Tama Artwood Snare Drum Review

Tama Artwood Snare Drum

Performance and Reliability

Tama Drums has been an industry leader in both style and performance since the company’s founding decades ago. This passion for great music that looks the part is perfectly epitomized in the Tama Artwood snare drums. They offer customized drums in a variety of sizes to help you create that unique sound. Let’s take a look at what makes a Tama a popular choice for touring drummers and amateurs across the spectrum of music genres.

Likes

The key to the Tama Artwood series is the material used. Any snare is only as good as its wood, and this wood is the best. These are multi-ply drums that are designed to be thicker than most other snares. The 5mm to 7mm thicknesses produce a deeper sound with much greater resonance. Take the Maple series Artwood snares for instance. They boast 7 plies to produce a 6mm drum that is clear and bright. It will project to the back of the room with little trouble. The maple is rock-hard for a sound that is penetrating and smooth. These custom snare drums sound as good in the studio as they do in any live venue, delivering versatility unheard in most snare drum series.

Another highlight is that these snares can be tuned to pinpoint the exact sound you want. If you play R&B for example, the Artwood maple snare can be tuned loose and low, delivering a soulful and warm sound. When the playlist calls for classic rock tune it in the middle for the greatest flexibility. When you want it fast and bright tune it tight for top of the range crispness.

Finally, the range of sizes allow drummers the custom sound they desire. The Tama Artwood Snare collection is currently offered in four sizes: 6.5×13, 6.5×14, 5.5×14 and 4×14. Older versions still available in great condition include larger sizes like an 8×14 model with incredible depth of sound. They offer pro sound at affordable pricing.

Dislikes

While the hardware on these snares is good, it is not Tama’s top of the line. Some drummers find it lacks the durability they desire, but none report it falls apart quickly. In a few years, with heavy play, some of the lugs may need replacing. You may also want to select different heads for the snare in keeping with your style of play.

Overall Rating – 4 Stars

There is a lot to like in this series. The Tama Artwood snares offer wonderful performance and solid reliability. Drummers who have one love theirs and you’ll likely enjoy the same experience if you grab one for yourself. We give the Tama Artwood snare 4 Stars.

Buy Tama Artwood Snare Drums

At Guitar Center

Click the link above to go to Guitar Center’s collection of new and used Tama Artwood snare drums.