Pros from John Blackwell to John Tempesta have had high praise for Starclassic Bubinga. Tama's Bubinga drums offer a totally unique sound that's unparalleled in the drum world: the sharpest attack combined with the richest, fattest, fullest sound.
It was time for something new in drums. Tama found that something in African bubinga wood, which is approximately 53% harder than maple and birch. Starclassic Bubinga shells are slightly thicker than those in Tama's Starclassic Maple series. Tama's builders concluded that a slightly thicker bubinga shell brought out the best characteristics of the wood: a more aggressive attack, a fuller deep/dark tone, a more powerful resonance, and unbelievably rich, fat lows. These shells are made of 8-ply bubinga plus one outer ply maple shell for optimal finish characteristics. Tom drum plies are 7mm thick.
The Star-Cast mounting system has always provided maximum resonance and stability for Tama's pro-drums. Now it has a more streamlined designed, making it easier to position toms closer together. In addition, a switch to aluminum provides lighter weight and even truer tonal vibration. Star-Cast is also now plated to match your drum's shell hardware.
Hoops not only affect drum tuning, they also affect drum sound. That's why the choice of hoops was so important to the designers of Tama's professional drum lines. For the Starclassic Bubinga, Tama chose zinc die-cast hoops, which are manufactured by injecting molten metal into molds. Die-cast hoops have more density and are more consistent in shape than triple-flanged hoops, which are manufactured by bending metal plates. Die-cast hoops make tuning more consistent and easier to achieve because the tension bolts always contact the hoop properly. Drums fitted with die-cast hoops also offer crisper attack, clear and resonant highs and much more powerful rim shots.
The Hold Tight washer is a totally unique invention: a non-loosening washer. Its cup-shaped stainless steel washer contains a rubber ring so the tension rod pushes both the cup washer and the rubber ring. Normally, vibrations will eventually loosen the tension rod. But the softness of Hold Tight's rubber ring keeps it in contact with both the tension rod and the hoop at all times and maintains friction between them, so that tension is always preserved.
Evans drum heads are featured on all Starclassic Bubinga drums: on the floor tom, Genera G2 2-ply clear batter heads and Genera G1 1-ply clear bottom heads provide both durability and solid sound.
