler2550]

Hello very good sound, please tell me is 12 inch tom tuned to B or?

[@RainCityStateOfMind]

You should make a video comparing and contrasting the Superstar and the Starclassic. I know they’re drastically different price points, but small changes to a more affordable kit can really change the tone and stability. Just wondering, if investing in a several thousand dollar setup is worth the investment of the average gigging drummer. Curious of your thoughts on the matter. Nice video, btw 👍🏻

[@johnpietrolaj8917]

Sounds and looks fantastic!

[@isaaccribbs276]

Beautiful Kit!!

[@ianrankin4701]

cool and very interesting. I like the overall sound

[@miketorossian]

Beautiful kit

[@RemmyBones]

Damn! Sounds great man! Sweet playing.

[@ap3montes739]

What a delicious kit!

[@loganlakedrums]

Great sounding kit!!!

[@jegorlimas6576]

Hey Stephen! Quick question which drum set do you prefer the starclassic or the hyper-drive duo? I am currently looking to purchase a drum set and I have a few drum sets in mind, starclassic and hyper-drive duo being options.

[@siyabongathembinkosimngome8869]

Between these c K's and Sweet K's which ones are greater to record with and sound good for jazz

[@patrickfarley8036]

Love that snare sound! How much of that sound is due to the heads on it and how much is the drum itself? I haven't used an Aquarian head since the blue hydraulics came out in the 80's. I went back to Ramos at some point and then tried Evans and have used them since. I love how they match my kits (one is 100% birch the other 100% mahogany) and a couple of extra snares. 1 steel, 1 cherry/ maple and a '57 WFL that is mahogany with maple re-enforcement hoops. If I could get that attack from the head I'd swap one out, but I have a feeling that is a characteristic of the Unga bunga bunga anda binga banga bunga snare drum. Yes, no, maybe so? Thanks! ✌

[@ARDrummer]

Sounds great!

[@chad-tacular]

Stephen, super duper awesome kit man! Had my eyes set on these for a while now. Great demo too 👍 Can you share with me how you mounted that 12X7 tom? It looks like it is supposed to be the 2nd rack tom if I’m not mistaken. But I love the 1-up 2-down set-up. Please share. I love how you did that. Thanks in advanced!

[@kylejoseph3576]

Sounds amazing

[@basiliobastardo255]

the Aquarians is replacement from stock one ?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Yes

[@drageben145]

The kit sounds amazing

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

drageben I think so too

[@callhisname7199]

This my dream kit

[@JiNKA]

that snare in the 630 area just sings.

[@westondifranco9313]

I'm more a gretsch guy. But it sounds nice. That side snare is awesome! It would be awesome for that phat snare sound.

[@markusthedrummer8143]

Now that's how drums should sound! Love that low growl from the toms bcz they evoke emotion unlike the typical overpriced dw stuff. This warm sound with the aquarian heads reminds me of my old sonor rosewood kit. Well done as always ST. Alright, Alright, Alright!

[@drmengele6192]

Stephen the kit sounds good overall but that duo snare is just another piece of gear to carry around that'll be under utilized..the surfboard stripe is gauche...a deal breaker! i set that up i expect to hear ''SURF"S UP!" all nite long unless i am in a surf bnd then its waaay cool

[@dennisludwig2504]

Mr. Taylor, Can you please share the heads you are using on the Tama Superstar Hyperdrive. I have the earlier birch edition and am searching for a warmer sound out of them. Thank you.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Dennis Ludwig coated response 2’s on the tom batter. Classic clears on the reso. Hi velocity on the snare batter.

[@kmier2000]

Sounds really good but I feel like you EQd the hell out of it. Amirite?

[@TimBuell]

Kris Mier def applied some EQ and compression, but nothing crazy. Tried to keep the mix true to how the drums actually sound.

[@astraldoom9824]

Beautiful

[@Klaus312]

I played this kit for a while but I prefer more traditional sizes, mine had a 22x20 bd. And i dont like the look of black nickel hoops. But it’s all personal preference.

[@therealspooks]

Love that snare man and the kit is pretty awesome! Did you use this for the Neil Peart series?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Spooks no used the bubinga starclassics

[@marcus_mayhem]

Don't let people play your drums!!!!! Stay out of my beat laboratory!!!!! Beautiful kit!!!!!!

[@boxerlifter1396]

Finaly great

[@darrylshisler2636]

I have always loved Tama’s lower tones capability. These don’t disappoint. Did you use any affects or just record “naked”? (The drums, obviously not yourself..... and thank you for that... 😂)

[@TimBuell]

Darryl Shisler there is a little EQ and compression on everything. But tried to keep the mix on the more “transparent” side so you could hear the real nature of the drums.

[@darrylshisler2636]

Tim Buell thanks for reply, and “transparent” is the much better description that eluded me earlier. 👍🏻🤓

[@AlexRooneyComposer]

I really do hate the sound of that floor tom/snare thing when its being used as a snare. I have never liked low tuned snares, I'm more a high tuned snare guy and that doesnt do it for me.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Alex Rooney I prefer one in the middle. But it’s really nice having that detuned snare option on the kit for a fat sound when needed.

[@Edelweiss1102]

Very good review of an awesome drum set. I'm a proud owner of an 8 piece Superstar Hyperdrive Duo myself and couldn't be any happier with them. In my opinion, they are the prime example for some things that I absolutely love about Tama. - they are not afraid to experiment and put out unconventional, but interesting constellation. In the age of capitalism and cutting costs as much as possible, putting out a set with Hyperdrive toms, traditional sizes for the rest and a duo snare may not be the most economically reasonable decision, but Tama said fuck it and did in any way. Same goes with their SLP products and I love them for it. - Tamas price-performance ratio is unrivaled in my opinion, and the Superstar series is the peak of it. It comes with many high end series features, a matching and actually pretty good sounding snare, a full set of nearly indestructible hardware and the Duo snare gimmick, it's nearly too good to be true. Most series at this price point come as a very basic shellset without any hardware or snare. Tama goes so far beyond, it's incredible. - Tamas customer support is top notch. I originally bought a 5 piece kit and thought it was impossible to get any additions through them directly. I couldn't have been more wrong. Over the years they went out of their way to custom make me two matching Racktoms and an additional Floor tom, for some random student without much fame or a lot of money. I couldn't be more grateful. This is not to say that other drum brands are bad or anything, I also own a Premier Resonator kit, a Pearl Steal Snare, a vintage Sonor kit and my beginner kit. That being said, I do feel like there is a development to more and more focus on Premium stuff with drum brands like Pearl, DW or Gretsch. You either have the name to be endorsed or enough money to buy the flagship stuff, or you do get the very nescecary basic stuff and service. These brands all produce some breathtaking stuff, don't get me wrong, but most of it is unreachable and unaffordable for us basic hobby drummers and customers. With Tama, I feel like they always value quality and making their customers happy, no matter if its Mike Portnoy, Steven Taylor or my little student self. You can't go wrong with Tama.

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Thanks!

[@Grit489]

@@StephenTaylorDrums after all that just thanks !

[@JulianFernandez]

versatile!

[@ronayers5133]

Hey Stephen... you don't still have this kit Duo you? Id like to purchase it. Tama Tama Superstar Hyper-Drive Duo ML40HZBN2 4-piece Shell Pack with Snare Drum - Flat Black Vertical Stripe

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

No sir, sold it last year

[@ronayers5133]

@@StephenTaylorDrums okay....thanks

[@kindnick58]

I like it

[@SKragseth]

Any footage from the drum-off?

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Spencer Kragseth none that is good enough quality to show. The venue was extremely dark

[@Juupke]

I know sound is a taste, but I dont like the tuning of your snaredrum, it sounds like you tune really low, Like a kind of ballad snare sound. Can you tune this up and get a nice cracking pop sound? Id love to hear that, greetz

[@StephenTaylorDrums]

Juupke are you taking about the duo side snare? You don’t want that one tuned up. It’s made to be more of a deep detuned sound. It has the depth of a floor tom. So low tuning is key for that one.

[@ZareP1]

first video i watch that really reviews the "duo", because (learn, other guys on youtube) it's duo cause it can be used as a tom and a snare. All videos i watched before only show it as a snare, where's the duo part on that? :v

[@christophermatthews3977]

yeah am number 7

[@trashstack]

Wowie

[@darkdrift0r124]

I wanna hear the snare without the big fat snare drum on it :

[@siyabongathembinkosimngome8869]

Aquarian is tough to tune, I use rings to cut the overtone,I once had remo powerstroke 4

[@drageben145]

First comment

[@SharnjoySenMetalcore]

Hi, a small request from my end. Please stop EQ-ing drums such drastically when doing a demo. It is difficult to hear the difference between mixed and raw drums. If you can't make out how the raw drums might sound from a video such as this, the demo is pretty much useless for me. Thanks!

[@juice3185]

Sounds terrible tbh....