Tama is my favorite drum company ! Their drums sound amazing live.....recorded, not so much. (It seems the dryer-sounding Gretsches & Ludwigs sound better in a studio !?) No idea why the Tama's never sounded as good in a room as they did on a stage !? I'm glad to have a kit that was made in Japan - it's over 20 years old and still looks / sounds new!