Tama Stagestar Custom 5-Piece Compact Drum Kit

Feature:
Cymbals are absolute junk. But they usually are when they are thrown in with a kit by any brand. I never even mounted them. The rest of the kit is rock solid. Hardware is very good. I might end up replacing the hihat stand with one that is a little more sturdy, not to say I've had problems with this one but I just fear that I might. Drumshells are well constructed. For the price you can't go wrong.

Quality:
All parts (except cymbals) exude quality. Tama cannot be accused of making cheap (as in cheaply constructed) kits like pearl or ludwig.

Value:
Great value to price ratio., I just want to say that regardless of price this is a great little kit. I love it!

Desirability:
I own it and would replace it if stolen.

Sound:
As with any drum kit, proper tuning and choosing the right heads is key. I have been able to get a great sound out of this kit.

Overall:
It suits me well for my needs. I will probably not replace it but with all drum kits I will add to it or modify it over time.

Feature:
All accessories are solid.

Quality:
This is made by Tama? The tension rods on all of the drums I received do not smoothly tighten in the lugs. I would expect this if I purchased a no-name kit. In fact, the overall quality of one of my no-name kits made by Groove Percussion is superior in all respects to this Tama kit. My older Stagestar kit had problems too - the bass drum hoops were out of round. I guess Japanese quality isn't what it used to be. I assure you this is my last Tama kit.

Value:
Go for one of the newer Ludwig kits - I have a CS Custom among the four kits I own and it's priced near the Tama, but blows it away in every respect. Even my Groove Percussion kit sounds better, is better constructed, and is MUCH less expensive.

Desirability:
Looks are great. It is one of the most beautiful kits I've seen or played. Too bad it is poor when it comes to quality.

Sound:
The drums sound great, even with stock Tama heads and the hardware is much better than the original Stagestar series - especially the hi-hat stand.

Support:
How to get support? Their web page is next to useless.

Overall:
Never again will I buy Tama. Sorry, but when you cannot depend on a brand name for quality, then the brand name is losing its value.