TAMA Starclassic Performer 5-piece Shell Pack Demo

[@sweetwater]

Thanks for checking out this jaw-dropping TAMA Starclassic Performer with us! Hit those like and subscribe buttons for more!

[@tmaddrummer]

If only they were Bass mounted Toms........ too bad! Thanks and Blessings in 2021!!!

[@mikew8622]

Better sound not mounted to the bass.

[@tmaddrummer]

@@mikew8622 that's never been an issue for me since Nineteen Hundred and Sixty-Three......

[@mikew8622]

Not really an issue to me either way to be honest. I think if you’re in a studio recording it helps the recording Quality with the drums being isolated

[@tmaddrummer]

@@mikew8622 if you look back at the history of how thousands of early recordings were made, and they sure sounded great then and now, I think too much emphasis is placed on studio recording perfection. Just like some Drummers rely on “whatever” works to produce and make that special sound that each of us hear in our own individual sound locker! Have fun in 21....

[@Rockin_Ross]

A thing of beauty. They’re called “The Strongest Name in Drums” for a reason!

[@TonyT007]

@Derek Frampton aKa 1PaPaD1 Doesn’t sound like junk 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@TonyT007]

@Derek Frampton aKa 1PaPaD1 LOL Nick can make a Hello Kitty drum kit sound phenomenal 😂

[@vulcan1154]

@Derek Frampton aKa 1PaPaD1 depends which line you buy. I've got one of the B/B kits (made in China) and the build quality is exceptional - I was really impressed by it. I have, however, seen a few quality issues with the SLP snares (also made in China) mainly with screw alignment on the badges and strainers.

[@Rockin_Ross]

@Derek Frampton aKa 1PaPaD1: What isn’t these days...😔

[@Rockin_Ross]

@Derek Frampton aKa 1PaPaD1: Unless I’m mistaken, anything less than their Collector Series is outsourced. So while most high end companies have US made lines, middle to beginner kits are not made here.

[@thatdrummeroz654]

This kit is so balanced between tone and attack. Beautiful.

[@asawills9327]

Right!!! It's everything I've ever wanted in a set of drums. Don't know who could dislike these drums.

[@carlupthegrove262]

My opinion is Tama has the best finishes of any major drum company. Extraordinary

[@alex_s_music]

Gorgeous kit, amazing price. And a fantastic drummer on it!

[@Drewp06]

@fartpoobox ohyeah Agreed, it looks horrendous.

[@MrSiah007]

What’s your preference on finish?

[@tonyvinesmusic]

This has to be the coolest bass drum demo on the planet. Dang.

[@Tyler_Durden987]

Duuuuuuuude, Tama is redeeming the Starclassic finishes with this one! Beauty!!!

[@giofuentes]

I have 2 Performer kits that I haven't changed because I've never been into the recent finishes....until now!!!! Might be finally time for a new kit...haha

[@jmendyka4325]

Nick I can't help but notice how much you love your job and as a result, I love watching your demos!

[@ff2346cookson]

Lovely warm deep sound......that snare sounds gorgeous. Fantastic drummer.

[@andyham6094]

What a beautiful kit. Tama always killin it.

[@tarikkeskin]

This is absolutely from another planet. And Nick plays so transcendental.

[@danyheld9952]

The 10“ Tom Sound is top and the Snare 🥁 Amazing 👍🏻

[@bradrodman3263]

These are awesome! And what better drummer to showcase then the Mighty Nick.. God bless Sweetwater and staff in this New Year..

[@nekow1785]

And Nick D’Virgilio is awesome as always!!!

[@sandrider1406]

Tama are the best, perfectly sounding with the mic’s

[@jcdrums2798]

nick is the perfect drummer for testing the best drum choice in the world!

[@GwanYTB]

That is the kit I want. Amazing. And Nick's playing is outstanding.

[@benspudich422]

I’m a guitar player but those drums look so damn beautiful I really feel like taking up the drums right now i’m not kidding oh yeah and Sweetwater love them ❤️🥁🤘

[@Romans219]

Best drum kit for the buck All the way around. Nick is just a great guy. Thank you for sharing

[@thatdudekyle5690]

I’m in love with the tone of these drums. Fantastic!

[@trumskolan]

Love Nicks videos! He was in a great mood in this one :) 👍

[@mending_chord6787]

love the earthy look to that finish!

[@AMDpc067]

tapped on this kit at the store. sounds awesome

[@BEElaine1008]

Great vid to start off the year. Beautiful kit! And I thought the same thing...that the shape of the badge looks great against that finish! Happy New Year Nick and Sweetwater! 🎉

[@strat0871]

Happy new year Nick, cheers from France. This finish is called "spalted maple" on guitars ;)

[@dr.w1636]

Happy New Year Nicky Boy! Great Review as always 👏👏👏

[@thunderdrummerdude]

Very nice kit. I’ve been a fan of Tama drums over 20 years. If I didn’t already own a kit, I would gladly own that kit for sure. Add my two Zildjian A-custom crashes, Sabian studio ride, splash, China, Zildjian A-Custom master sound hats. 👍

[@noyzkieyt9806]

Wow that was cool and comfortable sounds good

[@LMBC6Brian]

The snare pop is amazing.

[@tylerbailey9329]

I got the snare drum this year and I have to say I'd recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade.

[@johndvorak5198]

It’s so pretty

[@jeande736]

Man, you really know how to play!! Nice 5x!! A gift for me?!! I am so humbled. Thanks!! Sounds fantastic and on point!! #TAMA 🔥 #HappyNewYear 🥁

[@josehenriquethomazinisalom4517]

EXCELENT KIT !! GORGEOUS COLOR AND FINISH HARDWARE!! CONGRATULATIONS !!!

[@sreeramdrums7163]

I personally have the Tama star classic walnut birch and honestly speaking I love the sound of it. I feel like this new drumset resembles more towards the hyperdrive set and also for me the warm fuzzy and mellow sound of the walnut birch beats maple which in my taste is blander comparatively even though I like the sound of the new kit. I feel like the kit having lower grade hardware does not matter as both the build quality and sound is at par or better than its competition. And the downgrade when it comes to the bass drum legs and the quick lock mount system does not change the amazing sound that star classics are known to produce as long as the star cast mounting system and die-cast hoops are present I am good with it.

[@marratj]

It’s funny that you mention the Hyper-Drives. Because apart from shell material, lugs and sizes, the SC Performer is pretty much a Superstar Hyper-Drive (exactly the same hardware except the lugs).

[@sreeramdrums7163]

@@marratj exactly a lot of the ideas are evolutions form other lines of drums

[@MNDrummer]

I think Tama hit a sweet spot with this kit, I only wish they offered a few more color options and the ability to pick what size bass you want.

[@victorm.8122]

Yeah, I agree !!! Not everyone wants a standard configuration with a 22" bass drum. Most of the (big) drum brands offer the choice of many configurations with 20", 22" or 24" kits in their intermediate models. Tama just suggest 2 or 3 kits in 22" and sometimes one in 20".

[@andyham6094]

@@victorm.8122 the starclassic walnut birch has a bunch of options and same with starclassic maple and if you can find a starclassic bb they have a ton of options for those. I have the starclassic bb hyperdrive sizes and I wouldn’t trade my kit for the world.

[@yvesf5355]

Wow Nick Nice Drums , you make them sound great thanks

[@cobra1995xx]

Hell of a nice kit

[@billmint8122]

7:32 lmao I love this editor

[@iantouzel638]

Great demo, as usual Nick playing is jaw dropping, hi Rosana let's dance 😉

[@stanfordkoch1271]

Very nice looking set indeed

[@terrydonegan1622]

Such a great drummer!! Thanks Nick

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Gorgeous

[@percasso5335]

I'm just mad they didn't do any cool new finishes like this for the Starclassic W/B.

[@johnny5.56]

@fartpoobox ohyeah in adore Tama, but many of their finishes I really don't like. This includes

[@RikkiJoeDrums]

I prefer the 'sky blue aurora' colour, love the blue more...

[@AlessandroSpenga]

I own a starclassic performance bb and it’s absolutely 🔥 Yes they’re made in china but the construction quality is really good. At this price point I think it’s a great deal.

[@gabrielemartino2466]

aaaand of course they cost as much (if not slightly more!) as the walnut birch did 2 years ago AND THE WALNUT BIRCH SKYROCKETED TO 2000€+ that's immensely sad to see. I think the sound of these maple-birch kits is not quite up there with other starclassic shells... They miss a bit of good sustain and low end that even the full birch shells seem to produce (for my experience) the old B/B shells had this short sustain characteristic too, but at least they had low end that PROJECTED... It's a taste thing, but I think these could be better (even though different heads might help). THAT SAID, the 2023 red finish looks INSANE. I would dream of a walnut birch or maple kit in this finish

[@thatdrummeroz654]

Your comment stands true. I'm a proud owner of both m/b configurations and I only wish the toms could sound deeper sonically and tonal note depth without choking the resonance of the shells or losing identified note values optimally in the lower registry. Granted, these m/b drums have great integrity towards how well they sound and they're definitely formidable in their lane for anyone looking for solid versatility and professional settings. There's a give-and-take for those of us with a knack for low sonic resonance vs midrange frequency. Specifically with the 12x9, 12x8, and 14x12 toms. The 12x8 is the easiest to work with sonically and physically in succession. This was my sonic learning experience that took trying it out as I started gravitating my preferences. This kit is well tamed and easily made for every room dynamically sensitive with flying colours. It's like the birch gates the maple while the maple arches the resonance in tonality. Like you said, w/b and bb push that sound barrier really well on a deeper resonance in terms of projection. I too also own w/b alongside my m/b. The m/b is a solid work horse to the players who know how to modify it sonically, especially given the key differences in how the hardware interacts with the shells. Using the hardware featured on the w/b toms like the Fast-Lock Starcast system has these rubber nubs where the m/b doesn't enhances clarity. That little nub actually tames the very little yet noticeable sympathetic ring by the tom rims. I swapped them onto the m/b to make packing easier when I noticed that little difference in the studio how much better the m/b sounded with the upgraded hardware. I also thinking a 14x14 floor tom may do wonders compared to the 14x12. 14x12 is great for rare occasions you just want a deep sounding rack tom, but 14x14 is my next step for this kit. And the 16x14... you could do 16x16 or 18x16, but the 16x14 fits well. Finally, The deepest I got my m/b tone was by using Remo Black Suedes on batter side with drum honey after upgrading the hardware. The best sound I've had with this kit are Remo Clear Vintage Emperors batter side and Remo Controlled Sound on reso with a little cotton inside and drum honey. You get the best of that m/b tone for what the shells have to offer and by far the kit is formidable. I'm too into deeper tones, this kit is adaptable which can also be a money savor. And of course, I love that cabin looking finish. I don't regret this kit at all. You made all the right points.

[@zakkcovers18]

Cool drum set👍

[@paulbolin7513]

This is a lot of drumkit for the money. A finish like that is ordinarily on high end kits.

[@erictorres4889]

You think these are a lot of kit for the money try the TAMA Superstar classics you get a 7 piece drumset 8 , 10 , 12 ,14 .16 , 22 by 18 and 14 inch snare yes the snare comes with the drums unlike these .those are a lot of kit for the money .

[@nekow1785]

Omg I LOVE YOU TAMA

[@mikew8622]

Sweet!!

[@anantakashkhalkho3017]

Look at the hi-hat at 2:19

[@fernandodenis8964]

😳😳😳😳

[@marekweglarczyk5096]

Could you please compare this kit to starclassic walnut/birch?

[@paddymurphy1724]

Tama make the best drums in my opinion and this sounds great but id want it in deeper sizes for that low end! lml

[@MauricioMagaldi]

Vicious buzz rolls

[@joebrooks3638]

I put the Tama/Evans G1 coated heads on the bottom and put Evans UV2 heads on top! Drums sound open, big, fat and clear! i wish Tama made or included a 8'' tom too

[@dilankarun9172]

They do. I got this kit in Sky Blue Aurora and added a 8x7 & 13x10. Per Tama, for this color caramel. MBST8H-CAR 8X6 or 8x7 is MBST8A-CAR . Not to hard to get in the US.

[@jcdrums2798]

a new baby in TAMA family

[@imaginarytube]

Really great price!

[@trafalgerdavis7839]

I am thinking that if you change the heads on this kit it would probably make a world of difference. They sound OK here, and I get that this needs to be tested out of the box, but I am not a fan of those heads. Just wondering how Emperor's/Ambassador combo's would work on this kit? Looking to buy a new kit, this is in my price range, but I have to say the Saturn's (that come with the Emperor/Ambassador heads from factory) sound awesome and full. I wish more people out there had these to test/comment on.

[@musiq21]

My thoughts exactly...I would love to hear this kit with a double ply drumhead !!

[@trafalgerdavis7839]

Update: been over 6 months now since i ordered this kit, still no Starclassic Performer kit. Tama - legendary name, legendary delay's. Not impressed.

[@dreammachine86]

Actually quite like the sound of this kit , it seems tight & a bit dry which I like. I'm looking to get my first higher quality acoustic kit soon, thanks to seeing Nick's demo of a DW's Collectors pure cherry some years ago I fell in love with that sound and have been seriously considering a cherry kit when I get an acoustic. Something about that wood sounds great, a shame not many brands use it outside of some snares. Collector's seem very expensive for custom orders but in-stock pre-configured 4 piece shell packs in the standard finish are in the realm of affordability for me with some saving, still not cheap though, around £3300. Mapex's Cherry Bomb kit looks interesting and has come down in price recently but no 22x18" available as standard, a custom order would be pricy. So I've been thinking, why not go for a Starclassic Performer, save almost 50% on the other options and have loads of sizes available as standard shell orders. I liked the sound of the B/B but that got discontinued, and whilst the W/B appeared really ineresting at first as walnut is another wood I seem to really like for drums (especially pure walnut i.e. Tama Star Walnut) after listening to some demos the sound is a bit hit and miss for me - I liked it a lot in some demos but in others I wasn't hearing the sound profile I wanted. Now this maple/birch option has been reaeased I think it's worth consideration, and I'm impressed that finish is done by hand using the real wood - I'd already seen some pictures of this kit and assumed it was a fake printed finish until Nick explained it. This kit being even cheaper than the W/B is nice too. I like that the kick drum has a lot of attack but it could do with some more low end punch so maybe a 22x18" with porting would be perfect. Thanks for the demo Nick, your a great player and I always appreciate the quality of your videos and I love drummers that sing too, even though I'll never be able to do that myself with my abysmal singing voice!

[@andyham6094]

Def get the Tama starclassic wb or maple birch but personally I like the wb better. It has better hardware with a thicker deeper sound. I have the starclassic bb hyperdrives and wouldn’t trade them for anything. Played on the wb and loved them too. Imo dw’s are overpriced. I had a cherry Mahoghany collectors dw kit which cost a fortune. Soon as I got the starclassic I sold the dws. Price was way cheaper and sounded and felt way better to my ears.

[@remygaron8311]

Awesome nice gorgeous 👏👏👏🥁🥁🥁🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@SKragseth]

Not enough low end for my taste but they look amazing

[@jeffwhitfield173]

i was thinking the same thing....not even a 2 ply drum head can help change that.....i went to chicago music exchange to check it out....the guys who work in the drum department said the same thing.....its a pretty kit but it a one trick pony.....but, i was able to pick up a used copper starphonic :)

[@cliffbacken]

Just a great tone from all the toms.. well balanced .. and the finish is a killer. I’ve been playing Tama since 1991 along with my Gretsch kit.. I want to buy this kit.. I just didn’t catch the price… anyone out there that can let me know what they are going for..?? Thanks.!!

[@ENNARELL]

Around 1.1K for the 4 shell pack.

[@Assimilator702]

I’ll probably get the snare in this finish or the Blue Molten finish. But not before the Starphonic Walnut. That’s a nice drum!

[@BEElaine1008]

Blue Molten sounds interesting. I’ll have to go look at that

[@Assimilator702]

@@BEElaine1008 Yeah it's a nice color. Tama has either the same color or something similar available on Starclassic Bubinga and Maple for Japan.

[@JanusJanavas]

7:32 - 7:34 LOL best zoom in ever

[@greandre68]

Nick what do you feel about the bass drum spurs , seeing that Tama went back to the old stile . I’m looking at purchasing that exact same set , but I’m a little hesitant about the bass drum spurs. If you have any suggestions I would appreciate it. Thanks for the great video.

[@MyDyerMaker]

I hear more birch than maple. They sound ok, but birch has a dry, papery sound to it. They look great.

[@Bobby2778]

The Sweetwater page for these indicates G2 clear batter/G1 resonant, and also mentions the Quick Lock Tom bracket. Are those Sweetwater add-ons? Other retailers are sticking to G1 coated batters and specifically mentioned that Quick Lock was not included. I also understand this may have been a spec kit as these haven’t become available yet.

[@sweetwater]

Hey, Bobby. Thanks so much for your interest. And thanks so much for pointing out the error. We really appreciate it. These do come with coated G1's, but the quick-lock brackets are not on this one. We will get that fixed as soon as possible! Thanks again. Best Regards, Jason Thiele, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1391, [e-mail]

[@mjm5081]

Drive West on Sunset to the sea...

[@georgwassner9427]

How would these drums compare to Mapex Armory? Kind of the same shell design.

[@Alpengrower]

i need this with a 20` bass drum. tama has no kit with 20` on natural wood finish =(

[@Alpengrower]

only SLP series , but comes with 12` rack tom lol

[@geraldcerdan3225]

Go to the Tama website and you can custom order the bass drum down to 18”.

[@Alpengrower]

@@geraldcerdan3225 i love you

[@Alpengrower]

@@geraldcerdan3225 its hard for me to find that option, if you can send me a link or something it would be great, thanks!

[@geraldcerdan3225]

@@Alpengrower www.tama.com/usa/products/drum_kits/starclassic_performer_drumkit.html. Scroll all the way to the bottom where you see bass drums. Have your authorized Tama dealer special order it for you.

[@ultragkart]

🤩🤩🤩

[@rohitdoestech]

what's up with the laptop on the right in some shots. Also Happy New year guys!

[@dogmart]

Is the finish called “log cabin”?

[@trafalgerdavis7839]

Yeah, its like a loggers' drum kit. This finish is very 'love it or hate it' with folks so far. I'm in the latter category.

[@vaughnmiller5319]

I'm looking forward to building my cabin around this drum set. 🤠

[@ryanspeed4671]

The kit sounds ok, but the finish isn't my cup of tea.

[@satupuluh4131]

7:31 👍👍👍

[@gopeek]

Tama starclassic performer or sonor Aq2??

[@bladewolling4947]

Is it possible to get a five piece shell pack with the tom mount on the bass drum, or do I have to order the 2nd floor tom separately, and possibly lose a combination discount?

[@sweetwater]

Hey, bladewolling4947. Thanks so much for your interest. That is the only way the 5-piece comes. And it is cheaper to buy it with the bundle because it is discounted. We can always get the 4 piece and then add on the floor tom later, but that would cost a little more and would take some time for the floor tom to arrive. I hope this helps. Jason Thiele, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1391, [e-mail]

[@ivanbajovic3476]

Bass drum legs? Nick forgot to mention that.

[@that-avr-drummer]

They're the old school straight Tama legs like in the 80s....some people think "the cheaper ones" but not really! Less expensive to manufacture for Tama? yes, lower quality and won't hold up to wear and tare? NOPE!!!

[@PaulMarangoni]

They don't sound especially fat, or full frequency. Kind of "flat". Could be due to those Evans heads though.

[@Milo-in4jv]

Would they work for jazz or not really

[@sideshowdrummer]

Not a big fan of that finish but I do like Tama Drums

[@saad-rn2xy]

شكرا لك ثيقة في المنتوج tama

[@groovekingmuzz2699]

Just ordered mine!!They will not arrive until July or August!!??Kind of sucks but what can i do besides be patient?

[@erictorres4889]

Mine came fast but I ordered mine from musicians friend too .

[@NotMyWar]

It sounds great and the price is awesome but man I really hate those Spurs.

[@IndigoJo]

Caramel, surely? Refers to the brown colour. Carmel is a mountain range in northern Israel.

[@dilankarun9172]

Back in the day, the Newspaper/Telegraph etc use to charge by letter count. So the American's dropped the U for example from Color. This also resulted in words like Caramel, being pronounced Caramel/Carmel. It all started because of economics ! As far as I'm concerned its still caramel pudding lol ! 😀

[@felixoohr1928]

Hey guys, Would you say this is a kit for Advanced Players, i currently have a pearl export and want an upgrade, at the moment i can’t afford the walnut birch, will this give me a professional sound experience ? Thanks 😊

[@sweetwater]

Hey, felixoohr1928. This would definitely be an upgrade to your export kit. I do play professionally and I would not hesitate to play this kit at all! I hope this helps. Jason Thiele, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1391, [e-mail]

[@felixoohr1928]

@@sweetwater That was really helpful, thank you, Jason :)

[@ChrisJS1987]

Is there any way you can order these kits with the 22"x18" kick? For me the 16" depth is a little bit lacking and I'd hate to spend a stupid amount to replace the kick after I've bought the kit.

[@sweetwater]

Hey, Chris. Thanks for your interest. You can order the components a la carte. They do make a 22x18 kick, but they aren’t available with the preconfigured kits. I hope this helps. Jason Thiele, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1391, [e-mail]

[@AriocKaichi]

Is it me or does the bass sound a little more rolled off in this one? The low tom bass isn't really there and the kick has no thump just that 80-90hz punch

[@theentityman]

I agree, could be the tuning and/or the heads... stock heads are generally trash, unless they’re DW stock heads

[@ohrid59mk76]

@@theentityman Evans G 1 coated is top professional head , must be the tuninig !

[@aboutthemetal8783]

Have Tama stopped using remo heads on the rest of their kits?

[@RichieGeno88]

I'm interested in this kit. is it premium Maple and birch?

[@sweetwater]

Hello, Richie! Yes. The kits feature a hybrid shell design of maple and birch. Thanks for the interest! Cody Kraus, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1766, [e-mail]

[@quicksticks40]

Any idea when these will be in stock at Sweetwater??

[@sweetwater]

Our team would be glad to look into the availability for you! When you have a moment, please give us a call at [phone] or email us at [e-mail]. Thanks for the message!

[@ScottMapex]

Beautiful kit but don’t think the tuning does much justice for these drums. Much too flat. Could be the Evans heads also. Put some clear remo’s on there and tune a bit lower and I bet this kit would shine.

[@dilankarun9172]

I've tried several combinations, Evans G2/G1, Remo Pinstrip/Ambassador . For me, I liked the Coated Emperor's/Clear Ambassador. (That combo also worked well on the Tama Walnut/Birch.).

[@khalifahvidal3959]

Is this better than a DW Design series kit ?

[@HenrikOewerst]

what drum mics do you use here?

[@drumminggouda]

Whats this hihat effect at 5:13?

[@MNDrummer]

I would be interested in your professional opinion. This new Starclassic or the Pearl Session Select? Same price and both have some high-end features. I'd like to find a drum shop with both in store but that will never happen.

[@theentityman]

Anything from Pearl that isn’t masterworks, reference, or reference pure is somewhat.... cheap sounding. Pearl drums always have more attack imo. Sorry for the unprofessional opinion.

[@MNDrummer]

@@theentityman : Thanks. I've never played Pearl, always Tama. I appreciate the opinion. I'm likely getting this new Starclassic 5 piece. Rock on and have a great New Year 2021.............

[@jamesmccarthy6975]

Nice drum set but looks like a bowling alley floor? Lol

[@ronniek7748]

They sound great but I dislike the finish.

[@dmitryshkolnik5233]

So, these are new, ofcourse, but I'm yet to see a video, where these sound half as good as the name implies

[@leondrawbridge6586]

There is a problem with these reviews! Nick could make any drumkit sound good. Heck, he could take the pots and pans in the kitchen and make them sound good

[@stevenfederico2594]

If your spend 2000$ on drums get designer seriesDw