Tama, the drum manufacturers from Japan, surprised everybody at NAMM 2013 with their new flagship: the Tama Star Drums. Besides this major news, the drum company introduced lots of other new, refreshing and renewing products like the Iron Cobra 200 and 600 series. In this article we focus on all the products that are not Tama Star. In a special Tama Star article you get all the insides on the new drums from Tama. Here we go ahead with, for instance, the already 20th anniversary of the Iron Cobra.
How time flies, one could say. Started in 1992, with the prototype you can find in the image gallery, the first generation of Iron Cobra found its way to the market in 1993. In 1998 the second generation Cobra's came to market, after which some other models followed. Now, in 2013, the Iron Cobra 600 and Iron Cobra 200 series were launched at NAMM.
The 2013 pedal's 'Duo Glide' feature allows you to easily switch between the Power Glide and Rolling Glide cam shapes. The Iron Cobra 600 is a double chain drive pedal for power and durability, but retains a light feel because of the Duo Glide's resin composition. (The 200-serie has a single chain drive.) Tama also adopted a newly designed footboard hinge and Speedo-Ring for smooth and precise action. Both pedals come as single and twins with matching hihat stands.
At NAMM 2013 Tama displayed a collection of the pedals released over the past 20 years. Check out the pedals Lars Ulrich used during the 'Black Album' tour. Still unharmed and in good shape. In the Iron Cobra video many artists congratulate Tama with their second decade of Cobra's.
In the video, Jeroen Bakx from Hoshino Benelux shows and explains you all the details. Besides this highlight, he also takes you through the other new snares, finishes and drums that were shown at the booth in Anaheim. In order of appearance, these are the booth tour contents:
The new Tama snares
S.L.P. studio maple snare, with 100% Maple Wood Hoops
Starphonic Series snare drum (PST137), the Black Nickel Plated Steel Shell with a new snare strainer
The new finishes, available for several series
Platinum Sparkle
Gold Rush Sparkle
Piano White
Vintage Marine Pearl
Vintage Champagne Glitter
Honey Amber Gold
Piano Black for the Silverstar Series
Indigo Sparkle for the Superstar Hyperdrive Series
The new Starclassic Performer Series with new finishes
Crimson Sparkle
Platinum Sparkle
Vintage Aqua Marine
20th anniversary Iron Cobra pedals As explained above, Tama are expanding the Iron Cobra line with two new models:
the Iron Cobra 200-series in single and twin pedals with matching hihat stands
the Iron Cobra 600-series (single and double pedals) with the duo glide cams that turn the pedal into a power glide into a rolling glide
Tama Star Drums Tama's new flagship, the Tama Star Drums, are featured in this article on Drummerszone.com, but we've added some images from the booth at NAMM in the image gallery with this article.
Congratulations Iron Cobra! In the second video you see Tama artists congratulating Tama with the 20th anniversary of the Iron Cobra bass drum pedal. With:
Kenny Aronoff, John Tempesta, Mike Heller, Longineu Parsons III, Luke Johnson, Pete Parada, Mike Portnoy, Simon Phillips, Ellias Mallin, Blake Richardson, Bill Bruford, Gavin Harrison, Matthew Garstka, Jeff Bowders and Stewart Copeland.
