Tama S.L.P. Studio Maple Kit

86
| MARCH 2018 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
GEAR REVIEW
chosen fi nish is the beautiful Gloss Sienna.
Highlighting the natural appearance of the
maple wood grain, the lacquered surface
starts with a lighter shade of brown in the
centre and darkens very slightly to a more
burnt colour towards the edges – it’s similar to
a burst but infi nitely more subtle. The maple
hoops are presented in their much paler,
natural state which contrasts against yet
complements the darker high-gloss shell
fi nish. Due to their width, the chunky
counter-hoops have had sections removed to
accommodate the shell hardware. The top
hoops on the rack toms, for instance, have
had broad sections removed where the tom
Also try…
Why expand on the S.L.P. range, where do
they fi t in the wider spectrum of Tama kits?
“In 2012 we introduced the S.L.P. line of snares
which proved very successful based on the
distinctive characteristics of each drum. With the
strong nature of this we believe it attracts the
attention and excitement of both consumers and
markets worldwide. The price range is between
Starclassic Performer B/B and Superstar
Hyper-Drive, however the S.L.P. kits are
considered an independent, brand new series.”
What kind of tonal characteristics should we
expect from the Studio Maple?
“The Studio Maple S.L.P. kit will give you a
focused, warm, woody tone with a clear attack,
and relatively short sustain and decay. The S.L.P.
Maple, whether live or in the studio, will give you
a warm sound with controlled resonance.”
Is there only one fi nish option per kit?
“We offer the kit with the same design as S.L.P.
snares, to continue the established image of
the S.L.P. line. Based on the concept of the
snares, we carefully selected the specifi cation,
confi guration and fi nish to achieve the full
potential of the material.”
Simeon Read
Marketing and Percussion Product
Specialist, Headstock Distribution
They say…
THE COMBINATION OF THE LIVELY
SHELL MATERIAL AND THE DRYNESS
OFFERED BY THE HOOPS STRIKES A
VERY WORKABLE MIDDLE GROUND,
OFFERING FULL SOUNDING TOMS WITH
QUICK ATTACK AND SHORTER SUSTAIN
mounts are positioned, while the bottom
hoops of the fl oor toms have been treated to
much smaller, precision cut-outs to allow just
enough room for the legs to be inserted. This
does little to detract from the kit’s overall
classy aesthetic.
All remaining shell hardware is fi nished in
chrome which includes Starclassic lugs,
Linear-Drive snare throw-off and removable
butt-plate (which features an additional
strainer), the Direct Flexi-Mount system, fl oor
tom legs and bass drum spurs. Each drum
shell is completed with the golden rectangular
Tama Sound Lab Project badge.
Hands On
By looks alone, one might be fooled into
believing the Studio Maple kit sits well above
its £1,499-£1,999 price tag (depending on the
model you choose). Despite the obvious
giveaways such as the drilled bass drum and
more budget bass drum spurs (in comparison
with Tama’s top ranges like the Star and
Starclassic), the kit still carries itself with a
degree of class and high-quality
craftsmanship. The lesser-seen wooden
hoops also add a very special aesthetic.
In terms of sound, the expectedly
versatile maple shells afford it a seriously
wide tuning range right across the board –
exactly what the doctor ordered when taking
1
PDP CLASSIC
WOOD HOOP KIT
We say: “ This set is
a great sounding,
cost-effective
alternative to DW’s
fl agship drum range. A
great sounding, lush
looking kit but with
limited size options.”
TRUSTED LUGS
The Studio Maple shares its
lug design with the former
fl agship Starclassic series
TOM MOUNTS
Rack toms come with a brand
new shell mounting system
called the Direct Flexi-Mount
RHY278.gear_tama.indd 86 1/23/18 3:18 PM