Drumming News
In 1980, the TAMA Mastercraft Bell Brass snare drum was born. At the time, the Bell Brass was designed to match the explosive sounds of a new decade in music and delivered the purest snare sound ever achieved. Widely used in heavy rock music of the 80s and 90s, TAMA’s Bell Brass snare drum came to simply be known as “THE TERMINATOR”. As aggressive of a sound it produced, its versatility was unmatched as it found its way into the hands of the world’s top Jazz & Fusion drummers of the era.
Now, nearly half a century later, the TAMA Mastercraft “The Bell Brass” 50th Anniversary Reissue pays tribute to this legendary sound. Featuring a special alloy of copper and tin and molded into a 3mm thick shell, this super heavy bell brass shell produces extreme volume and outstanding tonal range.
Faithfully reproduced to original specifications as much as modern technology allows, the Mastercraft “The Bell Brass” 50th Anniversary Reissue brings the iconic & timeless sound to drummers once again.
355mm diameter, 3mm Cast Bell Brass Shell:
Utilizing a unique metal alloy predominantly comprised of copper & tin, the mixture is poured into a mold to form a 3mm thick shell. TAMA’s Bell Brass delivers an explosive, yet extremely versatile sound, making it desirable for drummers of every genre. A significant, but little known fact of the original Mastercraft Bell Brass is the shell’s exact 14″ (355mm) diameter. As modern shells are usually 2mm smaller in diameter (to accommodate different drumhead manufacturers) the Bell Brass’ extra size contributes to its magnificent and massive tone.
Finished with a special look reminiscent of the original model, the Mastercraft “The Bell Brass” 50th Anniversary Reissue truly delivers as a faithful reproduction of a timeless snare drum.
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.
18-strand Carbon Steel Long Snare Wires (6035N)
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.
This unique & popular system has been faithfully reproduced for this 50th Anniversary Reissue model.
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, TAMA’s 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.
Learn More: HERE
