Tama Imperialstar Complete Drum Set Review: Fully Sized, Cymbals Vague

Who Should Buy It

Key Specifications

Overview

The Tama Imperialstar Complete Drum Set is a five piece poplar kit sold here in a striking Candy Apple Mist finish, marketed and framed as a complete drum set rather than a shells only pack. The Imperialstar name has long served as Tama's entry point into complete kits aimed at first time buyers looking for a dependable first purchase.

What stands out immediately in the feature bullets is how thoroughly every shell size is published: a 22 inch bass drum, 10 inch and 12 inch rack toms, a 16 inch floor tom and a 14 inch snare. That level of sizing transparency is genuinely useful for comparing this kit against other five piece configurations.

The listing does reference cymbals as part of the package, but does so somewhat loosely, pairing the word cymbals with the Candy Apple Mist finish name in a way that reads more like a labeling shorthand than a detailed cymbal specification. That ambiguity is worth flagging clearly for a prospective buyer.

Shells, Sizes and Sound

The shells are specified as poplar, a tonewood generally understood to deliver a natural warmth and balanced dynamic response rather than the brighter attack associated with birch. Poplar has become a common choice for entry and mid level complete kits precisely because of that even, approachable tonal character. Sizing is the strongest part of this listing: a 22 inch bass drum paired with 10 inch and 12 inch rack toms and a 16 inch floor tom follows a fairly standard five piece layout, with the 14 inch snare rounding out the configuration as expected for this kind of complete kit.

That full sizing disclosure lets a buyer reasonably predict the kit's general tonal range and physical footprint before ordering, which is a meaningful advantage over listings that only state a piece count without breaking out individual shell dimensions. It also makes direct comparison against other five piece kits considerably easier than guesswork would allow.

Hardware and Build

Hardware construction detail is noticeably thin in this particular listing. Beyond the overall framing as a complete drum set, there is no mention of stand bracing, lug design, bearing edge profile or mounting hardware anywhere in the feature bullets.

That absence stands in contrast to the detailed shell sizing discussed above, making this a listing that is strong on dimensions but weak on build specifics. Buyers who care deeply about hardware bracing or lug type should treat that as an open question to confirm directly with the seller. What can be inferred generally is that a complete kit at this tier typically ships with basic single or double braced stands, though this listing's data does not confirm which bracing style is actually used here.

What Is in the Box

Based on the feature bullets, the box contains the five piece poplar shell set in the sizes listed above, along with cymbals referenced generally as part of the package. The listing does not break out individual cymbal sizes, type, or brand beyond that general mention.

Hardware, a pedal, a throne and drumsticks are not specifically itemized either, so buyers should not assume those are included simply because the set is marketed as complete. Confirming the full component list directly with the seller is the safer approach before ordering. That gap between the complete framing and the actual itemized contents is the single most important thing for a buyer to resolve before purchase, since a missing pedal or throne would meaningfully change the real cost of getting this kit ready to play and should be confirmed well before checkout.

• 22 inch bass drum
• 10 inch and 12 inch rack toms
• 16 inch floor tom
• 14 inch snare drum
• Cymbals referenced generally, not itemized by brand or size

Playability and Setup

With full shell sizing confirmed, a buyer can reasonably plan stick technique and reach across the kit before it arrives, which is a genuine advantage over listings that leave individual dimensions vague. The standard five piece layout here should feel familiar to most players coming from a similar configuration.

Because hardware detail is not published, actual setup ease will depend heavily on whatever stands ship with the kit, which this listing does not describe in detail. Buyers should treat the setup experience as an open question until the kit arrives or the seller confirms hardware specifics. The 16 inch floor tom paired with 10 and 12 inch rack toms gives a reasonably balanced physical spread across the kit, neither cramped nor unusually large, which should suit most playing styles without requiring repositioning after the first session.

Finish and Looks

The Candy Apple Mist finish is a distinctive reddish, metallic inspired color that stands out clearly from the black or basic solid colors common on complete kits at this price. It is a finish chosen specifically to catch the eye on stage or in photographs.

The listing does not detail the wrap material or long term durability expectations for this particular finish, so normal care during transport, such as padded cases for the bass drum and floor tom, is a sensible precaution regardless of how striking the color looks initially. A metallic inspired finish like this one also tends to show scratches differently than a matte finish, with light reflecting unevenly off any scuffed area, so visible wear may become noticeable sooner than it would on a flat colored kit, which is worth weighing against the clear visual payoff on stage.

Upgrades and Daily Use

Because the cymbal specification is vague, that is the area most worth investigating further or planning an early upgrade around, since a buyer cannot be fully certain what cymbal brand or sizes are actually included until the kit arrives or the seller confirms directly. Head brand and type are not published either, making that the next consumable item worth researching once the stock heads begin to wear with regular practice.

Planning for an eventual head swap is a reasonable expectation for any kit at this tier. For daily use, the fully specified shell sizing should at least give a buyer confidence that the core kit dimensions match expectations, even if some of the supporting hardware and cymbal details remain less certain until the seller confirms them directly.

Who Should Buy It

This kit suits a buyer who values confirmed shell sizing and a distinctive finish, and who is comfortable with some ambiguity around the included cymbals and hardware construction. The full dimension breakdown is a real point in its favor compared with vaguer competing listings.

It is a weaker fit for a buyer who specifically needs the cymbal brand and sizes confirmed before ordering, or who wants detailed hardware bracing information published up front rather than inferred generally. It can also suit a buyer upgrading from a smaller practice kit who mainly cares about getting a correctly sized, full five piece layout at a reasonable price, treating cymbal and hardware confirmation as a secondary step handled directly with the seller.

Alternatives Worth Considering

Buyers who want cymbals clearly itemized by brand and size should compare this against other Imperialstar configurations or the Pearl Export line, both of which tend to name a specific cymbal pack directly in their feature bullets rather than referencing cymbals in passing. Players who like the fully sized shell disclosure here but want hardware bracing detail as well should look at listings that explicitly state double braced stands or name a specific hardware series, rather than simply describing the kit as complete.

Buyers specifically drawn to the Candy Apple Mist color should also check whether the same configuration is available in other named finishes, since Tama's Imperialstar line is typically sold across several color options under related model numbers. Checking those related listings directly is the simplest way to confirm whether a preferred color is currently available.

Verdict

The Tama Imperialstar Complete Drum Set earns real credit for publishing every shell dimension in its five piece layout, from the 22 inch bass drum down to the 14 inch snare, alongside a named poplar shell material and a distinctive Candy Apple Mist finish. Cymbal specification and hardware construction detail are the clear gaps, both left vague or unpublished.

Buyers prioritizing confirmed sizing over cymbal and hardware specificity should find this a reasonable complete kit; anyone needing those details confirmed up front should check directly with the seller first. Overall, the strength of the sizing disclosure here outweighs the weakness of the cymbal and hardware description for most buyers, provided they go in understanding exactly which parts of the listing are confirmed and which still need a direct question to the seller.

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