hey Glenn, WTF?!?!? i just watched your video on how to make bass traps... i was highly disappointed that it had nothing to do with trapping the bass player at all
That's easy to do. Tell them to go into a closet where the door knob is on the left side, and that the door knob on the right side is the one that lets them out. Make sure to write L and R on their hands to make sure they don't get it wrong. Same with their shoes.
You can still hear shitty tone no matter how well you play. Even if the shitty tones "fits" or sounds "right". It also helps when you have high end mics and amps amd computer programs. Not saying the tama was a shitty tone. But it was clearly inferior to the DW
Absolutely. But as always, to a point. The drumming in the video was top notch, as was the way the kit was tuned, miked and recorded. All that makes a difference.
@@BluesManSteele dw makes the best overall drums in the industry. Worked my ass off when I was younger at a second job to pay for them. Worth it. He’s right on the pricing. Shells, plus the matching edge series snare drum (extra grand at the time) were in the neighborhood of ouch and holy crap. But wow. Just wow.
Just a week ago I bought the exact same TAMA ROCKSTAR model for less than $300. It took me about 4-5 hours to clean it, I put new heads and, damn, it sounds so full! I am absolutely amazed!
@HRRoach You're right. As long as you have drums of reasonable quality to begin with, good heads and tuning will take you the rest of the way. Anyone who says $10,000 drums made of african bubinga with gold plated hardware "just sound better, man" can go and F themselves.
I recently built my own studio in São Paulo, and found a used Japanese tama rockstar, killer sound, killer looks and dirty cheap... I couldn't be happier
I have my brothers 1995 Japanese Rockstar, I also had a 90's swingstar and then I have an 80's Swingstar 12x8 rack tom in cream with that speckled interior.. If you are good at tuning these are all winner's. I've always had different snare's but I remember when ky brother got the kit brand new that Tama snare sounded pretty good.
Yep. I like the "Whoosh" on the DW Kick but I thing with a little fiddling you can get the Rockstar Kick close to it. On one session the Kick of the Drummer also was lacking the "whoosh" and it was more "wobble". So we stole a Concrete Stone on a Construction Site nearby and put it in there. "Big Bertha" is about 25kg heavy and mentioned in the Credits of that Record :D
Yes. I liked the DW bass much more and the Tama snare a little more. But as we all know. None of us likely would be able to tell which was which in a blind test. It is just preference of sound not quality of sound.
with a drummer who knows how to play and an engineer who knows what he's doing, even a cheap drum set can end up sounding great and bring some character to a song. I'd rather hear the Tama kick over slate kick 5 anyday. Great vid Glenn!
For sure, one band I was in I wanted to record the drums for a demo. I offered to buy all new heads, but the drummer insisted on midi programming his tracks with ezdrummer. Kinda blew my mind.
I've owned & played several DW collectors sets, convincing myself that I was "going pro" by playing DW. I have also owned / played most styles of Tama sets. Tama has more character, the bass drums are better, and the hardware is as good as it gets. I currently play Tama Starclassic and I am done with DW. Keep up the great work and thanks for throwing us Drummers the love 💘
I was kinda anti-Tama for years until I worked in a music store. The Tama kits sounded amazing out of the box and their hardware was rock solid. The StarClassics walnut/birch shells projected clear across the store and sounded better than the DW maple kit that was more than twice the price.
I always liked Tama. My favorite back in the day was the superstars from the early 80's. But modern drums just blow away the old stuff. Even the dirt cheap sets. I have Yamaha stage customs.
@@galgogergo As a young lad in the mid 80’s, every time I went into a music store the Tama kits sounded like ass compared to the Pearls and Yamaha’s due to poor setups and skins. I didn’t know enough back then and I played mostly Jazz throughout high school. So I didn’t need a Metal kit.
One has to keep in mind the context of the type of music. When you're constantly hitting hard, using 2-ply batter heads, tuning lower, and scooping the crap out of the midrange EQ, yes, both kits can be in the same ballpark. If you're talking a quieter type of music, though, and you have single ply heads, tuned higher, and played with some subtlety, the differences become more pronounced, and you'll get more tone/fullness/musicality out of the more expensive set. (Tom suspension mounts alone will make a difference.) I understand that this isn't the point of the video; this is geared toward project studio applications and getting the best bang for the buck (also, it's the fool, not the tool). It would just be a mistake to think that the results here translate for every style of music. Thank you for this video - it's very cool and a great lesson to be learned.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I flogged a Tama Rockstar kit for most of a twenty-year career in cover bands in cabarets and bars in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Nevada, though not identical to the kit Glenn used, mine came with StarCast mounts, so mine (purchased in 1999) might be a bit newer, and the kit didn't come with a snare. I purchased a wood Tama Rockstar snare about five or six years ago after using a vintage Ludwig Pioneer and an generic steel piccolo snare. That said, after listening to the tracks in the video I can say that the Tamas sounded just fine in comparison to the DWs, to the point where it's just a matter of personal taste and budget. Did the more expensive drums sound better? Yeah, sure. Enough to justify the expense? That depends on how much money you make/have made as a working drummer. The difference between the snares was a bit more pronounced to me, but again, whether or not the better quality justifies the expense is up to you. I'd have loved to see him use snares from boutique brands like Brady, or makers like Gregg Keplinger or Jeff Ocheltree.
I watched this with my eyes closed. I couldn't tell the difference between the two. I was playing it on a high end 5.1 stereo with an expensive sound card. They both sounded great to my ears.
I've been playing TAMA since the 80's. They call them Rockstars for a reason. I have a white marine Japan version of that rockstar with the suspension mounts. Fresh well tuned Aquarian heads on those kits sound amazing, (Especially mic'd up). That was my good luck gigging kit for 5 years.
True the BD on DW is thousands times better. the toms basically almost sound the same. I mean in metal mix at the end you'll get dead sounding tom. So kick, snare, cymbals are the most matter.
thats my only thought listening. the kick is so full and deep on the DW, and the lack of low low end on the tama is just not there. all else to me is just fine.
@@TotalDESSSS after the follow up vid, ill acknowledge the tama has a more fuller sound, but I feel it still falls short, however id say the tama would be totaly fine in a practice jam setting, never gona be able to tell, but when it comes to studio, just use the kit already there.
@@TotalDESSSS whoa whoa whoa. This is the internet. You cant just rationally agree about with other people. Wheres the "you dont know anything", and the "do your research" comments? your doing the comment section wrong! Cool video though, cheers :D
When I was a kid I played with a drummer who’s kit was built around lumber . Actual 2 by 4s and plywood. We even played a couple of Gigs with it . It’s the only time I got chased by dogs at a lumber yard stealing wood for a crash stand .
Have to say the playing and mixing are sublime! That Tama sounds unreal, they really are an amazing series of drums! The DW is fantastic too but just have a soft spot for cheap old Tama kits!
Ahh yes, a very... Corporeal, inspiration? One might say? I get how the fine land of Copyright Strikes informs decisions. And completely approve of your solution. Album is Necroticism, for those of you interested.
At the last second, I decided to listen to the full mix shootout with my eyes closed just to see if I could hear a difference and not be influenced by the brand or price. I was blown away when I opened my eyes to see the kit I thought sounded better was the Tama. The Tama was just sort of clear and snappy with this great attack while the DW was a bit too soft in the highs which didn't cut through the mix as well. That DW is a bit sweeter or richer, for lack of a better word, but that Tama just so clear and cuts through the mix so well.
Shows that you dont need a 6000 dollar kit to sound great in the studio or live onstage as long as the drums are in good condition, well tuned and played good
Assuming the tracks were processed identically, the DW set may sound a bit better, but I'd be hilariously happy to have the level of quality you got with the Rockstar kit. Maybe not too thrilled about the kick drum sound (compared to the DW), but still perfectly usable.
I played 2200€ Pearl Masters for years, but when I moved to another country I couldn't bring them along so I decided to get a cheaper set. So, I got a new 600€ Tama Silverstar 6 piece kit and was just blown away by how well built it is and how good it sounds. Nowadays I prefer the tama kit over the masters kits...
3 года назад+3
Tama Rockstar 4 me! It held well and provided a good sound! I'm a guitarist and it just floated my boat! $$$$ on the Tama!
Honestly only sound difference I can hear on several different listening methods is a different kick drum impact. Other than that, both are a righteously good sound.
My brother bought me a set of TAMA Rockstar which is similar to yours back in year 2001, costing around USD$750 brand new. with good maintenance and care to the drums, the shell the lugs and the hoops, actually it sounds amazing throughout all these years. I did try some more premium drumsets throughout these years, the Rockstar kit still has its particular killer sound and punch to it and the build quality is absolutely solid and great. Taiwan has been making very good quality musical instruments!!! Cheers Glenn!!!
I played with a drummer who'd purchased a $7000 Sonor set sometime in the 80s. They sounded perfect. No overtones. So simple to mic either live or studio. I can attest they made some amazing kit back in the day.
Both sound very good. Feel like the DW sounds more “alive”, more punch and presence so def can tell a difference. But the Tamas for sure hold their own and work for those on more of a budget. That said, feel like the biggest barrier for recording drums are modest quality mics, pres, and a treated room to record. Video idea: Tamas on studio quality mics vs 7 mic starter pack? They hold up with other budget gear?
The drummer I'm working with (and have for most of my music projects over the last 25 years) has had a Tama Rockstar set since '92. And like Glen said, it's a beast of a set. I'm sure he'll be excited to watch this episode when I send him a link. ⚡🤘⚡
I bought a second kit on a whim for my home studio about a week ago, mostly because I needed the extra hardware. An old Pearl export with all the trimmings for about $200. It had been stowed away in a freezing basement for years. Gave it a little TLC and hit record, and then my jaw dropped. It’ll probably be my go-to from now on. Don’t you just love it when you take something that’s overlooked/neglected and give it a new chance, and it actually ends up working 🙂 Great video, Glenn!
It's not better, just boomier. The Tama would fit really well on a not-so-metal track. Sounds almost exactly like the kick from Weezer's Blue Album actually, a friendly but present "pok" sound.
@@matturner6890 id have said the tama sounds more one-dimensional, if that makes sense. really flat and a tad too ... well how to put it.. papery? for my taste. then again, i always gravitate toward the sound of dw drums in superior drummer, so maybe im biased.
@@DzoniMakaroni No prob man, I am a fuckin nerd about drums and love sharing info. I will also mention that the DW kick is also awesome, and on a slower heavy song would be absolutely monstrous. The big, long BOOM is great for slower stuff.
I've had a tama rockstar DX for the last several years, and I just got back into playing recently. I had NO idea that my kit would be considered "cheap!" I've played really cheap kits, and mine blows them out of the water! I'm a proud owner :)
@@ryanwilson5936 Ironically, he went out and found a full Rockstar kit and uses his Ludwig snare with the Rockstar kit LOL!!! He did cut down to one bass drum and a double-pedal, though.
Drums can be expensive but if you shop smart, you can get a legitimate awesome quality drum set relatively affordable. Buy the cymbals used for more savings. It’s not cheap but at the same time, it doesn’t have to be too expensive.
As a longtime drummer who used to play in bands semi-professionally and now focuses on home recording, I was impressed with the Tama Rockstar. It more than held its own, especially the kick drum and toms. I also thought the snare sound was greatly improved by mixing it with the sample. Even as a Pearl guy I would gladly take the Rockstar and spend some of the money I saved on a Supraphonic or even Black Beauty snare. Then you would have a truly pro drum sound for far less than a DW or other boutique/custom drum kit. Just my $.02 and thank you Glenn for this video!
Ya bud I have a double kick set of Rock Stars that a friend of my son left for me to store. After a year of trying to contact him to come get them out of here failed. I decided I was going to use for end and coffee tables in my man cave. I got a wild hair, set them up and was blown away with how great they sound. I put new heads all the way around. Using my high end cymbles, peddles, hardware. This thing rocks, I play them every day now for 4 years. Now my Ludi maple classics are the end and coffee tables lol.
As a drummer i have played on a few different kits throughout the years and companys. I recently got my first DW kit and i can no-biasly say i cant complain about the price bc the raw sound is what i was looking for, complimented by aquarian performance 2 clears for the toms, super kick 2 for bass and texture coated for snare paired with paiste 2k2s all around. Rock is back gentlemen
Great video! Ive been a Tama player for 30 years. I recently restored a 1989 Japanese made Rockstar, not Taiwanese made, like many in that era. As you so wisely stated in your video, as long as you have good heads and proper tuning, the differences are small for sure.
Haha I just scrolled for damn near five minutes just to give you props myself, Duck Tape Melodies! I learned something! (in a "sense" sense rather than a "rote" sense; hope that makes sense lol) Coincidental part is that just a few hours ago I was looking up how to use speakers as microphones for low frequency sources and phase shift, I found, is the reason "they say" to wire it in reverse polarity. Excellent catch though, and Fuck Glenn! 🤘😅✌
Hi Glen! I have a set of birch Tama Silverstars I got for around $500. They sound well and full outside their price range for certain! Ive never lugged the full kit into a studio but I have taken the 14x5 snare it comes with, and everyone is blown away by it. We even did a side by side with a pearl masters maple 14x6 and pearl free floating brass 14x6.5 and most felt the little birch silverstar snare was better. The hardware isn't as robust anymore but there's something about Tama shell construction.
I think the Tama was better, I hate DW drums, I think they sound like thin shit, oddly enough, the opposite of what most of these Yes-men are telling Glenn. I Own a Superstar Birch and a Vintage Rockstar DX Maple and Mahogany, they in my opinion, blow DW drums out of a studio, but then, I got my drums for Live Performances, not Studio only as Glenn has with his $6,000.00 DW Maple shits er shells.
@@myopicautisticmetal9035 I once stumbled into a guitar center while the drum guy was tuning the display kits. He was so blown away by a Tama Starclassic b/b's ability to hold a lower and richer fundamental than every display kit they had out that I joined him in trying to get a DW collectors maple, an all maple ludwig kit whos name I cant recall (pro price tag tho), and a pearl masters maple to hold as rich and low a sound. The DW and Ludwig even had noticeably bigger shell sizes too. The tama starclassic stomped all.
I have two sets of Tama drums.Rockstar dx and swingstar.Both are great sets .The Swingstars are 34 years old and still look and sound like they did the day I brought them home.Great heads and mics can make a great sounding set.
I’m the proud owner of a second hand Tama superstar. It’s what I’m planning on using to record my upcoming album actually! And hell, we recorded my former bands Ep using a borrowed tama imperial star, which is an even cheaper kit, and I’m still proud of those drum sounds several years later!
Just buy the TAMA's snare and toms, then a DW kick and you have a live and studio drum kit that sounds killer. :D EDIT: Just buy the TAMA kit instead, both kicks were out of phase in this video.
@@jeffkerr807 It means the microphones are negatively interfering on each other's sound when mixed in a song. If both were in phase, they would positively interfere on the drum sound, yielding the desired result.
My first kit was an ‘88 white Rockstar kit that I still have today. I learned to play and learned to record with these drums. A few years back when my kids were wanting to learn to play drums, I went out and found an additional rockstar kit for around $300 for them to have and tear up. The Toms on the rockstars aren’t anything to write home about, but commonly I still use my rockstar kick over my Starclassics, C&Cs and Dark Horse Percussion custom kit. Incredible rock n roll kick on these rockstars - always has been. GREAT VIDEO! 🤘🏼
Have recorded 2 studio albums on literally this era Rockstar kit, both were decent budget recording sessions but kit with brand new heads on , sounded great and I remember both producers being quite surprised, I think on only 2 tracks I used a Brady snare, the rest was all the standard kit. I remember feeling maybe embarrassed I didn’t have a super fancy and expensive drum kit. But imho it’s all about tuning and mic placement and actually being able to play is a good help also! Great vid
Tama rockstar was my first decent drum set.. but back in the day they weren’t cheap .. I believe mine new with hardware was 800$ ish dollars back around 2001 .. so even now I wouldn’t consider it a $240 drum set , id consider that a steal 😂
Been using a Rockstar kit for over 20 years now; kit I have now is a made in Japan one (back when they still that back in the '90s)...love it, has never failed me.
I have a set of 2001 TAMA ROCKSTAR MISTY CHROME and absolutely love them! Best kit I have ever played! My kit is double bass with 3 mounted and 2 floor toms.
Glenn!! just started doing random music junk on TikTok and now i have even more respect for the work you put into your videos. Just getting things done for a 1 minute video takes so much time and here you are pulling off these kinds of shoot outs all the time! Just to add to the conversation: 20 years ago i recored at a small studio that only ever triggered kicks. I wanted a more natural sound but they didn't have a good mic for it. So we split the difference. I miked up the kick with my crappy kick mic and the engineer used a ddrum trigger and blended in a sampled kick. I was shocked at how good of a sound we were able to get
I have 3 Tama kits one of them is actually a 97 rockstar that i bought back in high school. To this day looks almost new and sounds as amazing as my Starclassic Birch/Walnut that I bought a little over a year ago. Like anything you just have to take care of it if you want it to last.
I am 6:15 in to the vid and the sound of that Tama-kit bring back som great memories from the music-lessons from year 7-9 when the entire class att the end of each year covered a song. Me on the bass and a guy who has ended up as a multiinstrumentalist in drums and our buddies om guitars and one of the girls on keys. The rest of the class sang and it was so much fun!🤘
yes, this is a great example of when you have an audio engineer and drummer who know their shit, altogether even make the $240 drum kit sound amazing in a mix! awesome!
The notable difference in price is also to do with the manufacturing. Tama is Taiwanese and DW is manufactured in the USA, needless to say, much more expensive labor and certain people will be partial to the American option if they have the coin for it.
This is...grazy. I really expected way more difference. My mind just blew all over the place. Crazy. Thanks yet another fun video. Keep up the good work and all that.
As someone with a home recording studio who can't afford drum sets that are a few thousand bucks, this was cool to watch. Honestly the biggest difference for me was the kick. The cheaper set's kick just didn't have much gut to it, but with some sample enhancements to throw some heft back in it hits far above it's weight.
Good stuff Frickuh! As a drummer of more decades than inches, my thoughts are: 1) I’ve heard Rockstar kick drums have more life than what was captured here. 2) The Rockstar toms have some killer attack! 3) While the Tama kicks and toms faired well compared to the DeeDub, I thought the snare was where she suffered most. Giving the Rockstar kick a little more something and pairing the Rockstar with the Supra would’ve made this shootout even closer than it was!
I had a Ludwig Accent kit once upon a time. It sounded fine. I dropped the dough on a Bison kit with a bubinga Pork Pie snare and the drum tracks instantly sounded better. I appreciate what Glenn has done here. Both these kits sound great by my milage def varied. Crap in is crap out.
The interiors of cheap drums are always unfinished (no finish or sealer on the wood... just bare wood), including those Rockstars. No one ever talks about this, but it is a BIG factor in the sound (and cost) of drums. Would love to see the same comparison after sealing the interiors of the Rockstars with polyurethane, tung oil blend, whatever. Should give it a noticeable improvement in the midrange and upper mid that is missing from them currently (which is NOT missing from the sealed wood interiors of the DWs). Thanks for the comparison... great video!
I had a Tama Rockstar in 2000. I wish I still had it. I recorded with it, played gigs on it, and did my daily practicing on it daily. Thise and the Pearl Export Select were great too. Sold a lot of both kits back when I was teaching in the shop.
I've been a drummer for over 30 years now and the gap between the high-end and not-so-high-end kits is getting smaller and smaller every year. I have a cheap Drumcraft kit that I can get to sound just as good as my DW's. The real difference, in my opinion, is the difference in the quality of the hardware. I'll never forget the day that I brought home my DW Collectors, mounted the toms, and they stayed EXACTLY where I put them. I had spent years dealing with tom mounts that drooped and bounced no matter how much I tightened them. The DW mounts just stayed- I didn't have to tighten, let go to see how much they droop, untighten and account for droop, retighten, ad nauseam.
Another great super inexpensive purchase, especially if you're looking for a more vintage sounding set of drums- MIJ sets from the 60s and 70s. These are the drums people would buy out of a Sears Roebucks catalog for their kids back then, and many actually feature fiberglass shells, which record phenomenaly. I've been able to buy full sets for as low as $60. An added bonus is that you'll come across some uniquely designed wraps on them as well.
we recorded drums on our last album with a Ludwig kit that was the equivalent of a Tama rockstar kit. we made sure everything was tuned properly and close mic'd it in a small flat room. my partner then built out a "room" in Reaper and it sounded great. We had tracked albums in expensive studios with "classic professional" drum kits in the past with a name producer, vista light Ludwig's , 70's Ludwig's as well as DW kits . in my experience you can go either way. results may vary but with the right skillset/ engineer/ producer you cant go wrong. with that said i still got myself a pieced together Tama Superstar kit and a drum bot for the future sessions and a black beauty Ludwig snare.
As a live sound engineer, I am stuck with whatever the band brings, which usually includes a drum kit that is often in desperate need of new heads. Cheap kits, expensive kits, they all sound like ass when the heads are "past their expiration". I did a 3 day tour with a band that had an amazing drummer using a rental DW kit and I was so happy to have a kit in prime condition running through my desk. I didn't have to "work", it was basically throw up the faders, add some compression and stay out of the way. When my friend, who runs a studio, went to purchase a kit, he and I talked for weeks before deciding on a Tama Fusion kit for overall balance and flexibility, as well as bang for the buck, and that was a fantastic investment. In your test, I preferred the DW kick and the Tama Snare, but the toms I didn't have a strong preference one way or the other as they both were great sounding. It just goes to show if you take care of your stuff and keep it in top condition, you don't always need that top-dollar kit. This was a fair A/B comparison. You controlled all aspects that were realistic, including the age of the drums.
My first "real" kit was a Tama Rockstar. Saved up and bought a 6 peice kit back in '96. I still have it, and it still sounds phenomenal! Now, I have moved on to a Starclassic B/B kit, but they are both set up in my man cave, and the kids play the old reliable Rockstar. I don't mix things or even record much, but the only differences that are obvious between my two kits is the kick is far superior in an acoustic state on the Starclassic kit and the snare it totally different - but the Starclassic snare is wood, and the Rockstar kit is metal. Both sound great, just quite different.
Awesome demonstration, I’ve been playing on Tama drums for 45 years my first kit was a 10 pc Swingstar 1976, in 2004 I had my 7 pc Starclassic maple custom made in Crimson Fade, they haven’t made the maple custom in years don’t think you can get it now. I picked Tama over DW a long long time ago always thaught you where paying for the name, unless your name was Neil and they made you the very best drum they could. The truth is in how you hit them. Cool video bro. Peace
I really appreciated this video. I love drumming. I've been drumming for a decent portion of my life. I really appreciated learning drum maintenance and tuning. I used to break down, clean, and rebuild my school's 80s Ludwig Rocker 5 pc kit. I found enough parts in the band storage to build another drum kit from retired marching drums. I've played on some gorgeously beautiful and expensive kits, and I've played on cobbled together bits and pieces and plenty of things that were never meant to be used in a percussive manner. They all have their own tone to work with. Yes - the techniques used to build drums do have an impact on the sound of the drum, but much like tonewood, the level of manufacturing precision these days kind of makes the point fairly moot. Head selection and condition I think matters more, but I will definitely say it sure is a pleasure to play on an $8k kit. Those have a certain resonance and vibrancy lower cost kits don't generally have, and that does usually come down to higher quality wood selection and grain matching. By the same token, I could buy an $80 water damaged yard sale shitkicker kit and with a new set of heads and bit of time to tune, I can make it sound studio worthy. Either way, if I'm going into a studio and they have higher quality gear than I currently play on, I'll have no qualms playing on that! Learn yer gear! ;) Thanks for making this one, Glenn!
I'm very happy to see what you were saying about drum samples in this video. Not because I know anything about drumming, recording, or sampling, but because you are willing to change your mind. I struggle with accepting new points of view or new evidence to the contrary of what I believed initially when it comes to experiences outside my job. Which says a lot since my job is all about looking for and investigating evidence.
I've had my Tama Rockstar Custom kit for 20 years plus. Great kit for the price. Buy great heads, tune it, add quality pedals, hardware and cymbals and you can't go wrong.
The TAMA Rockstar series were solid AF back in the day. I still have a 90's era Mapex Mars series from back in the day that still gets the job done. I am soo glad switched to playing a basic 4 piece setup back in the day. Sometimes less IS more. Rock on Glenn!!!
HAHA! Great video Glenn. I literally just sold my 1997 Rockstar 7-piece for $250. I just had to make some room. Great kit that served me well for 20+ years. Keep making amazing content.
hey Glenn, WTF?!?!? i just watched your video on how to make bass traps... i was highly disappointed that it had nothing to do with trapping the bass player at all
That's easy to do. Tell them to go into a closet where the door knob is on the left side, and that the door knob on the right side is the one that lets them out. Make sure to write L and R on their hands to make sure they don't get it wrong. Same with their shoes.
If you want trap a bass player bait it with beer and weed .
Getting trapped in stupid situations is one of the few things your bass player doesn't need help with.
Did you use a laser pointer?
😂
I hope this helps people realize that skills and technique are more important than top of the line gear. Great vid Glenn 😃.
Absolutely! You're very welcome!
No it doesn't 😅
You can still hear shitty tone no matter how well you play. Even if the shitty tones "fits" or sounds "right".
It also helps when you have high end mics and amps amd computer programs.
Not saying the tama was a shitty tone. But it was clearly inferior to the DW
Absolutely. But as always, to a point. The drumming in the video was top notch, as was the way the kit was tuned, miked and recorded. All that makes a difference.
@@BluesManSteele dw makes the best overall drums in the industry. Worked my ass off when I was younger at a second job to pay for them. Worth it. He’s right on the pricing. Shells, plus the matching edge series snare drum (extra grand at the time) were in the neighborhood of ouch and holy crap. But wow. Just wow.
Just a week ago I bought the exact same TAMA ROCKSTAR model for less than $300. It took me about 4-5 hours to clean it, I put new heads and, damn, it sounds so full! I am absolutely amazed!
What I'm getting from this is good heads and taking the time to tune the damn things is really what you need.
then you got the wrong impression NO amount of tuning or quality of heads, can fix a rockstar or bring it close to competing with a dw.
@@s4lroachclip DW sucks Tama is where to go
@HRRoach You're right. As long as you have drums of reasonable quality to begin with, good heads and tuning will take you the rest of the way. Anyone who says $10,000 drums made of african bubinga with gold plated hardware "just sound better, man" can go and F themselves.
@@Eccentricjuices Nice try troll
@@s4lroachclip DW
That punchy TAMA Rockstar bass drum...I grew up on that sound. Makes me smile
POK POK POK *snare* POK POK POK *snare*
Or Grandstar
True, but those toms... man, those sound bad.
Me too 😁 the Tama rockstar is an awesome kit !!!
Spit out my drink at..."Playing for the other Bands and thier Girlfriends".... Holy Shit the truth stiiiiiiiiiiiings, lol.
Life of an original metal band... splitting 30 bucks between 5 people at the end of the night
That is who I mainly played for, As well as the other bands mom's and dad's!
The reality of a rock band nowadays :D
@@RudalPL you’ve been there too, eh? 😜
I recently built my own studio in São Paulo, and found a used Japanese tama rockstar, killer sound, killer looks and dirty cheap... I couldn't be happier
In the 90s those Tama Kits was sold like a begginer instrument ! I love them ! The swingstar series too they have their own character
Yep. I've got 3 MIJ rockstar kits, and all are great.
I had an art star double bass set up , it was immense , still one of my favourites , for me you can't beat the sound of a good power tom .
I have my brothers 1995 Japanese Rockstar, I also had a 90's swingstar and then I have an 80's Swingstar 12x8 rack tom in cream with that speckled interior.. If you are good at tuning these are all winner's. I've always had different snare's but I remember when ky brother got the kit brand new that Tama snare sounded pretty good.
The DW kick had more body to it. Both snares and toms sounded great, though.
Yep. I like the "Whoosh" on the DW Kick but I thing with a little fiddling you can get the Rockstar Kick close to it.
On one session the Kick of the Drummer also was lacking the "whoosh" and it was more "wobble". So we stole a Concrete Stone on a Construction Site nearby and put it in there.
"Big Bertha" is about 25kg heavy and mentioned in the Credits of that Record :D
Totally agree. If I had an aging rockstar kit I'd probably spring for a dw kick drum and call it a day. Everything else sounded great though.
Yes. I liked the DW bass much more and the Tama snare a little more. But as we all know. None of us likely would be able to tell which was which in a blind test. It is just preference of sound not quality of sound.
@@SophiaAphrodite Oh my God April 1st is coming... Glenn is fucking with us!
So this discussion is for the bricks. Look for the follow up Video.... And with the right Phase the Tama rocks like Hell
with a drummer who knows how to play and an engineer who knows what he's doing, even a cheap drum set can end up sounding great and bring some character to a song. I'd rather hear the Tama kick over slate kick 5 anyday. Great vid Glenn!
For sure, one band I was in I wanted to record the drums for a demo. I offered to buy all new heads, but the drummer insisted on midi programming his tracks with ezdrummer. Kinda blew my mind.
I've owned & played several DW collectors sets, convincing myself that I was "going pro" by playing DW. I have also owned / played most styles of Tama sets. Tama has more character, the bass drums are better, and the hardware is as good as it gets. I currently play Tama Starclassic and I am done with DW. Keep up the great work and thanks for throwing us Drummers the love 💘
That Supraphonic snare! Holy hell, it sounds like a cannon. Perfection.
I was kinda anti-Tama for years until I worked in a music store. The Tama kits sounded amazing out of the box and their hardware was rock solid. The StarClassics walnut/birch shells projected clear across the store and sounded better than the DW maple kit that was more than twice the price.
I always liked Tama. My favorite back in the day was the superstars from the early 80's. But modern drums just blow away the old stuff. Even the dirt cheap sets. I have Yamaha stage customs.
As a matter of fact! Finally someone with experience and not $'s in their eyes.
Why didn't you like Tama back then? What was the thinking behind that?
@@galgogergo As a young lad in the mid 80’s, every time I went into a music store the Tama kits sounded like ass compared to the Pearls and Yamaha’s due to poor setups and skins. I didn’t know enough back then and I played mostly Jazz throughout high school. So I didn’t need a Metal kit.
If you never happened to, listen to Simon Philip's kit. His Starclassics just sing.
One has to keep in mind the context of the type of music. When you're constantly hitting hard, using 2-ply batter heads, tuning lower, and scooping the crap out of the midrange EQ, yes, both kits can be in the same ballpark. If you're talking a quieter type of music, though, and you have single ply heads, tuned higher, and played with some subtlety, the differences become more pronounced, and you'll get more tone/fullness/musicality out of the more expensive set. (Tom suspension mounts alone will make a difference.) I understand that this isn't the point of the video; this is geared toward project studio applications and getting the best bang for the buck (also, it's the fool, not the tool). It would just be a mistake to think that the results here translate for every style of music. Thank you for this video - it's very cool and a great lesson to be learned.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I flogged a Tama Rockstar kit for most of a twenty-year career in cover bands in cabarets and bars in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Nevada, though not identical to the kit Glenn used, mine came with StarCast mounts, so mine (purchased in 1999) might be a bit newer, and the kit didn't come with a snare. I purchased a wood Tama Rockstar snare about five or six years ago after using a vintage Ludwig Pioneer and an generic steel piccolo snare.
That said, after listening to the tracks in the video I can say that the Tamas sounded just fine in comparison to the DWs, to the point where it's just a matter of personal taste and budget. Did the more expensive drums sound better? Yeah, sure. Enough to justify the expense? That depends on how much money you make/have made as a working drummer. The difference between the snares was a bit more pronounced to me, but again, whether or not the better quality justifies the expense is up to you. I'd have loved to see him use snares from boutique brands like Brady, or makers like Gregg Keplinger or Jeff Ocheltree.
Good bearing edges, good heads and proper tuning go a really long way!
They both sound great to my ears. The snares on both sound killer
The Ludwig snare was the biggest difference in favor of the DW kit
@@paulhopkins1905 Kick drum was night and day between the two kits. DW kick smoked the Tama set.
@@jasonbone5121 My TV speakers aren't good enough to tell a big difference there, but I'm sure you're right
There’s for sure a difference. But I think if you used the exact same sized drums this would be even closer
Love Supraphonics. Had my 5" since '88. It was great to hear a 6.5" here. Deeeeeep!
I watched this with my eyes closed. I couldn't tell the difference between the two. I was playing it on a high end 5.1 stereo with an expensive sound card. They both sounded great to my ears.
These Rockstars sounds unreal if we think about the price, awesome
I've been playing TAMA since the 80's. They call them Rockstars for a reason. I have a white marine Japan version of that rockstar with the suspension mounts. Fresh well tuned Aquarian heads on those kits sound amazing, (Especially mic'd up). That was my good luck gigging kit for 5 years.
As a non-expert, the kick of the Tama sounded much smaller to me and I didn't love it. The snares of both sounded amazing to me! Holy crap!
True the BD on DW is thousands times better. the toms basically almost sound the same. I mean in metal mix at the end you'll get dead sounding tom.
So kick, snare, cymbals are the most matter.
The DW kick drum sounds killer
thats my only thought listening. the kick is so full and deep on the DW, and the lack of low low end on the tama is just not there. all else to me is just fine.
The absolute biggest difference between the kits, and an important one at that
@@TotalDESSSS after the follow up vid, ill acknowledge the tama has a more fuller sound, but I feel it still falls short, however id say the tama would be totaly fine in a practice jam setting, never gona be able to tell, but when it comes to studio, just use the kit already there.
@@tyleraho2485 agreed
@@TotalDESSSS whoa whoa whoa. This is the internet. You cant just rationally agree about with other people. Wheres the "you dont know anything", and the "do your research" comments? your doing the comment section wrong! Cool video though, cheers :D
When I was a kid I played with a drummer who’s kit was built around lumber . Actual 2 by 4s and plywood. We even played a couple of Gigs with it . It’s the only time I got chased by dogs at a lumber yard stealing wood for a crash stand .
cool story
Have to say the playing and mixing are sublime! That Tama sounds unreal, they really are an amazing series of drums! The DW is fantastic too but just have a soft spot for cheap old Tama kits!
The one major plus I really liked about the DWs is the much beefier kick sound, but other than that, the Tama really does the job well. Rock on.
Great video Glenn! Thanks for having me 🤘
You rock, Cam!
For real! Beast!
@@Bobby_Uterus 🤘
You make it look effortless
Nice!
That Carcass-like mix was really good to be honest
Ty!
HAHAH My first reaction was - Is that Carcass cover? :D
Ahh yes, a very... Corporeal, inspiration? One might say?
I get how the fine land of Copyright Strikes informs decisions. And completely approve of your solution. Album is Necroticism, for those of you interested.
My favorite Corcoss song!
At the last second, I decided to listen to the full mix shootout with my eyes closed just to see if I could hear a difference and not be influenced by the brand or price. I was blown away when I opened my eyes to see the kit I thought sounded better was the Tama. The Tama was just sort of clear and snappy with this great attack while the DW was a bit too soft in the highs which didn't cut through the mix as well. That DW is a bit sweeter or richer, for lack of a better word, but that Tama just so clear and cuts through the mix so well.
Shows that you dont need a 6000 dollar kit to sound great in the studio or live onstage as long as the drums are in good condition, well tuned and played good
Both kits sound phenomenal. A/B’ing them in this manner tells a lot but an album done with one or the other would be just fine in my book.
Assuming the tracks were processed identically, the DW set may sound a bit better, but I'd be hilariously happy to have the level of quality you got with the Rockstar kit. Maybe not too thrilled about the kick drum sound (compared to the DW), but still perfectly usable.
I played 2200€ Pearl Masters for years, but when I moved to another country I couldn't bring them along so I decided to get a cheaper set. So, I got a new 600€ Tama Silverstar 6 piece kit and was just blown away by how well built it is and how good it sounds. Nowadays I prefer the tama kit over the masters kits...
Tama Rockstar 4 me! It held well and provided a good sound! I'm a guitarist and it just floated my boat! $$$$ on the Tama!
"Playing for the other bands and their girlfriends." Oof, I felt that one.
Honestly only sound difference I can hear on several different listening methods is a different kick drum impact. Other than that, both are a righteously good sound.
Thanks very much! Glad you liked!
My brother bought me a set of TAMA Rockstar which is similar to yours back in year 2001, costing around USD$750 brand new. with good maintenance and care to the drums, the shell the lugs and the hoops, actually it sounds amazing throughout all these years. I did try some more premium drumsets throughout these years, the Rockstar kit still has its particular killer sound and punch to it and the build quality is absolutely solid and great. Taiwan has been making very good quality musical instruments!!! Cheers Glenn!!!
I don't know about the reselling value of a DW, but I am sure you can find a 2nd hand Sonor for under 2k that has no fear of comparisons.
I picked up a nice set of older Sonor's for $400, installed new heads and good to go.
@@whiskeymike7364 I feel like Sonors are so underappreciated nowadays. Ludwigs too.
Been on my Sonors since '07 and no plans of letting them go, ever!
I played with a drummer who'd purchased a $7000 Sonor set sometime in the 80s. They sounded perfect. No overtones. So simple to mic either live or studio. I can attest they made some amazing kit back in the day.
Force 3007 series!
9 ply Canadian maple!
Can still find them for 1000 Canadian used.
Killer drums that definitely fear no comparison!!!
I had a Rockstar Fusion kit. Decent drums. Rewrapped them from black, to Red Marble.
I really liked the kick on the DW kit.
I love that this will make that kid with the cheaper kit feel better ☺️
The Rockstar set sounded really impressive but having highend mic's surely helps a lot too! Great video...
I have a tama rockstar from the 90’s don’t think I’ll ever get rid of it, for its price it sounds like a fairly high end kit with the tuning
Both sound very good. Feel like the DW sounds more “alive”, more punch and presence so def can tell a difference. But the Tamas for sure hold their own and work for those on more of a budget.
That said, feel like the biggest barrier for recording drums are modest quality mics, pres, and a treated room to record.
Video idea: Tamas on studio quality mics vs 7 mic starter pack? They hold up with other budget gear?
The drummer I'm working with (and have for most of my music projects over the last 25 years) has had a Tama Rockstar set since '92. And like Glen said, it's a beast of a set. I'm sure he'll be excited to watch this episode when I send him a link.
⚡🤘⚡
Minor tonal variances in the kick and snare but WOW. . .the Tama is very useable.
I bought a second kit on a whim for my home studio about a week ago, mostly because I needed the extra hardware. An old Pearl export with all the trimmings for about $200. It had been stowed away in a freezing basement for years. Gave it a little TLC and hit record, and then my jaw dropped. It’ll probably be my go-to from now on. Don’t you just love it when you take something that’s overlooked/neglected and give it a new chance, and it actually ends up working 🙂 Great video, Glenn!
The bass drum on the more expensive one sounded much better to me.
yeah the tama kick sounded like ass. the snare sounds just as good though!
It's not better, just boomier. The Tama would fit really well on a not-so-metal track. Sounds almost exactly like the kick from Weezer's Blue Album actually, a friendly but present "pok" sound.
@@matturner6890 That's interesting, didn't know that. Thanks!
@@matturner6890 id have said the tama sounds more one-dimensional, if that makes sense. really flat and a tad too ... well how to put it.. papery? for my taste.
then again, i always gravitate toward the sound of dw drums in superior drummer, so maybe im biased.
@@DzoniMakaroni No prob man, I am a fuckin nerd about drums and love sharing info.
I will also mention that the DW kick is also awesome, and on a slower heavy song would be absolutely monstrous. The big, long BOOM is great for slower stuff.
I've had a tama rockstar DX for the last several years, and I just got back into playing recently. I had NO idea that my kit would be considered "cheap!" I've played really cheap kits, and mine blows them out of the water! I'm a proud owner :)
I thought my drummer’s $700 snare was expensive... 🤣🤣🤣
Don’t worry, it is lol.
@@ryanwilson5936
Ironically, he went out and found a full Rockstar kit and uses his Ludwig snare with the Rockstar kit LOL!!! He did cut down to one bass drum and a double-pedal, though.
The stock snare for Pearl Reference kits cost 1100€ on its own..
Drums can be expensive but if you shop smart, you can get a legitimate awesome quality drum set relatively affordable. Buy the cymbals used for more savings. It’s not cheap but at the same time, it doesn’t have to be too expensive.
The best snare AKA Ludwig Supraphonic costs about 700$ so yes that's the limit anything above that is just extra money.
As a longtime drummer who used to play in bands semi-professionally and now focuses on home recording, I was impressed with the Tama Rockstar. It more than held its own, especially the kick drum and toms. I also thought the snare sound was greatly improved by mixing it with the sample.
Even as a Pearl guy I would gladly take the Rockstar and spend some of the money I saved on a Supraphonic or even Black Beauty snare. Then you would have a truly pro drum sound for far less than a DW or other boutique/custom drum kit. Just my $.02 and thank you Glenn for this video!
That 50% blend made me love that tama snare way more than the ludwig
Ya bud I have a double kick set of Rock Stars that a friend of my son left for me to store. After a year of trying to contact him to come get them out of here failed. I decided I was going to use for end and coffee tables in my man cave. I got a wild hair, set them up and was blown away with how great they sound. I put new heads all the way around. Using my high end cymbles, peddles, hardware. This thing rocks, I play them every day now for 4 years. Now my Ludi maple classics are the end and coffee tables lol.
I liked the DW drums & really liked the Ludwig snare. I think the Tama snare would sound much better tuned up a bit.
As a drummer i have played on a few different kits throughout the years and companys. I recently got my first DW kit and i can no-biasly say i cant complain about the price bc the raw sound is what i was looking for, complimented by aquarian performance 2 clears for the toms, super kick 2 for bass and texture coated for snare paired with paiste 2k2s all around. Rock is back gentlemen
Love that BoltThrower/Caracas style riffing magnificent 🤘🤘
Thank you!!
I am glad someone else noticed that signature tone. A bit of a Pepper Keenan tone in that as well.
Great video! Ive been a Tama player for 30 years. I recently restored a 1989 Japanese made Rockstar, not Taiwanese made, like many in that era. As you so wisely stated in your video, as long as you have good heads and proper tuning, the differences are small for sure.
Is the kick on the Tama out of phase?
Dude, PM me via Spectremedia.ca
Haha I just scrolled for damn near five minutes just to give you props myself, Duck Tape Melodies! I learned something! (in a "sense" sense rather than a "rote" sense; hope that makes sense lol)
Coincidental part is that just a few hours ago I was looking up how to use speakers as microphones for low frequency sources and phase shift, I found, is the reason "they say" to wire it in reverse polarity.
Excellent catch though, and Fuck Glenn! 🤘😅✌
@@SpectreSoundStudios he deserves something awesome Glenn. Thanks for your honesty
Hi Glen! I have a set of birch Tama Silverstars I got for around $500. They sound well and full outside their price range for certain! Ive never lugged the full kit into a studio but I have taken the 14x5 snare it comes with, and everyone is blown away by it. We even did a side by side with a pearl masters maple 14x6 and pearl free floating brass 14x6.5 and most felt the little birch silverstar snare was better. The hardware isn't as robust anymore but there's something about Tama shell construction.
I think the Tama was better, I hate DW drums, I think they sound like thin shit, oddly enough, the opposite of what most of these Yes-men are telling Glenn. I Own a Superstar Birch and a Vintage Rockstar DX Maple and Mahogany, they in my opinion, blow DW drums out of a studio, but then, I got my drums for Live Performances, not Studio only as Glenn has with his $6,000.00 DW Maple shits er shells.
@@myopicautisticmetal9035
I once stumbled into a guitar center while the drum guy was tuning the display kits. He was so blown away by a Tama Starclassic b/b's ability to hold a lower and richer fundamental than every display kit they had out that I joined him in trying to get a DW collectors maple, an all maple ludwig kit whos name I cant recall (pro price tag tho), and a pearl masters maple to hold as rich and low a sound. The DW and Ludwig even had noticeably bigger shell sizes too. The tama starclassic stomped all.
The DW kick sounds much better than the Tama kick!
It might be boomier, but I guarantee the Tama fits into way more mixes.
I have two sets of Tama drums.Rockstar dx and swingstar.Both are great sets .The Swingstars are 34 years old and still look and sound like they did the day I brought them home.Great heads and mics can make a great sounding set.
Next episodes: Glenn editing and quantizing drums, Glenn programming drums.
Maybe even Glenn tuning vocals, who knows? 🤣
Nah, let’s not go crazy!
Fuck that never sell out Glenn lol
I’m the proud owner of a second hand Tama superstar. It’s what I’m planning on using to record my upcoming album actually! And hell, we recorded my former bands Ep using a borrowed tama imperial star, which is an even cheaper kit, and I’m still proud of those drum sounds several years later!
Just buy the TAMA's snare and toms, then a DW kick and you have a live and studio drum kit that sounds killer. :D
EDIT: Just buy the TAMA kit instead, both kicks were out of phase in this video.
What does that mean, out of phase? Tks
@@jeffkerr807 It means the microphones are negatively interfering on each other's sound when mixed in a song. If both were in phase, they would positively interfere on the drum sound, yielding the desired result.
@@plumbummusic2051 tks
My first kit was an ‘88 white Rockstar kit that I still have today. I learned to play and learned to record with these drums. A few years back when my kids were wanting to learn to play drums, I went out and found an additional rockstar kit for around $300 for them to have and tear up. The Toms on the rockstars aren’t anything to write home about, but commonly I still use my rockstar kick over my Starclassics, C&Cs and Dark Horse Percussion custom kit. Incredible rock n roll kick on these rockstars - always has been. GREAT VIDEO! 🤘🏼
All I’m gonna say is... should’ve bought Sonor
Have recorded 2 studio albums on literally this era Rockstar kit, both were decent budget recording sessions but kit with brand new heads on , sounded great and I remember both producers being quite surprised, I think on only 2 tracks I used a Brady snare, the rest was all the standard kit. I remember feeling maybe embarrassed I didn’t have a super fancy and expensive drum kit. But imho it’s all about tuning and mic placement and actually being able to play is a good help also! Great vid
30 years from now gear nerds are gonna be like,“bro what if the tone was better in 2020 because they had to wear mask.”
Tama rockstar was my first decent drum set.. but back in the day they weren’t cheap .. I believe mine new with hardware was 800$ ish dollars back around 2001 .. so even now I wouldn’t consider it a $240 drum set , id consider that a steal 😂
Next time you're doing a kit comparison, get the guy to hit the drums rather than the cymbals
Been using a Rockstar kit for over 20 years now; kit I have now is a made in Japan one (back when they still that back in the '90s)...love it, has never failed me.
I have a set of 2001 TAMA ROCKSTAR MISTY CHROME and absolutely love them! Best kit I have ever played! My kit is double bass with 3 mounted and 2 floor toms.
I had the budget for DW Collectors & went with Tama Starclassic Bubinga with absolutely no regrets.
Always have been a fan of Tama Rockstars so much so, i own 3!
Glenn!! just started doing random music junk on TikTok and now i have even more respect for the work you put into your videos. Just getting things done for a 1 minute video takes so much time and here you are pulling off these kinds of shoot outs all the time!
Just to add to the conversation: 20 years ago i recored at a small studio that only ever triggered kicks. I wanted a more natural sound but they didn't have a good mic for it. So we split the difference. I miked up the kick with my crappy kick mic and the engineer used a ddrum trigger and blended in a sampled kick. I was shocked at how good of a sound we were able to get
Thanks man! This one took a while to put together!
Damn both the kits sounded top notch! I was honestly surprised how high quality that tama sounded!
I have 3 Tama kits one of them is actually a 97 rockstar that i bought back in high school. To this day looks almost new and sounds as amazing as my Starclassic Birch/Walnut that I bought a little over a year ago. Like anything you just have to take care of it if you want it to last.
I am 6:15 in to the vid and the sound of that Tama-kit bring back som great memories from the music-lessons from year 7-9 when the entire class att the end of each year covered a song. Me on the bass and a guy who has ended up as a multiinstrumentalist in drums and our buddies om guitars and one of the girls on keys. The rest of the class sang and it was so much fun!🤘
yes, this is a great example of when you have an audio engineer and drummer who know their shit, altogether even make the $240 drum kit sound amazing in a mix! awesome!
Ty!! Glad you liked it!
@@SpectreSoundStudios Cheers!
The notable difference in price is also to do with the manufacturing. Tama is Taiwanese and DW is manufactured in the USA, needless to say, much more expensive labor and certain people will be partial to the American option if they have the coin for it.
I had a Tama rockstar loved it!
This is...grazy. I really expected way more difference. My mind just blew all over the place. Crazy. Thanks yet another fun video. Keep up the good work and all that.
As someone with a home recording studio who can't afford drum sets that are a few thousand bucks, this was cool to watch. Honestly the biggest difference for me was the kick. The cheaper set's kick just didn't have much gut to it, but with some sample enhancements to throw some heft back in it hits far above it's weight.
Kick issue solved: ruclips.net/video/r9KmP1bcMi4/видео.html
Good stuff Frickuh! As a drummer of more decades than inches, my thoughts are: 1) I’ve heard Rockstar kick drums have more life than what was captured here. 2) The Rockstar toms have some killer attack! 3) While the Tama kicks and toms faired well compared to the DeeDub, I thought the snare was where she suffered most. Giving the Rockstar kick a little more something and pairing the Rockstar with the Supra would’ve made this shootout even closer than it was!
“Here is my cheap set….”
…pulls out your exact set of drums…
Cool that they held their own so well.
I had a Ludwig Accent kit once upon a time. It sounded fine. I dropped the dough on a Bison kit with a bubinga Pork Pie snare and the drum tracks instantly sounded better. I appreciate what Glenn has done here. Both these kits sound great by my milage def varied. Crap in is crap out.
The interiors of cheap drums are always unfinished (no finish or sealer on the wood... just bare wood), including those Rockstars. No one ever talks about this, but it is a BIG factor in the sound (and cost) of drums. Would love to see the same comparison after sealing the interiors of the Rockstars with polyurethane, tung oil blend, whatever. Should give it a noticeable improvement in the midrange and upper mid that is missing from them currently (which is NOT missing from the sealed wood interiors of the DWs). Thanks for the comparison... great video!
I had a Tama Rockstar in 2000.
I wish I still had it. I recorded with it, played gigs on it, and did my daily practicing on it daily.
Thise and the Pearl Export Select were great too. Sold a lot of both kits back when I was teaching in the shop.
On this test it's DW hands down. Overall best tone, fuller sound, attack, etc.
I've been a drummer for over 30 years now and the gap between the high-end and not-so-high-end kits is getting smaller and smaller every year. I have a cheap Drumcraft kit that I can get to sound just as good as my DW's. The real difference, in my opinion, is the difference in the quality of the hardware. I'll never forget the day that I brought home my DW Collectors, mounted the toms, and they stayed EXACTLY where I put them. I had spent years dealing with tom mounts that drooped and bounced no matter how much I tightened them. The DW mounts just stayed- I didn't have to tighten, let go to see how much they droop, untighten and account for droop, retighten, ad nauseam.
Another great super inexpensive purchase, especially if you're looking for a more vintage sounding set of drums- MIJ sets from the 60s and 70s.
These are the drums people would buy out of a Sears Roebucks catalog for their kids back then, and many actually feature fiberglass shells, which record phenomenaly. I've been able to buy full sets for as low as $60.
An added bonus is that you'll come across some uniquely designed wraps on them as well.
we recorded drums on our last album with a Ludwig kit that was the equivalent of a Tama rockstar kit. we made sure everything was tuned properly and close mic'd it in a small flat room. my partner then built out a "room" in Reaper and it sounded great. We had tracked albums in expensive studios with "classic professional" drum kits in the past with a name producer, vista light Ludwig's , 70's Ludwig's as well as DW kits . in my experience you can go either way. results may vary but with the right skillset/ engineer/ producer you cant go wrong. with that said i still got myself a pieced together Tama Superstar kit and a drum bot for the future sessions and a black beauty Ludwig snare.
I had an original set of pearl exports that I actually liked the sound of better than aspects of my pearl masters birch kit.
As a live sound engineer, I am stuck with whatever the band brings, which usually includes a drum kit that is often in desperate need of new heads. Cheap kits, expensive kits, they all sound like ass when the heads are "past their expiration". I did a 3 day tour with a band that had an amazing drummer using a rental DW kit and I was so happy to have a kit in prime condition running through my desk. I didn't have to "work", it was basically throw up the faders, add some compression and stay out of the way. When my friend, who runs a studio, went to purchase a kit, he and I talked for weeks before deciding on a Tama Fusion kit for overall balance and flexibility, as well as bang for the buck, and that was a fantastic investment. In your test, I preferred the DW kick and the Tama Snare, but the toms I didn't have a strong preference one way or the other as they both were great sounding. It just goes to show if you take care of your stuff and keep it in top condition, you don't always need that top-dollar kit. This was a fair A/B comparison. You controlled all aspects that were realistic, including the age of the drums.
My first "real" kit was a Tama Rockstar. Saved up and bought a 6 peice kit back in '96. I still have it, and it still sounds phenomenal! Now, I have moved on to a Starclassic B/B kit, but they are both set up in my man cave, and the kids play the old reliable Rockstar. I don't mix things or even record much, but the only differences that are obvious between my two kits is the kick is far superior in an acoustic state on the Starclassic kit and the snare it totally different - but the Starclassic snare is wood, and the Rockstar kit is metal. Both sound great, just quite different.
Awesome demonstration, I’ve been playing on Tama drums for 45 years my first kit was a 10 pc Swingstar 1976, in 2004 I had my 7 pc Starclassic maple custom made in Crimson Fade, they haven’t made the maple custom in years don’t think you can get it now. I picked Tama over DW a long long time ago always thaught you where paying for the name, unless your name was Neil and they made you the very best drum they could. The truth is in how you hit them. Cool video bro. Peace
I really appreciated this video. I love drumming. I've been drumming for a decent portion of my life. I really appreciated learning drum maintenance and tuning. I used to break down, clean, and rebuild my school's 80s Ludwig Rocker 5 pc kit. I found enough parts in the band storage to build another drum kit from retired marching drums. I've played on some gorgeously beautiful and expensive kits, and I've played on cobbled together bits and pieces and plenty of things that were never meant to be used in a percussive manner. They all have their own tone to work with. Yes - the techniques used to build drums do have an impact on the sound of the drum, but much like tonewood, the level of manufacturing precision these days kind of makes the point fairly moot. Head selection and condition I think matters more, but I will definitely say it sure is a pleasure to play on an $8k kit. Those have a certain resonance and vibrancy lower cost kits don't generally have, and that does usually come down to higher quality wood selection and grain matching. By the same token, I could buy an $80 water damaged yard sale shitkicker kit and with a new set of heads and bit of time to tune, I can make it sound studio worthy. Either way, if I'm going into a studio and they have higher quality gear than I currently play on, I'll have no qualms playing on that! Learn yer gear! ;) Thanks for making this one, Glenn!
I'm very happy to see what you were saying about drum samples in this video. Not because I know anything about drumming, recording, or sampling, but because you are willing to change your mind. I struggle with accepting new points of view or new evidence to the contrary of what I believed initially when it comes to experiences outside my job. Which says a lot since my job is all about looking for and investigating evidence.
Turns out, I've been mixing on "hard mode" for too long!
I've had my Tama Rockstar Custom kit for 20 years plus. Great kit for the price. Buy great heads, tune it, add quality pedals, hardware and cymbals and you can't go wrong.
The TAMA Rockstar series were solid AF back in the day. I still have a 90's era Mapex Mars series from back in the day that still gets the job done. I am soo glad switched to playing a basic 4 piece setup back in the day. Sometimes less IS more.
Rock on Glenn!!!
HAHA! Great video Glenn. I literally just sold my 1997 Rockstar 7-piece for $250. I just had to make some room. Great kit that served me well for 20+ years. Keep making amazing content.