Tama 50th Anniversary Limited Edition 6.5x14" Mastercraft Rosewood Snare Drum

In the 1980s, TAMA's first introduced the Mastercraft Rosewood Snare Drum.  At that time, it was the first and only 100% rosewood drum of its kind in the drum market.  Hard and dense, rosewood is known for its common use as a guitar fretboard wood.  Due to density, 100% rosewood drum shells are extremely difficult to produce.  Drummers in the ‘80’s era prized TAMA’s rosewood snare drums for their dark, full-bodied tones and heightened dynamic range, which aligned well with drummers pushing the boundaries for new sounds. 

In celebration of Tama’s 50th Anniversary in 2024, Tara is reissuing this classic snare drum.  The core of this drum is the 7.5mm/15ply 100% Indian Rosewood shell and comes equipped with a replica of the Tama Superstar badge used on the original drum.  This shell delivers those same dark, full-bodied, expressive tones found in the original drum.  The 14”x6.5” shell depth has strong attack with thick, meaty body and explosive volume.  Drum hardware includes die-cast hoops, 10 original-design lugs and internal tone control.  The throw-off is Tama’s unique Roller Action Strainer, an innovative full contact (extended) snare wire design that has a single on/off lever and dual guide rollers for easy adjustment and sensitivity.  This 50th Anniversary snare drum is a faithful reproduction of the original and available in very limited quantities in 2024.

Features:

• 7.5mm 15ply all Indian Rosewood Shell
• Die-Cast Hoop
• Original Superstar Badge
• Original Superstar Lug
• Roller Action Strainer/Butt Plate
• 20-Strand Carbon Steel Extended Snare Wire
• One Touch Tone Control
• TAMA/Remo Ambassador Drumhead

7.5mm, 15ply All Indian Rosewood Shell
The 7.5mm 15ply All Indian Rosewood Shell is characterized by its dark and deep tone, as well as its powerful sound, which was the highest quality at the time.

Die-Cast Hoops (10 hole)
To achieve clear attack, clarity, and consistent tuning, the Mastercraft snare drum models in the early 1980s featured 10-hole Die-Cast Hoops, uncommon for the time. In addition, these special 50th Anniversary models include a reproduction of the original snare side hoop with larger snare wire window.

Roller Action Strainer
Designed as a full-contact snare wire system, Tama's innovative Roller Action Strainer offers extremely detailed control over snare buzz tone & sensitivity. Past parallel action strainers required an internal rod to operate the strainer & butt at the same time, but Tama's new streamlined design eliminated the need for an internal rod by utilizing a single on/off lever & dual guide rollers for easy, simple, and versatile adjustment. The guide rollers gently rotate to achieve a smooth feel for consistent & reliable operation.

One-Touch Tone Control
Originally made for Mastercraft snare drums, Tama's One-Touch tone control was instantly praised for its innovative design. During a time when recording technology was in its infancy, acoustic sound & overtone control had to be done at the source. Though mutes were commonly found on many snare drums at the time, Tamas simple and effective mechanism allowed for extremely subtle muffling adjustments and quick action within a single One-Touch on/off switch - a revolutionary advancement in design and function. Proving extremely useful even for drummers in the modern world, the One-Touch Tone Control is a timeless and elegant design.

Remo Ambassador Drumheads
Every detail of the Mastercraft Snare Drum Reissue was considered, even down to the stock drumheads. The batter side is fitted with a Remo Coated Ambassador and the bottom side a Remo Ambassador Snare Side.