Tama Aluminum Snare Comparison: PAL146 & LAL1455

4 mics: kick, overhead, & each snare.
EQ & minimal compression to mix well with the overhead mic, but no reverb was added nor removed.
Tama Starphonic Aluminum (PAL146)
Heads: Evans coated G1 over Evans Hazy 300
Tama SLP Classic Dry Aluminum (LAL1455)
Heads: Evans coated G1 over Evans Hazy 300
Snappy (both snares): Tama Super Sensitive Hi-Carbon Snappy Snares (MS20RL14C)
Snare mics: Shure SM57
Kick: EV N/D868
OH: Shure KSM32 positioned over both snares
Kick was EQ'd & lightly compressed to fit with the OH sonics.
OH was EQ'd with a slow +2dB rise in above 300kHz.
Kick drum: Tama Starclassic bubinga 22x18
Hi hat: Paiste 16" 602 ME
Crash: Paiste 17" Signature Fast Crash
Ride: Paiste 20" Traditional Medium

[@davidlatimer3091]

Tama makes some of the best sounding snares on the market. I own the Starphonic aluminum, and it's probably the best sounding aluminum snare I've ever played. Plus it records fantastic.

[@Assimilator702]

David Latimer I have the Yamaha Recording Custom 14 x 5.5 and it’s excellent. I was actually waiting for the Starphonic to be in stock but it was taking too long so I opted for the Yamaha. The Yamaha was a 2 month wait while the Tama wasn’t in stock until 2 months after that so drummers were definitely on an aluminum snare kick last Summer.

[@1life2pono]

Both sound fantastic. The Starphonic is more beefy, while the SLP is more crisp.

[@flacche]

Your comparison was very well presented, and sparked some detailed, intelligent conversation about snare drum characteristics!

[@rhythmcaster2018]

Thank you for giving us a mic info in the description.

[@ben_ide]

Thanks for the comparison. Exactly what I was looking for.

[@spinadude]

Incredible comparison!! Thank you. I really like both, but Starphonic all the way for me. So fat and throaty.

[@noostrings]

I have the starphonic snare. I replaced the hoops to 1.6ml triple hoops. The drum already sounded good, but now it is incredible

[@champaignstudios]

I’ve considered replacing the hoops. Thanks for the tip!

[@noostrings]

Great video by the way. I will subscribe to your channel

[@champaignstudios]

@@noostrings I’ve been experimenting with Tama brass Mighty Hoops and Tama die cast hoops on the batter side. My ears tell me the brass hoop help sustain the overtones better than the Starphonic hoops and the die cast hoop dries up the overtones for a more focused sound. 👍

[@robsco1249]

I had It too but after some years I sold It. With a moongel It had a very good sound but too dry while without It was too cutting and It list his round warm tone. I should have tried 1,6 mm hoops which are my favourite ones now.

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

Sounds like the starphonic has more natural low end? But the slp has a sweet controlled sound. How does the slp handle low tunings?

[@champaignstudios]

Yes, the Starphonic has more low frequencies than the SLP, even with the Starphonic hoops. The SLP handles lower tunings well for a 5.5" deep shell.

[@Assimilator702]

Champaign Studios Thats due to the extra depth of the Starphonic which will produce more low end naturally and the Starphonic hoops which are 1.6 mm so that will all add up to a lower resonance.

[@curtisjohnson1103]

The slp has the crisp sound but the 6inch depth on the other snare has more of a thuddy attack

[@MatChew75]

I just bought the SLP aluminum dry certainly half the price of the starphonic . SLP aluminum is more crisp Than the starphonic which has a little fatter sound. When you really get into both of them I really don't see the difference I really think the SLP actually sounds a little better and it's half the price. Oh I think i fared well. for the price of the SLP you just can't beat it; with that sweet of a sound. Actually I will invest my money into a high end metal snare like a ludwig or slingerland metal snare. But I got another snare. It's wood, But it's one of the most sensitive & sweet sounding woods snares I've heard....the Gretsch Brooklyn Standard . It's a blend of Maple and poplar. it's got one of the old school mufflers( new design)and the wood is actually lined with metal. 42 snares , remo permatone heads and the 302 rims. I actually replace the permatone remo batterhead with a Evans heavyweight(coated reverse dot). Sounds killer!!!

[@fernandoramalho4448]

SLP 😍

[@texxhexxmm]

🎯🙌👍 I have the starphonic alu but consider to get the S.l.p for Higher Tunings .. Which one so you prefer?

[@champaignstudios]

I like the Starphonic tuned low & fat. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ammxiKOHnZd_has I like the SLP tuned sharp & crisp.

[@texxhexxmm]

@@champaignstudios I got an 1960 Ludwig Supra and an Blackrolite. Tama i like it lower also.The other Aluminum are great in their own way,the Supra is brutal! ;) But Tama still the beast! XD

[@Assimilator702]

M. Miro Get a Yamaha Recording Custom Aluminum. I’m a Tama guy all day and night but the Yamaha is a more versatile drum due to its diecast hoops. Starphonics are better suited for lower tunings. And the Yamaha diecast hoops are aluminum which is unique to Yamaha and are more mellow than standard zinc diecast hoops but strength and rigidity of diecast.

[@texxhexxmm]

@@Assimilator702 thanks.Yeah did not buy the s.l.p. I got a great 1960 supraohonic(from a person whos husband away) 5" deep and i equiped it with newest an top notch throw Off! Tama Starphonic lower tuning and Ludwig medium - great. The the Copper Starphonic i also got ..a used one for 400€.

[@Assimilator702]

@@texxhexxmm I also have a Starphonic Copper. Great drum. For the younger generation Tama is just as great as the Ludwig drums are for the generations that grew up with those drums.

[@DZNTZ]

Hi... Were both drums tuned the same with a TuneBot or Drumdial? Sounds like the S.L.P. is higher pitched, but is it the shell? Or is it the tuning? I have to add - the S.L.P. hammered steel sounds just like an aluminum drum AND it has the beefy low end - I literally sold my Acro after getting it. It does what the best aluminum drums do but better. S.L.P. ftw.

[@TXMusicDrummer]

If I was to guess, the Starphonic is 6-inches deep vs the 5.5-depth on the SLP. I think that has something to do with the SLP sounding a tad higher while the Starphonic has a little more body, at least to my ears.

[@andyham6094]

TXMusicDrummer yeah for sure. The extra depth will def make a difference. The only 5.5 depth snare I have is the dynamic bronze slp and love it but wish it was 6 or 6.5 inch deep. I don’t prefer 5.5 depths but the dynamic bronze I just had to have for the price but my preference is 14x6 or 14x6.5.

[@DZNTZ]

Well, it’s been awhile but I finally did get the SLP Aluminum, and it’s a fantastic drum. Certainly superior quality to the Acrolites I’ve owned and played. Same classic aluminum sound, dry but not too dry, a controlled ‘ping’. Definitely a great sound wide open, crisp, responsive. Looks great in person, pics don’t do it justice - nice raw, brushed aluminum (not a blueish like it may seem in pics). Deep drums have their place, but a shallower drum has a special snap to it that’s just the thing sometimes. The whole SLP line just sets the bar for affordable snares, they’re all very different from each other and they’re all excellent instruments. The attention to detail is unsurpassed, fit and finish is top notch, bearing edges are flawless, very impressive production standards. If you’re thinking of trying one, go for it, you won’t regret it.

[@Assimilator702]

@@DZNTZ If you had to choose would you pick the SLPHammered Steel or the SLP Aluminum?

[@DZNTZ]

@@Assimilator702 Oooh, that’s a really tough call! I ended up with both, a couple years apart. So, the Hammered Steel is a little darker, a little lower fundamental tone, a little drier. It’s different, you don’t see a shell like it anywhere else - the matte finish and odd sculpted-looking hammering pattern are beautiful. The Aluminum is a little livelier, though still dry-ish. If you’re looking for that classic aluminum snare sound, this is it. There’s a certain flavor of ‘ping’ that’s unique to aluminum, and if you love that then here you go. It’s a vastly improved Acrolite. They’re both really exceptional drums. I can try to put together a little a/b YT video for you, if that’s helpful.

[@iantouzel638]

Both great snare, i own the Starphonic, my only complained is the arc hoop, it's a stick eater.

[@noostrings]

I took off those hoops and put 1.6ml triple flanged. Best decision I've ever made

[@iantouzel638]

@@noostrings il have to try that, or i will buy and put only a top Yamaha aluminum die cast hoop

[@noostrings]

@@iantouzel638 Personally I hate diecast hoops on aluminium drums. Thinner the better

[@jkf9167]

I've never liked die cast rings on aluminum snares. Unsurprisingly, I prefer the SLP here.

[@Assimilator702]

Excellent comparison. They’re so close . The Starphonic is such a nice drum. If Tama Put 10 lugs on the SLP I’d grab one. Not a fan of 8 lug drums. I bet both those shells are made in the same factory. Tama doesn’t make their own metal shells ......if they did it would be shown in the factory tours. Could be made by J Chen factory. I just got the Starphonic Copper. Yummy.

[@stefanosi.5313]

Starphonics are made in Japan

[@Assimilator702]

@@stefanosi.5313 I know Starphonics are made in Japan. I own 4 Starphonic snares. What are you referring to?

[@stefanosi.5313]

@@Assimilator702 Hi Rico, might have misunderstood your post. SLPs are made in China, so the shells should come out of different factories?

[@Assimilator702]

@@stefanosi.5313 There are no major drum manufacturers that manufacture their own metal shells. There are however specialty metal shell manufacturers like Oriollo that supply drum companies with metal shells in addition to offering their own complete drums. Most metal shells come from China or Taiwan. Also metal plating cannot be done for an economical price when there are EPA regulations in place.

[@boazvanwi]

The Dry Aluminium seems a bit out of phase, so it gives another character to the snare. However, great comparison!

[@196620410]

je préfère la ( PAL 146 )

[@roybeckerman9253]

Why must demonstrations have muffling..😡

[@Juniscrazy]

Lol so u can here what’s missing? Lol