NAMM: Tama Limited Edition MonoPly Snares

SWN655CMDC (Click for a close-up)

SOK655CMAM (Click for a close-up)

For serious drummers, having different snare drums is one of the best ways to get new drum tones. Tama's new limited edition snares may be about as different as you can get. These unique drums are crafted of one long, continuous 3mm sheet of walnut or oak rolled into a resonant 9mm shell and then fitted with 10 lug cherry wood hoops (also available separately).

"The tonal character of oak and walnut is very different from that of your standard wood and metal snares, commented Ace Okamoto of Tama Drums in Bensalem, PA. "When you add in the fact that the MonoPly construction is also very different and then add cherry wood hoops instead of metal into the equation, you've got a sound that's both really 'woody' and completely unique."

The walnut SWN655CMDC (list price $529.99) and the oak SOK655CMAM (list price $499.99) both feature 5 1/2 x 14" shells. The cherry wood hoops featured on Tama's MonoPly snare drums will also be available as regular order parts for 14" 10 lug snare drums: MWH14-10C (batter) list $60.00 MWH14S-10C (snare side) list $60.00.

SWN655C MDC Specifications:

• 5.5x14" Walnut Snare Drum w/ Cherry wood hoop $529.99
• Shell - 3ply Walnut "MonoPly" Shell 5.5x14"
• Hoops - MWH14-10C Cherry wood hoop (Batter) MWH14S-10C Cherry wood hoop (Snare Side)
• Strainer - MCS70A New camlever
• Butt - MCS70B
• Lug - 10 x MSL35
• Snappy - MS20SC14S Starclassic Steel
• Head - Evans Genera G1 Coated Batter, Evans Resonant 300 Snare Side
• Shell Finish - MDC: Matt Dark Cherry

SOK655C MAM Specifications:

• 5.5x14" Oak Snare Drum w/ Cherry wood hoop $499.99
• Shell - 3ply Oak "MonoPly" Shell 5.5x14"
• Hoops - MWH14-10C Cherry wood hoop (Batter) MWH14S-10C Cherry wood hoop (Snare Side)
• Strainer - MCS70A New camlever
• Butt - MCS70B
• Lug - 10 x MSL35
• Snappy - MS20SC14S Starclassic Steel
• Head - Evans Genera G1 Coated Batter, Evans Resonant 300 Snare Side
• Shell Finish - MAM: Matt Amber