Tama HP910LWN - Speed ​​Cobra 910 - double foot pedal

Tama — "The Strongest Name in Drums" — with this slogan the success story of the Japanese instrument maker of the Hoshino Gakki Group began in 1974. However, the first Tama production facility was already put into operation in 1962. After World War II the demand for musical instruments picked up again, which led to a boom in the global export of affordable drumkits. Export business was drastically slowed by the "Nixon shock" in the early 1970s. The yen appreciated by around 30% against the US dollar, which led to a significant price increase and made sales abroad almost impossible. Out of this situation Hoshino Gakki decided to focus on professional high-end products. With numerous innovations and in-house developments, such as the first boom cymbal stand or the super-stable double-braced titanium hardware, it quickly became clear which direction they were heading.

Tama Drums & Hardware became synonymous with innovative, high-quality craftsmanship. The first patents were filed, further reinforcing Tama's unique selling points. Developments such as the Gong Bass Drum or Octobans also attracted the major names of the international drumming scene. Drummers like Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra) and Lenny White (Return to Forever) were enthusiastic about the sound and innovations, leading to the first endorsements between Tama Drums and drum stars. Still in the 1970s many collaborations followed with drummers such as Simon Phillips, Neil Peart (Rush), Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), Kenny Aronoff or Stewart Copeland (The Police), many of which still exist today. The close cooperation with drummers kept Tama always in step with the times and allowed it to recognise trends and developments in music.

The 1980s brought new bands and genres, and Tama developed the Artstar and Granstar series to meet the sonic demands and tastes of the time. New Tama artists like Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Charlie Benante (Anthrax) and Dave Lombardo (Slayer) shaped the drum sound of heavy metal of their era.

In 1994 the Starclassic drums introduced a new generation of drumkits. Extremely thin maple shells, resonant tom mounts, cast hoops and low-mass lugs are important details of the "back to the basics" development. The Starclassic series, in all its variants, remains an important part of the Tama brand to this day.
A milestone in Tama's corporate history is the expansion of its own production sites. In addition to the main factory in Japan, a new plant was opened in Guangzhou, China, in 2005. Initially the Guangzhou site produced the reissue of the Tama Superstar drums exclusively. Gradually, from 2012 onwards, parts of the Starclassic production and the new S.L.P series were added.

The Star series, introduced in 2013, is the absolute highlight in Tama's portfolio. Perfect drum-making craftsmanship combined with noble materials and innovative techniques are the special features of this extraordinary series. With the Star series, Tama's engineers and master drum-builders impressively demonstrate what they are capable of.
By the way, the brand Tama, established in 1974, was named in honour of the wife of the first president, Yoshitaro Hoshino, after his wife Tama Hoshino. And if you're wondering why so many series names include "Star" — Swingstar, Imperialstar, Royalstar, Fiberstar, Superstar, Rockstar, Crestar, Granstar, Artstar, Starclassic — the family name Hoshino translates to "star" in English.

To experience the complete Tama range with all your senses, we recommend you visit our Walldorf branch. On site we host the first Tama Flagship Store in Europe, where you can find the entire Tama portfolio and, of course, play and try everything out. 

Visit the Tama Flagship Store