It's true. Tama has literally entered the field. Ayala and James Logan high schools (Both in southern CA I think) have been used as the initial testbed for their new marching line. If you are at all familiar with Tama starclassic maple kits and their hardware, you need to be excited about this! There are a couple of videos of Ayala's drumline playing their new Tamas on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2j4lAw-0GI

Nice looking drums! Looking forward to learning more about them. Design of the snare hardware looks pretty conventional. Logan's using Randall May carrier hardware. RM would probably be happy to pick up Tama after losing Pearl.

BTW - Ayala's in SoCal. James Logan is in the San Francisco Bay Area.

it's about time. If I didn't see the badge I'd probably say it's a Pearl. Why didn't they go with independent lines for testing, that's probably going to tick off the Tama dealers at least.

I just thought of a question, are those the prototype drums Ayala got or the second gen drums in that video? Tama actually filled a patent claim for some sort of marching snare but it looks nothing like the ones in the video or picture.

Skydog, your right about James Logan. I actually copy/pasted that from somewhere else, I was in a rush. Just pretty surprised these were floating around since summer and nobody leaked a picture till now. I really want to see these up close.. My biggest problem with Tama was the price. I know the quality will be there but will the drums be closer to Yamaha's price point. Or Mapex. or in the middle like Pearl. Either way it still looks pretty nice. Snares not so different then anybody else. Looks like a hybrid of Yamaha stress ring. Pearls tubes, Premier's bottom ring from the 784. Really nobody does finishes like Tama. such a classy look.

The carriers look like older Yamaha's (carbon ply) from their last set of drums. Maybe they just got the drums and no carriers. Either way if RM was smart they would go after them for hardware support.




Warboy. from what I read, those are the next gen prototypes. Ayala sent the first gen back earlier and got those for BOA maybe even sooner.. James Logan did not get the second gen prototypes yet and apparently the drums are falling apart.

Again I wouldn't jump on a set of these right off the bat. It usually takes a couple years of production to get all the bugs out.. either way its nice to see another player in this market..

I'd hope so. I used to compete against them.

There are plenty of pics of the drums on the James Logan band website. It looks like Tama is making their own carries which seems to be an attempt to follow the Pearl design, but I'd say they look far less comfortable.

http://www.loganbandandcolorguard.org/g2/main.php?g2_itemId=57468

It looks like they're making their own stands too. From the looks of it the stuff looks super heavy duty.

That drum looks really nice. You can tell they attempted to combine aspects of other drums that worked really well for them. The finish looks great, also.

Please excuse my ignorance, but what's the thin metal bar that's angled at the bottom of the drum, almost directly below the Tama logo? Is that supposed to be the equivalent of a foot on a yamaha drum?

Its part of the "feet" for the drum to rest on. much like Pearls

What I don’t understand is why the “feet” aren’t around the snare strainer. Most companies put them around the strainer incase there are any accidental drops. It’s a shame if that happens, but it does happen.

Yamaha has abandoned that level of protection as well to go with the smaller feet, which do look nicer (form over function). I guess I’m all for anything that will protect equipment when working with younger individuals.

I would really like to see them up close and personal. I didn't see them at PASIC but I don't remember seeing a Tama booth either. Maybe they will be on display at NAMM next week. I'll ask the owner of my company to take some pictures if they are being displayed.

If anyone else is going out to NAMM next week, maybe you can report on them. At least in the pictures I see, it's too hard to tell if the critical components are up to par.

From the pics refered to by MTSfloater, it looks like they're going with thinner shells on the tenors than other companies, with a hefty wood reinforcement hoop. I hope that thinner shells work out, as I'm all for weight reduction! I'm wonder if the wood hoop is enough or if they're still going to have to add the now ubiquitous metal reinforcement ring.

The shoulder portion of the carriers looks *really* uncomfortable, although I guess looks could be decieving.

Also, I'm willing to try any tenor stand that doesn't cost >$150 -- why the devil is it so hard to come up with a tenor stand that isn't either expensive or made for basketball players?

Anyone know how the chrome on the snares held up? Chrome over aluminum just doesn't seem to hold up very well and cracks and peels after a couple years.

I HATE those stupid little feet! Not only do they provide almost zero protection, they cause the tension rods holding them to de-tune much faster and potentially fall out if nobody's keeping close attention to tuning.



I generally like thin shells, so long as they're sturdy enough for the job. They need to be strong enough to keep the lugs anchored despite high tuning and stable enough to stay in round despite tuning stresses and the funky weight distribution of most mounting systems.



As far as I'm aware, Pearl still uses wood for their reinforcement rings with decent enough results. (I have no complaints with my own drums.)



AMEN!

At my school, we're using stand tops from 2Cool Percussion in cymbal stand tripods. They're sturdy and they actually go low enough for students! Those stand tops currently list for $66 on 2Cool's web site. (They used to be even cheaper.)

At home, I have a Pearl MTS-2000 stand. Good thing I'm 5'10", because the stand is almost too high for me at its lowest possible setting. I've thought about cutting down its posts a little bit to get it about an inch lower.



I've wondered how well chromed finishes hold up on free-floaters' aluminum parts. Anyone familiar with old Ludwig Supraphonic snares knows that aluminum and chrome aren't an ideal pairing!

Chrome over aluminum is a very delicate process and requires really pure aluminum. Over seas, the regulations are not as strict as they are here so the metal quality and plating quality can be fairly low. Aluminum that isn't pure can leak oils and other chemicals in it's make up in between the chrome plating and the base metal and that is what causes the chrome to flake off, bubble, pit, etc.

There are solutions to this problem though. When I chrome plate things, the aluminum goes through lots of machining processes to clean the metal as much as possible. Then when the parts get chrome plated, the plating ends up being way thicker and will last far longer. This is part of the regulations here in the U.S.

I have noticed though that some companies have far better chrome than others. It really just depends on how much the company wants to put into it.

I hate those feet too. For all those reason Skydog mentioned, plus (least on my drum) its not very stable on bleachers, it rocks really bad. to me it looks like landing gear. I definitely prefer Pearls the drum is way more solid. I do think if they made the feet detachable it would be a lot better. I like the looks of drums without the "feet".

As far as the thinner shells. You can see on the pics from James Logan HS they are way thinner. I don't think that's a good idea. Pearl's shells are pretty thick. but our one set looks like a stop sign. even with the re-enforcement ring. those shells won't hold up for the long hall. I really wasn't digging the sound on the videos. sounded like old school Yamaha's. very twangy. I really would like to see another inch or so added to the depth.

I can tell you this, Pearl's chrome does not hold up so well. Our one year old snare has started chipping. I actually wish we stayed with the brushed aluminum. they look amazing but it was a hassle to chrome them.

Maybe not even DETACHABLE feet so much as feet that weren't incorporated as part of the tuning system. As long as you're not using scoops on your drums, the feet are a great idea to keep your drum protected, especially for clumsy high schoolers. I remember getting our brand new line of yamaha drums, putting them all together, keeping them all tuned up, taking them home one at a time to take out the top snare units, and keeping them clean, especially because of flour that we used in the opener of our show. It was a heart breaker when I saw the other three snares carelessly throw their drums around or drop them and bust a head. While the feet don't necessarily do a great job of protecting from all around carelessness, I do prefer the idea of setting the drum in a "playing position" than setting it on its side to put un-needed pressure on the tension rods and possibly scraping any finish that you have on them. People just need to set aside visual aspect for practicality, in my opinion. I'd rather have my equipment last the extra few years than not having a foot on it and having it look really sleek for just the first 2 seasons.

As far as my experience with chrome goes, we have our drums at Georgia State that are brand new for this season, and all of the hardware is chrome. It's held up for us, so far. Granted, this is just one season and our guys REALLY maintain our equipment, but I figured I'd throw in my own experience.

I'm sorry to report that there were no Tama marching drums on display at NAMM this year. Maybe Summer NAMM

Hello, I will give you some info on Tama marching drums in the next post. Thanks, Tom Float

Hello, Tama will be launching their new line of marching percussion at TMEA in San Antonio this February. All info will be released at that time including brochures, photos, specs, etc. Most info I have heard people talk about online is incorrect. I can give you some general info but you will have to wait a few more weeks for the real detailed info.

1. All of the drums, carriers, stands, engineering, design and manufacturing is 100% Tama.
2. The original drums were designed to test some components of the drums and then be destroyed. The Ayala version at Bands of America is closer to the final version although all of the test schools have received the 3rd level of new drums this week. Testing will continue on those drums for a period of months before the final molds are made and production for the general public will begin.
3. All the features I wanted while teaching Blue Devils and other corps are built into the Tama marching drums. You can't tell by the photos that are out. The snare strainer, gut system, throw off, and gut muting system sets a complete new standard for marching snare drums. The tenor adjustability plus multiple new features I can't mention, are the new state of the art. Many small details have been thought out and incorporated into the way the drums function, tune, and adjust. Stability of drums, carriers and stands has been given high priority. Many safety features are also built into the drums. Chrome hardware is standard and there is an incredible selection of top shelf lacquer finishes. Every detail is first class.....period.
5. Tama is not entering the market hoping that their product will somehow be good enough to compete. Quite the opposite. The other companies will be forced to run back to the drawing board and try to figure out how they just got blown out of the water. This goes for carriers and stands too.
6. Most important is the sound. Spectacular! Combination birch/bubinga shells or maple shells, it's your choice.
7. Tama's new slogan: Tama Marching Percussion "Where Percussion Meets Perfection"

Please feel free to contact me after Feb 14. I can email all of you photos, videos, and anything else you would like and you can also check Tama.com at that time. Spread the word. It will be a happy Valentine's day. The drum's will be at all major percussion events to see (like WGI, Bands of America, DCI, TMEA, PAS, etc). Thanks, Tom Float
tomfloatsnugglebunnyª^townsgmail.com

Hey Tom, Tama in the marching business? HA! I always liked their sets and hardware. I saw some stuff about the snare mechanism, looks kind of like Rogers Dyna Sonic with the bar. I always liked those(Rogers)drums and sound. That may solve the problem of the choked effect from snares since some of the high tensioned snare drums these days sound like a high tenor.

TMEA huh? I'm hyping that right now as we speak. I can't wait to take a look at these! I've never used Tama before, but from how Tom Float speaks, these should defiantly be worth looking into!

Yeah, I have the new pics, but since I am on the bad karma list I am unable to post any of the pics. But you can see the new snare on my profile pic.

Enjoy!
P.S I have 7 more pics.

Wait, did you say Bubinga? Just awesome.

Hello. The whole bottom of the drum is the key here. The metal rails that hold the guts provide many functions.
1. They keep the guts at the same tension if you turn the drum to tenor or take the guts off completely to change a head.
2. You can individually tune each gut without having the guts on the drum.
3. You can easily remove or replace the guts in 2-3 seconds with the Tama quick release system. Current drums make you turn a knob forever and slide the guts out making them loose and twisted. Same thing to put them back on. I hate that.
4. The Tama "Buzz Killer Mutes" eliminate the need for any kind of tape. You can position the mutes anywhere you want on the bottom rail and adjust the pressure of felt pads on the guts for your custom sound. You can turn the mutes off if you want and you can also take them off if you want in a couple seconds. If you take the guts off of the drum, the mutes stay exactly in place. Pretty cool.
5. The strainer has no tension on it because all of the tension on the guts is supported by the gut rail system. Because of this, the vertical adjustment of the guts is easy and smooth. There is no jamming or difficulty to turn the knobs like on other drums. I hate that.
6. The strainer throw off is positioned by the top head in easy reach. You can actually turn to tenor if you want. Extra cool.
7. There is a built in feature so players cannot accidentally raise the guts too high on either side causing a bending of the guts.
8. There are locking mechanisms to the carrier and stand so the drums won't fall off. The snare can lock to the stand upside down for easy tuning of the bottom head. Now that is cool, no bending over.
9. Throw in a combination birch/bubinga shell, chrome hardware standard, and a beautiful lacquer finish........that's what I'm talking about.
10. The sound is incredible. Great attack with full warm sound, no extra ringing like on some drums.
This is just a little info on the snare. The list of "wow" things about the tenor drums is equally as long. Same with carriers stands etc.
Stay tuned.......Float

To add to Floats statement.... We are currently testing the drums and they are absolutely outstanding! Like Tom said, I can't give out any specefic info until TMEA, but check out Foothill(NV), James Logan, San Marcos, and Ayala at WGI. We will be representing the hottest drums on the market! All high quality parts. Absolutley no corners were cut! These are the luxury brand of marching drums! The performers love the way they feel. The tone quality is incredible! It is well worth the wait. We will have photos and videos come TMEA!

Nick Waters
Foothill H.S. Henderson/Las Vegas NV

Facebook friend me and I will post pictures and Videos when I am told it is ok from Float. Watersflamsnugglebunnyª^townsgmail.com

Thanks for the info Tom. The videos of the drums on youtube sound pretty awesome.

Kinda sounds like someone made a modern day Rogers Dyna-Sonic.

(For the younger guys around here, here's a pic of a Dyna-Sonic. There was a marching version, too.)

Hello, very good observation and historical background. Rogers Dyna-Sonic snare was a very great drum. I think it might have had one of the clearer and articulate tone of drums at its time and probably still would sound great if used today. The Tama gut frame system is quite a bit different in design and function. Both drums do share one common feature in that the gut tension is independent of the pressure put on the bottom head by the guts and there is no stress put on the strainer. Many times I had strainers lock up due to parts bending from tightening guts. With current marching snares, when the guts are tightened, the strainer has a lot of force on it and the guts try to pull it in. Not the case with Dyna-Sonic or Tama. There is no pressure or force on the strainer and there is never a locking up or jamming of the throw off or vertical height adjust mechanism.
The Tama snare has many more advantages built into the drum. Looking at a photo doesn't show them. I mentioned some of them earlier so won't repeat myself. Bottom line, I obviously feel the Tama snare will cause other manufacturers to rethink their designs. There has not been significant changes to the marching snare drum since the late 1980's. Once you have been playing on the Tama snare............that's it. Other drums look ancient. Tama has many new and innovative changes for all of the drums, carriers, and stands. Not everything will be revealed at TMEA next week, but a lot of it WILL be. Hey, send me some more of your thoughts. Tom Float. Tomfloatsnugglebunnyª^townsgmail.com Thanks

I am assuming its ok with Mr. Float and any involved with the Tama project to mention the full page add in the new WGI focus that just came out. pretty good luck at Ayala's drums from BOA. I must admit being a Pearl guy I am liking what I see.

I've had a chance to check them out quite a bit at TMEA today. I got a personal tour from Tom Float and spent a bit of time talking with Ike Jackson about them.

Quite simply, they haven't missed any details on these drums. They look and most importantly sound amazing. A little heavier than Yamaha drums, but lighter than Pearl. The snare mechanism is phenomenal. Easy to take the snare unit off to change a head.

I got a couple of pictures today. I'll get some more tomorrow and post them up.

I got to listen to Tom Float explain what's on these drums, and I loved what I heard. Easy and quick to do maintenance, good sounds, solid ideas, adjustability like no other, great wraps, different shells both sound great, and look very easy to maintain.

Just listening to Tom is awesome enough, but to see his ideas flourish unto equipment coming right to you is incredible. There is a lot of thought and work into these, and it really does show. I'd put more down, but I want to make sure my facts are 100% spot on before I do so. Either way, these are certainly worth some of your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I99m-O_y01w

Looks like every pet peeve has been addressed along with new features I would have never thought of doing. Very impressed. The game has changed.

Ok, I'll finally ask the question. How much are these going to cost?

That video is great! I like what I see

Prices haven't been set yet on the drums. The groups that are using them just got their 3rd set of prototype drums. We'll hopefully start to see price lists towards the end of this year.

I have a fear that they won't be cheap as the amount of technology that is in them will drive cost.

That's one of my large class fears for this product. The other one is that they aren't putting out keyboards (as of now) and I don't see many large caliber lines using Tama stuff without getting the package deal.

They could potentially partner with a concert percussion maker, a la Pearl & Adams or Mapex & Majestic. Or they could contract with concert percussion makers to market products under the Tama name, as Dynasty does with their keyboard bars (made by Bergerault?). Or they might try to sell the drums on their own merits and hope their potential customers aren't a bunch of brand whores.

As for cost, I'm guessing they'll enter the market at the upper end of the price spectrum, in line with Yamaha's current pricing.

Check out my FB page for more pics and a link to the youtube Video with Float's tour of the new TAMA drums.

Watersflamsnugglebunnyª^townsgmail.com

I don't think it will be a problem with "brand whores." I'm saying that world lines/Top 12 corps sell and I highly doubt that they will be partnering with Tama for Batterie and another company for keyboards. They don't even do that with mallets and sticks anymore. I think before they do anything else with their product, they need to find a partner in the concert world.

Found some pics over at the Tapspace forums: http://www.tapspace.com/forums/index.php?topic=3930.0

Anyone that has friended me on Facebook can see the 20 or so pictures I took of the drums yesterday.

And that is exactly what SkyDog said. Tama needs to find a company to partner with for keyboards.

I heard a few things floating around this week, but I've promised not to say anything further until Tom or Tama makes it official.

After price my next question is weight. I see a lot of metal on these drums, and it looks high quality. That usually means heft. And now a days in high schools that can be a big factor.

I really hope Tama does well with these, Its becoming a saturated market. And other companies being able to offer horns, electronics, and keyboards. It is going to be an uphill climb for them.

all that being said, I am excited to see what they bring to the table, and look forward to hearing them live.

This post was very well written!

They are slightly heavier than Yamaha drums but weigh less tha Pearls.

One thing I hope they resolve is tenor options. For now you'll only be able to order big block sets with one or two six inch gock drums.

You can also go for a six and an eight inch gock. They didn't have that on the floor, but I did hear Tom talking about that one when I got the walk around.

The weight really isn't a factor I don't believe. The harnesses manage the weight VERY well. You don't feel like your carrying huge drums, and it's well thought through. The drums are some what heavy, but like I said, the harnesses balance the weight to your hips. That pushes the bulk away and makes it feel significantly lighter. So told to me by Ike Jackson.

Hmm my Pearl snare is lighter then my Yamaha.

I hope they do offer 6/8 combo, in this day and age I think its essential. every other brand offers that now. Tama would need to follow suit.



I am sorry I can't believe that coming from a Tama rep. no carrier makes the drum feel lighter. Trust me I tried almost all that's out there. If a drum weighs 16 pounds its 16 pounds on your body. Sure through engineering and ergonomics you can balance the weight. That's if the player has perfect posture. perfect body type that the engineers designed the carrier for, as well as the carrier fitted properly to the player.. that's a lot of factors. There is a Lot of innovation in the carriers but I do see some barrowed design, which I have no problems with. The fact is there is a lot of metal on these drums and that adds up. For about 85% of us its a non issue, we get used to the pain. but for a 90 pound person with zero body fat wanting to play tenors. that little extra weight makes a difference.. I am saying this because I personally have ran into this issue.

soap box I wish drum manufactures would really focus on reducing weight as well as the function design. A lighter drum(s), means longer times wearing the drum(s)comfortably, which means better playing sooner.

Nice with all the negative Karma folks. My comment was meant as a joke since the original post in this topic was a cut and paste from my post on the Pearl forum.

To paraphrase Adam Sandler in the The Wedding Singer: That information would've been a little more useful yesterday...

You're probaby right. Sorry about that!

Hello, this is Tom Float giving you a little update. Most people have guessed wrong about what Tama was going to do or should do for the last year. I have not even left San Antonio yet and everyone is saying incorrect things. I will keep it as short as possible.
1. Sizes of tenor drums: Tama will offer all sizes of tenor drums.
2. The post said "for now you'll only be able to order big block sets with one or two gock drums". Well actually, you can't order ANYTHING right now. Tama has not even released info on all of it's products, fixed pricing, or finalized specifics on the drum colors as we are still making small modifications to everything. By the time we are taking orders in the future, everything will be finished.
3. Weight of the drums: The differences in the weight of Tama, Pearl, and Yamaha drums are measured in ounces. Some a little less, some a little more. Tama offers maple shells or birch/bubinga combination, each with different weights.
4. Carrier design: The post said "No carrier makes the drum feel lighter. Trust me, I tried almost all that is out there. If a drum weighs 16 pounds it's 16 pounds on your body".
Well, you haven't tried the Tama carrier. As you can see in the videos on Ike Jackson's Facebook page, the carrier makes contact with much more surface area of the shoulders and back. The back support bar can swivel down to allow great support for your whole upper body. This allows the weight to be transferred down instead of pulling you forward which stresses the back more. 16 pounds being held close to your body feels like 16 pounds. 16 pounds being held out with your arms feels much heavier than the actual weight. Centering weight over the body is not a new concept. African women carried heavy objects on their heads for centuries to center the weight over the body. If they carried those objects in their arms, they would fatigue because of the weight distribution. Also, if you have a smaller player, Tama's outside tenor drums can be pulled in closer to the body which also lowers the stress on the player. Tama is and will be the ONLY company with these tenor and carrier features and that is why you have not yet experienced the difference. James Logan uses Tama and they have many small girls in the drumline. Roger Carter said they have no problem at all. I will be there on the 26th of Feb so will double check.
As a side note, Tama has some of the top engineers in the world...period. Those engineers worked as a team with me for 8 years with the main mission of making drums that are designed to fit a diversity of players. Ken Hoshino, myself, and a design engineer traveled many times to schools to personally see how to make carriers for all size players, especially small players. The carriers were designed - tested, redesigned - tested, and redesigned again to come up with the final product. It was not by chance.
5. Heavy looking metal in drums: One post said " There is a lot of metal on these drums and that adds up".
Actually, most of the metal look of the drum is because of the chrome finish. The hoops are steel, most of the other parts are aluminum. The tenor legs are very, very light and also unscrew for performances. I guess it is difficult for all drum makers to please people. You want light but then want tenors with two 6" drums, then a 6" and an 8" combo, then put cowbells and jam blocks on them.

It doesn't pay to discuss the drums until you see them in person, wear them, play on them, tune them, and see what the final versions look like. Talk to someone who has used them for a while. Most importantly, make up your own mind. The drums speak for themselves. You will make up your mind 5 minutes after you have experienced them. Tama is always open to suggestions about the drums. Maybe wait a little as we don't even have marching drums for sale yet and the dust hasn't settled from our opening debut 3 days ago. Happy Valentine's Day and best wishes. Tom Float, Tama Drums

Hi Tom,

thanks for the updated post. Pretty much most of what you talked about is in reference to my post. I'll admit I am jumping the gun a bit, All I have seen is the videos and pictures. It's hard to tell really anything at this point.

So first, I have to say the innovation you all put together with these drums is definitely a game changer in a lot of way. I am glad you guys came to the table with something fresh. Knowing the quality that Tama brings to the table I really had no doubt.

The product presented looks amazing, but we are making assumptions because that's all we have to in front of us to make an opinion on. It would be nice to get some more information out. You gave us a lot. but weights maybe or where we can see them in action. That's what i really like to see and here.

I do have to respectively stick to some things I posted.
like carriers, a carrier can make the drum more comfortable but make it feel less then its initial drum weight is really not possible. and you were leading into that. that the design is ergonomic, and be flat out honest with you. I wish I could buy them for my line. I think its designed quite well.

The "metal on the drums" was mine as well. I have to stick to that for now until all the information is released. But I must say all manufactures have a lot of metal on the drums which may or may not be needed..I am not one of those instructors that will want light drums then add a million accessories on if the player is already struggling with the weight. but there is a bunch out there.

I think all we have right now is to discuss what we like and what we are not sure off. there isn't anybody to talk to who had them long enough. I guess I am just thinking real world here, issues I had with past manufactures. but, In a way its great for your product. because any skeptics, and maybe you can call me one, will be proven wrong and will only help the Tama cause.

Don't get me wrong I am looking forward to seeing, hearing, playing on these drums. Everything I have seen so far has been very intriguing and it makes me want more info. I apologize if I offended you, was not my intentions. good luck and I look forward for more info and where and whom will be using them.

I apologize first hand. I must have mis-heard something in that noisy room full of trombones/saxes/people. I'm assuming I might have heard one thing, spaced out, and assumed what I heard was what he said. I'm not trying to put up anything bad/misleading/stupid from my mistake. I really didn't intend that, and I'm really feeling guilty for typing that in. If the mods could do me a favor and delete my last post for just being totally wrong I'd be very happy.

Regardless of my mistake I still love all of this equipment and designs. I really hope this all does well in it's final stages.

What events are you all going to be at? I figure WGI Worlds, anything before that?

Hello. First of all, everybody has good questions I would ask the same ones.
Here is what I would want to know and some of you asked the same question:
1. Sizes?
2. Weights?
3. Finishes, custom finishes?
4. When on the market?
5. Delivery time?
6. Cost?
7. What corps will use them?
8. What about pit instruments?
9. Sound difference between maple and birch/bubinga?
10. Drumset or concert tom finishes to match?
11. Where can I see the drums? Shows? WGI? DCI? PAS?
12. What heads do they come with?
13. What patents exist on these drums, stands and carriers?
14. Is everything made by Tama?
15. Can Tama get into the market?
16. Are the bubinga shells the same wood as high end drumsets?
17. Do the carriers fit small players too?
18. Does chrome finish cost more?
19. Are the drums shipped assembled?
20. Is there a Tama facility in the USA?
21. How does the new gut system work?
22. Why don't we need to use tape anymore?
23. How do the guts come off without losing tension?
24. How can the Tama guts be removed in 3 seconds instead of 30?
25. How do the legs work, are they heavy, do they come off?
26. How does the back support work on the carriers?
27. How do you adjust angles and positions of the tenors?
28. What tools do you need to adjust drums and carriers?
29. How does the locking system work to the carriers and stands?
30. What are the finger guards on the snare and tenor?
31. Are the stands easy to tip over?
32. How long did it take to design these instruments?
33. Will there be a 13" snare?
34. Do the snare drums "ring"?
35. Why does Tama have a snare high position throw off?
36. How many plies are the drum shells?
37. Do the drums shake or bounce on the stands?
38. Do the tension rods go straight in on the bases?
39. Do the snare shells have metal parts attached to them?
40. Do the carriers hit the rim or head when drums lift up?
41. Why has Tama made these changes and advancements?

These are all observations and questions that are worth an answer. A while ago, not on this forum, people were saying 5% chance Tama is making drums and 95% urban legend. Also, Tama got all of their parts from some other company and shoved a Tama sticker on it. Pretty funny what people think, but it is not their fault. People like to guess and it gives us a forum for discussion. In time, everything will be known. People will like the drums or not. So far, people like them a lot, but Tama still needs time to make them perfect. Tama's new slogan for marching drums is: "Where Percussion Meets Perfection". Perfection takes time and is worth the wait. Do I think the drums will be perfect? No, but accepting mediocrity is not going to move marching percussion into the future.
I will answer these questions for you I'm time. The drums speak for themselves if you can get a chance to check them out. Tama will be at the Las Vegas show this Thursday, at RCC show next week, at NCPA show Feb 26 (presenting 3 drumset with Meinl cymbals as prizes), WGI (presenting a 7 piece bubinga maxed out set with Meinl cymbals as a prize drawing). See you there, Float.

Good god, the trip to WGI is worth entering my name in that drawing

Drumset at WGI is only to be given to a drumline in finals. Sorry about that. Might be a cool idea though to give out a prize to some person in the audience in the future. Later, Float.

You pretty much just ruined my day.

The TAMA marching brochure is up at http://www.tama.com/marching/index.html

Things I see that I like:

I love the carrier design - not "pretty" but they look very comfy! Adjustable in a reasonable manner while maintaining ruggednes. I also like the look of those bass drum clips.

I *love* the snare gut doodad -- wonderful innovation and the muffles do away with gut taping. Individually replaceable guts are a great idea probably more expensive to start with, but the guts will be *much* cheaper to replace.

Things I'm not too sure about:

I'm a bit skeptical of the swiveling tenor bits -- if they stay tight they're great. (I flash-back to the jiggly hand-me-down Slingerland tenors I played in 8th grade.)

Also, not sure the extended strainer lever mechanism is terribly useful. (How often do -you- want to turn off the snares in the middle of a show/parade/song?) Not a bad idea, just not sure it was worth the R&D time. Again, time will tell.

I'm of two minds about the use of J-bars -- they're universal, which is good and may lead to sales to users of other brands of drums; but, I like the ease of adjustment on the R-M 'postos and Dynasty's new carriers. The clippy-things on the J-bars also strike me as unnecessary -- I'm not doing jumping jacks with the drums on.

On the brochure: I just find a couple of things amusing:
-- "bumpers" to keep from scratching the rims on the carrier.
I hope that was just a by-product of something else, as I am unaware of this being a problem. :-)

-- the legs "prevent damage to the shells if placed on the ground"...umm, isn't that what that rubber edge guard on the drums is sorta for? (I predict every set of tenors sold will lose at least one of the detachable legs in the first 2 months.) Not really sure of the utility of these, either, come to think of it....eh, we'll see.

I'm going to have to go with Tama's thing here. Dynasty T bar harnesses do scratch the drum. Randal May T bar tenor harnesses do have a sort of bumper already on the harness. It's mostly just an issue with harnesses with bolts on the front of the harnesses like T-bar harnesses.

Snares have feet/legs too. The only difference is the snare legs aren't removable. I think it's a pretty cool feature as the rubber linning usually doesn't cut it.

There are also some new videos on youtube of Tom Float and Roger Carter demoing the features of the snares, basses, tenors and carriers.

snares - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B7dj8oqIJk
tenors - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT0j4pr1R-g
basses - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhF_L8Z9LcQ
carriers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9JOol6Eblw

I think Tama has come up with a nice list of interesting features. I like the tenor feet, but agree some of them will get lost. The high throw off is nice in theory, but I'm not sure how useful it will be in reality. I'm curious how often the tenor position adjustment screws will come loose - or how hard one could bump into the drums before the position is changed. I'm also curious if the tenor drums will stay flat (like Dynasty) or allow some different angles drum to drum (like Pearl/Yamaha). I like the carrier back adjustment and the j-bar clips - particularly on the basses. I wonder about price, timing and durability of all the little bells and whistles, but realize that is info we'll get over time.

There are still lots of questions, but at this point I'm liking what I am seeing.

with the locks on the jbars you would not be able to use it with another brand. I assume that was part of the intention. Maybe if you swap jbars to another brand it would work. but not many groups would do that

Be honest this catalog looks rushed.. its missing some things.. like available sizes.. only ones I saw were bass drums and snares.. no tenor configs.. no stands which are specific to Tama, and its a pet peeve but the one group in the pictures are using Randal May carriers. (page 7) No accessories, like covers backbars ect.. It looks rushed, I don't understand the timing. A hand full of scholastic groups have the drums but no indy groups or corps as of yet. I do like we have some information. But for the blitz that was on at the beginning of this month to now I figure a lot more info would be out.

Hello, just a short update. I have been quite busy so sorry for a delay in info. This hopefully will cover many of your post questions.
1. Catalogue: yes, the catalogue is a temporary catalogue to hand out at TMEA and at a few shows. Obviously the real catalogue will follow.
2. Stands: Tama has two versions of stands. Both versions are stellar on form, function, and innovation. It is a lawyer world, Tama must have all things patented before any release of info.
3. Tenor legs: the tenor legs have many purposes. They allow drums to be set on a flat surface for rehearsal. They allow drums to be set on the ground for casual rehearsal or tuning. Drums sound like actual pitch with legs on. With legs off in traditional sitting position, drums have a distorted pitch. Not with Tama tenors.
4. Tenor angle adjustments: Tama tenor drums 100% lock into position with 4 adjustment bolts after setting the preferred angle. No movement, no sagging, no nothing.
5. Flat surface tenors?: Tama tenors have double connectors from drum to drum. This means there is no possibility of twisting of drums which creates drums at different angles. I always hated seeing tenors sagging on the ends or not sitting flat. Not on the Tama drums.
6. Clips on "J" bars: The pieces on the "J" bars on all carriers lock the drum to the carrier. They are very necessary and are one of Tama's many safety features.
7. Tama has beautiful covers, stick holders, and other accessories for the drums not shown in the catalogue yet.
7. Tama is not selling drums to the general public for at least 6 months. Tama is still perfecting their product and perfection is the goal. Will it be perfect......NO. Will it be an incredible improvement over all marching drums in existence?...............Yes. check out the drums at WGI, seeing, hearing, and experiencing will answer all of your questions.

Tama Marching Drums: "Where Percussion Meets Perfection".........not just a slogan, stay tuned, it will change how you think about marching percussion.

Tom Float

Well that makes sense.

Can you tell us if any corps this season will be marching them?

how about tenor configurations? as per big block small block. 6/8 combos

What about shell depth one size or will there be a deep version?

Hello. Tama tenors will be:
6,10,12, 13, 14
6, 6, 10, 12, 13, 14
6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14
The 6" drums are 5 1/2 and 7 1/2 inches deep.
A 6, 8, 10, 12, 13 version will be offered but not a priority at this time.
No DCI corps will be using Tama for the
2011 season by Tama's choice.
Thanks for your questions, Tom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT0j4pr1R-g

In the Tenor video, at 1:34 in. "Will also prevent uniform damaged buy drum" I think you mean by there

After watching the video linked to above, I would be more than willing to try that tenor stand...if one can remove the "adapter" pieces.

It looks like a sturdier version of the Pearl MTS-2000 stand with the ability to adjust lower. If the price point is $100+/- I'll surely buy one.

Oops, Pearl has replaced the venerable MTS-2000 with the MTS-3000 (http://www.steveweissmusic.com/product/pearl-mts3000-marching-tenor-stand/marching-drum-stands). Basically a new "stadium" stand.