Tama IE62C Review: A Complete Six Piece Kit, Sizes Unstated

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Tama IE62C is a complete six piece acoustic drum kit built on poplar shells and sold here in a bright Electric Yellow finish. Unlike a shells only pack, this listing bundles hardware, a kick pedal, a drum throne and a Meinl HCS cymbal pack into the same purchase, putting it squarely in the complete beginner kit category rather than an upgrade product.

Tama's Imperialstar line has long served as the brand's entry point into complete kits, and this IE62C listing extends that line into a six piece configuration rather than the more common five piece layout. The extra piece typically means an additional rack tom, giving a buyer slightly more tonal variety across the kit.

Because so much is bundled into one purchase, this listing rewards close reading of exactly what is and is not named. Shells, hardware, pedal, throne and cymbals are all confirmed; individual sizing and head brand are the two areas where the data stays quiet.

Shells, Sizes and Sound

The shells are described as poplar, a tonewood generally understood to offer a natural warmth with balanced dynamics rather than the brighter attack associated with birch or the deeper low end associated with mahogany. That general tonal character lines up with what Tama's own feature bullets claim about the shells directly. Buyers coming from a birch kit should expect a somewhat softer attack by comparison, while buyers coming from a mahogany kit may find this voicing a touch brighter overall.

Individual drum sizes for the bass drum, toms, floor tom and snare are not broken out anywhere in the listing, which is the clearest specification gap here. A buyer wanting to confirm exact dimensions before purchase would need to check Tama's own published model specifications for the IE62C configuration separately from this listing.

As a six piece kit, the configuration likely includes an additional rack tom beyond a standard five piece layout, though the listing data does not confirm which specific size that extra tom adds. That ambiguity is worth flagging for buyers comparing this directly against a five piece Imperialstar configuration.

Hardware and Build

The included Imperialstar hardware is described as ultra stable, with double leg bracing, 3-tier height adjustment and a convertible boom stand among the named features. Double leg bracing in particular is a meaningful, confirmable build detail, since it generally indicates sturdier stands than a single leg tripod design at a similar price.

A single chain drive kick pedal with a base plate is also named directly, described in the listing as playing fast and smooth. Chain drive pedals are a common, well understood pedal category, and the base plate detail suggests some additional stability during aggressive playing compared with a bare frame pedal.

The drum throne rounds out the hardware list, with the listing specifically claiming it is comfortable beyond its price point. That is a notable claim for an included seat, since thrones bundled with entry kits are often one of the first components a player replaces due to discomfort.

What Is in the Box

Based on the published feature bullets, the box contains the six piece poplar shell set, the Imperialstar hardware package with double leg bracing and a convertible boom stand, a single chain drive kick pedal with base plate, a drum throne, and a Meinl HCS cymbal pack. That is a genuinely complete bundle for a single purchase, covering nearly every category a first time buyer would otherwise need to shop for separately.

Drumsticks and drumheads are not specifically itemized in the listing, so those two consumables are worth confirming directly if their inclusion is a priority. Compared with a shells only pack, where a buyer must separately source every supporting piece, the breadth of this bundle meaningfully lowers the total number of additional purchases needed before a first practice session, even accounting for the two unconfirmed consumable items.

• 6-piece poplar shell kit
• Imperialstar hardware with double leg bracing and convertible boom stand
• Single chain drive kick pedal with base plate
• Drum throne
• Meinl HCS cymbal pack

Playability and Setup

With hardware, a pedal and a throne all included and specifically described as stable and comfortable, initial setup and seated playing position should be more approachable for a first time buyer than with a shells only pack requiring separate hardware sourcing. The 3-tier height adjustment on the stands should also accommodate a range of player heights without needing replacement stands.

The convertible boom stand adds some flexibility for cymbal placement, since boom arms can be swapped to a straight configuration depending on a player's preferred setup. That kind of flexibility is a genuine convenience for a beginner still experimenting with cymbal positioning and reach. Because this is a six piece rather than a five piece kit, a new player will have one additional tom to incorporate into fills and transitions, which may take slightly longer to feel comfortable with than a more minimal five piece layout, particularly for a true beginner.

Finish and Looks

The Electric Yellow finish is a bold, high visibility color choice that stands out clearly on stage or in photographs, distinguishing this kit from the more muted colors or basic black wraps common at this price point. It is a finish aimed squarely at a player who wants their kit to be visually noticed.

The listing does not detail the specific finish material or long term durability expectations, so buyers planning frequent transport should take normal protective precautions, such as padded cases, rather than assuming the bright finish is more or less durable than a standard wrap based on color alone. For a younger or newer player, a bright, easily identifiable finish like this one can also help build enthusiasm for regular practice simply because the kit feels distinctly their own rather than an interchangeable black box, which is a soft but real benefit worth weighing alongside the harder specifications.

Upgrades and Daily Use

The Meinl HCS cymbal pack is the most likely early upgrade target here, since HCS sits at the entry tier of Meinl's catalog rather than a professional series. Many players use HCS cymbals as a learning tool before investing in a higher tier crash and ride pair once their ear for cymbal tone develops.

Head brand and type are not specified in the listing, so that is the next consumable a buyer will need to research, particularly once the stock heads begin to wear with regular practice. Budgeting for a head replacement within the first year or two of regular use is a sensible expectation for any entry kit. For daily practice, the combination of a stable hardware package and a described comfortable throne should support regular, longer practice sessions without the common early complaints about wobbly stands or an uncomfortable seat that often come up with cheaper complete kits.

Who Should Buy It

This kit is the strongest fit for a first time buyer who wants a single, complete purchase covering shells, hardware, a pedal, a throne and cymbals without shopping separately for each category. The six piece configuration also suits a player specifically wanting an extra tom beyond the standard five piece layout.

It is a weaker fit for a buyer who wants individual drum sizes confirmed before ordering, or who wants a professional tier cymbal pack included from the start rather than planning an eventual upgrade. It is also a sensible option for a parent or household buying a first kit for a developing player, since the comfortable throne and stable, double braced hardware reduce the common early frustrations that can discourage a beginner during the first few months of practice.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Buyers who want a five piece rather than six piece layout from the same general hardware and cymbal tier should look at other Imperialstar configurations, which typically share the same hardware design philosophy while trimming the kit down by one tom. Players who want a stronger stock cymbal pack included from the outset should compare this against complete kits bundling a higher tier Sabian or Zildjian entry pack, accepting a likely price increase in exchange for cymbals less likely to need an early swap.

Buyers who specifically want individual drum sizes confirmed in a listing, rather than having to look them up separately, should compare against the Pearl Export or similarly detailed complete kits that itemize every shell dimension directly alongside the bundled hardware. Lining up two or three of these alternatives against the IE62C before ordering is a reasonable way to weigh completeness against specification detail.

Verdict

The Tama IE62C delivers a genuinely complete six piece kit, naming its shell material, hardware build details, pedal type, throne and cymbal pack directly rather than leaving those vague. That level of bundled completeness is a real strength for a first time buyer shopping for a single purchase solution.

Individual drum sizes and head specification remain the clearest gaps in the published data. Buyers comfortable with that and drawn to a complete, six piece kit in a bold finish should find this a solid starting point; anyone needing full sizing confirmed up front should look elsewhere first.

Strengths and Limitations

Alternatives to Consider

Gretsch RENOWN 4-PIECE SHELL PACK

An experienced drummer who wants the warm Gretsch maple sound in a professional shell pack and already owns quality hardware and cymbals.

Read the Gretsch RENOWN 4-PIECE SHELL PACK review →

Gretsch Drums Renown 5

An experienced drummer who wants a professional five-piece shell pack in the classic 22-inch kick layout and already owns hardware and cymbals.

Read the Gretsch Drums Renown 5 review →

Gretsch Drums Renown RN2-J483 3-piece

A jazz, acoustic or small-venue drummer who wants a professional compact shell pack and already owns a snare, hardware and cymbals.

Read the Gretsch Drums Renown RN2-J483 3-piece review →

Questions Buyers Ask