Tama snare drum with open and crispy sound
The Tama PMM146 Starphonic Maple is a 14" x 6" snare drum that combines the open and resonant tone of maple with a rich, open and crispy sound. According to Tama, this construction gives a clear nod to well-known vintage snare drums, while the modern build adds control and precision.
The 6 mm shell is made from 6 plies of maple with 1 outer ply of mappa burl and finished in Satin Mappa Burl. Together with the Grooved Hoop and the Super Sensitive Hi-Carbon snare wire, this creates a responsive snare with plenty of detail in the attack.
Starphonic Maple snare drum with refined mechanism
The Linear-Drive strainer system is designed for smoother, more controllable movement of the snare wire. That means you can engage and disengage the wires more gently, without the harsh unwanted noises that can occur on many other mechanisms when the wires snap against the resonant head.
The butt plate is also carefully designed. Its 30-degree angle holds the cord or strap more securely and reduces unnecessary tension on both the strainer and the head. The detachable butt plate also lets you replace the bottom head without having to completely reset the snare wire.
Construction details for tuning stability and ease of use
The Grooved Hoop was developed by Tama from research into older hoop designs and blends vintage influences with modern engineering. The Freedom Lug & Claw Hook construction makes head changes more practical, because you can move the claw hooks and tension bolts back without removing everything completely.
For stable tuning, the claw hooks have a rubber anti-slip inner surface that helps prevent the tension rods from loosening while you play. The Ratchet Style Snappy Tension Adjuster keeps the snare wire tension in place, even under heavy playing conditions, and allows very small 0.083 mm adjustments. At Magna Music, players can also get personal advice in the shop and workshop if they want a snare drum like this adjusted to their preference.
