Tama Metalworks Steel Snare Drums Review by Sweetwater Sound

Learn more about Tama Metalworks Steel Snare Drums here: www.sweetwater....
In this video I am playing on the Tama Metalworks Steel Snare Drums. This is a line of drums from Tama that are simple but very well made and all three models have a distinct, clear, and warm sound. I really enjoyed placing all three drums together and grooving between them. They gave off a real nice vibe and were inspiring to play on. I feel you can get the vibe of an instrument immediately, weather it be a drum, guitar, keyboard, or anything else that is used to make music. These three Tama Metalworks Steel Snare Drums had instant vibe and I really liked that.
All of the drums in this Metalworks line come with a 1.2mm steel shell finished in Black Nickel with chrome hardware. They also all have the same "pull back" style throw-off and bridge lugs. The main snare I have in front of the kick drum is a 6.5" x 14" with 8-lug, triple-flanged hoops. The snare just to left of the hi-hat is the 5.5" x 12" with 6-hole, triple-flanged hoops. The snare to the left of the 12" is the 5.5" x 10" which also has 6-hole, triple-flanged hoops. The 10" snare has a mount on the drum and also comes with the MC-69 mounting clamp. In the video I have the snare on a stand but with the clamp and mount you can attach it to any stand and you can also place the drum whereever you like. It does not have to live to the side of the Hi-Hat.
The sound of each snare is of course different because of the difference in size, but they all have a very pleasant crack at their pitch and all of the snare wires buzz very nicely no matter which size drum I played. The 14" is warm but has a nice loud crack in the rim shot. The 12" has a midrange bump and also had a great loud rim shot. The 10" has that great high-pitched crack that only snare drums in that size can get. It is almost like a marching snare drum type sound but with more resonance. In fact, the steel shell really has a nice effect on the sound of not only the 10" drum but on all of the drums in the line.
If you're looking for a steel snare to add to your collection or you need something a little different to add to your drum kit, you should most definitely look into these Tama Metalworks Steel Snare Drums. They are all really fun to play on and could get you that extra sound you have been searching for. Thanks for watching!
-- Nick D'Virgilio

[@MrVoraxTranstellaris]

Imagine having a kit with only snare drums instead of toms :-D Pretty neat. Love the 10 inch one!

[@drummachine86]

These videos are made in heaven. Absolutely amazing sound, Nick, you are an amazing drummer and also know your stuff with the gear. Also the gear you select is great, great value and performance ratio.

[@James1623]

12" sounds absolutely amazing :-)

[@rodstewart74]

Agree, doesn't take a genius to get it to sound good

[@drummercarlos7040]

Indeed,bro.

[@matao33]

Nick is outta this world! Three different sized snare drums, a kick and a hi-hat, and dude is STILL smashing! He can make anything work!

[@Escapism7133]

Great demonstrator and reviews!

[@sweetwater]

Glad you enjoyed, Escapism7133! Thanks for watching!

[@DavidOakesMusic]

3:00 Oh wow that tone.

[@thepastysmasher5320]

Dude, you're a fantastic drummer, so versatile!

[@romburford2718]

Really dig Nicks demos... I check your/his reviews for everything before i purchase... Well done Sweetwater !!!!

[@prosperduffours]

Nick's reviews are really amazing !!!

[@jakobl0]

i bought the 12 " this day and im so stoked playing it with my kit.... thanks for the review it helped me a lot.... very good drummer :)

[@davidpomella6786]

Wow! what a great combo of snare drums , great sounds especially when the snare wires are off

[@drummercarlos7040]

Im in love with 10 inch snare. 😮

[@markpestonji829]

Nick, it's amazing how you can make music to my ears with even just three snares! You rock!

[@blakegowan6623]

Can talk the talk...and can play very well. King of the review videos! Nick D !

[@jrkopite77]

I could listen to this bloke playing drums all day long! Lovely laid back style and precise grooves. Could do with not calling everything cool though.

[@josefrancisco6969]

Great playing , those snares sounds really good.

[@michaeltalley5826]

WOW... the two smaller snares have that back-beat crack I love!

[@NextInLine008]

The drum & bass grooving sounds incredible on the little snare. Probably going to pick one of these up

[@DavidOakesMusic]

Came here to hear the diff between the 5.5 and the 6.5 and i'm definitely getting the deeper one. Cheers.

[@fransiboy]

Never heard or played a bad Tama snaredrum , they are consistent in every way..sound /looks/feel!

[@DrummerGuy72]

I bought the 10 and the 14. There's a good contrast between the two. I play the 10 inch set up to the left of the 14 and it's alot of fun to be able to mix it up. Nick is great at all reviews and Tama rocks.

[@ezralord4901]

Very, VERY good review. You covered the possible sounds of these drum well. Thank you!

[@thomascampbellmusic]

Just got my 12 inch Metalworks snare earlier this week! I've wanted a 12 inch snare as my main snare drum for about 8 months now, and oh my it is exceeding my expectations so far in every regard! I highly highly recommend this snare

[@thomascampbellmusic]

Icky Oh, and I'm planning on buying the 10 inch metalworks snare in the future as an auxiliary snare! I love Tama products

[@roybeckerman9253]

Love the middle 12”

[@jonob1365]

I have the 14 x 6.5 and it's amazing for rock. Think audioslave

[@dreamdrummer01]

10" is killer!!! Once tried one at my local store and loved it. Even with my finger I was able to do rimshots and it sounded amazing... is that sensitive!

[@shamicentertainment1262]

Wow. Using 3 different snares actually sounds pretty cool. It'd be awesome to have a rack of 3 snares, small to large.

[@alexandermagnus2094]

Thanks to your review I bought this snare👍

[@demecquenemmarc5353]

excellent test thanks.

[@proto35]

This guy can pllaaayyyyy wow. Beautiful snares as well.

[@Slamming-underground-]

I have the snare 14x5" is amazing!

[@corradodrums]

Perfect! LIKED!

[@rickyharris3776]

Wow those sound amazing

[@mattharris9015]

The 10 inch is perfect

[@matao33]

that's what I said.

[@tangentboard]

It sounds Great!

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@tangentboard Yup.

[@biga173rdify]

Awesome demo.

[@leonedwards4450]

When the wires are off, it reminds me of the cultural Drums and sound like the toms on the Drums

[@herpes94]

Nick D'Virgilio!!

[@winstontelly2232]

I'd love to see the 10" demoed with a "snom" as a sort of "left of hihat expansion" package; perhaps mounted off one of the snom legs? I'm considering this personally for my next kit but just unsure how practical, let alone applicable, it would be overall.

[@elroyblackbean]

"You're probably asking why I'm sitting behind 3 snare drums." Nick D'V...I don't ask about anything you do. You could make a shag carpet and piles of drywall sound good.

[@kaschamacka8681]

i bought few months ago a 14x4 metakworks 1,2mm steel snare. this snare has die-cast hoops. it sounds not so bright as other 14x4 snares what i like.I use it for D n B, Funk as second snare. it has a fantastic thwaqky Sound . its easy to tune up or down. TAMA BIG UP.

[@robwestndrumr7648]

Great especially for money 💥

[@wilddrum78]

Ha A great way to sell all three snares at the same time. Great set up with the snare dums alone. Sold baby :-)

[@skittl3z2311]

i have the 12 inch and its a monster. Size matters but 12 inches is still alot ;) But fr great snare, very dynamic and versatile.

[@tonylupo1739]

yeahh...the sound is very cool!

[@billeywinnbustos3226]

Nick ur to awesome

[@rafaeltardelle]

tooop. Tama the best

[@rafaeltardelle]

14" the best

[@dhmtbr2551]

Are those EAK hats…?

[@dylanbaldwin7934]

I might get the 10 or 12 and use it as my main snare cranked up. I like a nice loud cutting crack with very little ring and I want subtle ghost notes to be able to be heard and distinguished well. Which is the snare for me the 12 or 10 inch?

[@futuristiccavemanofficial]

“Nice crack when you play it loud”... Proceeds to not play it loud 👀

[@haroldcallejas22]

I need the smaller one but there is not more no where

[@roybeckerman9253]

How much better is the Tama Starphonic steel ?

[@RichardBonaduce]

Hey, Sweetwater! I'm pretty sure these have been discontinued, by do you still have any of the 5.5 x 10 snares available, either as new, used or demo? Thanks!

[@theoriginaldave4088]

Richard Bonaduce I noticed you posted this comment a year ago but if your still searching for one PMT sell them :)

[@dzarren]

Why does the middle snare drum sit like that on the stand? Is that intentional? It isnt sitting on the flush part of the rubber ends, it is being cradled, the rubber grips actually grab onto the flange of the hoop!

[@tyubacka]

dzarren It's intentional yeah. Some snare stands will press on the shell of the drum depending on the diameter and angle of the claw. This would affect the resonance because the rubbers dampen it.

[@1thess523]

What heads come on the batter? I know the reso is a Remo Hazy 300

[@sweetwater]

Thanks for the question, looks like a coated Ambassador TAMA branded on that one. Of course I can get you any head choice you would like. Thanks for your interest! Derek Senestraro, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1243, [e-mail]

[@frodislover1007]

how does this sound wise if any compared to the Kenny aronoff sig series

[@alexanderjamieson7971]

So want do this with my kit, so don't have the money for it

[@aarwonable]

I play metal, what do you think would be better bang for my buck, the main snare of this line or the Tama SLP Big Black Steel?

[@AvengedGoresumXxX]

This Snare. I just bought it and can't believe how good it sounds for the price and especially since I only paid $50 for mine.

[@bradencutright-head6629]

Do you like a snare that cuts like a knife through your band? If so go w the main snare of this line. But if you like a lot of beef and boom, go w the SLP

[@mikekeeper5564]

Dude. Any drum would sound cool when you play it

[@roybeckerman9253]

What’s generally the best batter head for steel snares. ?

[@sweetwater]

Hello, Roy! This can be a very subjective and personal thing. But if it were me, I'd go with a Remo Controlled Sound Coated. I find they tend to soften some of the overtones associated with steel drums. Thanks for the interest! Cody Kraus, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1766, [e-mail]

[@roybeckerman9253]

Sweetwater Thanks...that’s what I’m using on it. Very loud snares !

[@nathanharris7325]

It's not about the gear that gets you the gig, it's about how you play and how you good are as a musician that gets you the gig.

[@dailystocktalk2740]

and having a Good personality : ) Good point you made! 100%

[@russwilson2305]

+Jorge Marciel Totes.

[@eladcohen1988]

5:43 ...close your eyes and imagine

[@HMohr]

LOL