By Contributing Author Dango
Find out if the Tama Imperialstar drum set is a good option for you with our comprehensive review.
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Tama Drums are one of the biggest names in the drum world and home of some of the most iconic players from rock to hip hop.
In the 70’s, Tama launched the Imperialstar line, which was a mid-level kit that featured mahogany shells. In recent years they have completely reintroduced the Imperialstar drums as a beginner kit, coming complete with hardware and cymbals.
They now feature 6-ply Poplar shells and come in 8 great finishes and 4 configurations. They include Meinl HCS cymbals and Tama double braced hardware.
Tama is a Japanese company but this line is produced in China like most entry-level drums, to keep the cost down for the consumer.
- 6-piece Poplar Drum Set with 22" Bass Drum
- Cymbals - Burgundy Walnut Wrap
- 14" and 16" Floor Tom
At a Glance: Key Features of the Kit
The new Concept Maple kit is offered in five finishes and five configurations. It is made of European maple and the toms include the advanced suspension tom mounting system.
- 8mm 100% Poplar Shells – Said to offer a warm full tone with medium attack
- Tama Precision Bearing Edges – Tama doesn’t specify the angle used but these are sharper edges for more attack generally associated with rock and pop music.
- Omnisphere Tom Holder – Tamas unique swiveling tom holder of 25 years allows for versatile positioning.
- Plastic hoops on the kick drum – avoid breakage from a pedal clamp
- Meinl HCS Cymbal Pack
- 8 great wrap finishes
- 4 configurations
- Double braced hardware including entry level Iron Cobra pedal
What’s Included In the Box?
Let’s take a look at what you get with the 6-piece kit and the 5-piece kit.
6 Piece Kit:
- Drums: 22×16 bass drum, 10×7 & 12×8 toms, 14×13 & 16×15 floor toms, and 14×5 snare drum.
- Hardware: MTH50 double tom holder, hi-hat stand, single drum pedal, snare stand, boom cymbal stand, straight cymbal stand, drum throne.
- Cymbals: 14 hi hats, 16 crash, and 20 ride.
5 Piece Kit:
- Drums: 22×16 bass drum, 10×7 & 12×8 toms, 16×15 floor tom, and 14×5 snare drum.
- Hardware: MTH50 double tom holder, hi-hat stand, single drum pedal, snare stand, boom cymbal stand, straight cymbal stand, drum throne.
- Cymbals: 14 hi hats, 16 crash, and 20 ride.
The Pros OF A Tama Imperialstar KIT:
Let’s take a look at the aspects that bring the biggest value with this kit.
- Price – This is a great price to include everything a drummer needs.
- Look – Some of the finishes are quite impressive for the price range, especially the hairline blue.
- Build Quality – These drums are solid and will not break easily, even with heavy use and playing.
- Hardware – The double braced stands and pedal are a great addition to an already solid kit.
- Bearing Edges – The drums tune fairly easily due to quality cut edges.
The Cons of a Tama Imperialstar Kit:
With the reasonable price of the kit comes a few tradeoffs, so let’s take a look at those.
- As with many complete sets, the cymbals are cheaper quality and can sound pretty harsh.
- The stock heads are very cheap, but that’s an easy fix. The overall kit could sound much better if you add some pro-level heads to the drums.
- The throne is great for a kid but likely won’t hold up for gigging adults or larger people.
- The drums aren’t super versatile and don’t have a large tuning range.
- The snare drum sounds decent when cranked up high. It is probably the weakest part of the kit in my opinion. Check out my recommendations for the best snare drum heads if you want to change out the ones that come standard on this kit.
Who is the Tama Imperialstar Best Suited For?
These are great drums for a beginning student of any age. It’s a real kit with real hardware, and even real cymbals.
No, it doesn’t sound like a pro level kit, but that’s not what a beginning student needs anyway. And, the Imperialstar is far better than beginner kits from 25 years ago.
Any beginning drummer would be inspired to own and play these.
Buying a kit gets very expensive when adding hardware and cymbals. This is a rare value to be able to get everything you need, all in one place.
Tama Imperialstar Drum Set Pricing
The 6 piece kit retails at around $800 with everything included. The 5 piece kit retails for about $700.
If you order on Amazon you don’t even have to pay for shipping, which is great for something this size. It’s very reasonable for everything included.
You can read our full list of the best drum sets under $1000 to see our top picks for budget-friendly options.
Tama Imperialstar vs. Pearl Export
Tama and Pearl have long been rivals and both make great entry level drums.
For my personal money I would choose the Pearl Export because the shells are poplar and mahogany, and I think they sound warmer and fatter.
But the two kits are actually very similar and it really comes down to personal preference.
When it comes to the higher-end drums, I think Tama makes better sounding drums than Pearl, so again it boils down to your ears and your experiences.
You may also consider what famous drummer inspires you to play a particular brand or which one you find a better deal on. Honestly, either are really solid options.
You can read our full review of the Pearl Export to help you decide!
Alternatives to The Imperialstar Kit
One other great alternative to these kits is the PDP concept maple kit, which is a higher quality shell and is all maple.
It’s a similar price point to Pearl and Tama, but the all maple shell is very unusual to find under $1,000.
You can read our full PDP Concept Maple review to learn more about it.
Final Verdict: Are Tama Imperialstar Drums Any Good?
The Tama Imperialstar drums are definitely good drums for a beginner.
If you are a semi pro or gigging drummer, I would advise skipping this kit, because I wouldn’t recommend playing gigs with the Imperialstar’s cymbals or drum heads.
In that case, if you love Tama but are still on a tight budget, jump up to the Superstar line or the SLP kits for gigging.
But if you are a beginner or buying a kit for your child who is getting into drumming, this is a serious beginner kit with everything needed. I think it’s a great deal for what’s included.
- 6-piece Poplar Drum Set with 22" Bass Drum
- Cymbals - Burgundy Walnut Wrap
- 14" and 16" Floor Tom
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