Octoban

The drum kit

1 Ride cymbal | 2 Floor tom | 3 Toms 4 Bass drum | 5 Snare drum | 6 Hi-hat

Other components

Crash cymbal | China cymbal | Splash cymbal | Sizzle cymbal Swish cymbal | Cowbell | Wood block | Tambourine Rototom | Octoban | Hardware

Homemade octobans

Octoban drums, also known as tube toms and quarter toms, are tom-toms grouped in melodically-tuned sets of eight, hence the reference to octave, from octo meaning "eight". Octobans have 15 cm (6 inch) diameter drum shells, and range in length from 280 millimeters (11 inches) to 600 millimeters (23-1/2 inches). The different lengths of the cylinders are what give each drum its distinct tone.^[1]

History

Octobans are a brand of drums introduced by Tama drums in 1978 and have become a genericized trademark used to refer to such sets of smaller diameter tube drums.^[2]

Other companies like Pearl and ddrum manufacture similar drums today under brand names like "Quarter Toms" and "Deccabons." ^[3] Octoban drum shells from other manufacturers may be of varying lengths and diameters, and made from materials like fiberglass, acrylic, aluminum, and wood. Some people build their own octobans out of PVC.^[4]

The boobam is probably an ancestor of the modern Octobans.

Notable Octoban users

• Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer)
• Mark Brzezicki
• Roy Mayorga
• The Blue Man Group
• Billy Cobham
• Tim Alexander
• Mike Portnoy
• Simon Phillips
• Bill Bruford
• Danny Carey
• Jose Pasillas
• Rikki Rockett
• Jimmy Chamberlain
• Joey Jordison
• Dave Lombardo
• Thomas Thomson
• Dave Mackintosh
• Bill Ward
• Stewart Copeland
• Alex Van Halen
• Nick Mason
• Mickey Hart
• Randy Castillo
• Clive Burr
• Mike Mangini

References

1. ^ Tama Original Percussion
2. ^ Tama History
3. ^ Pearl Quarter Toms
4. ^ Building Tube Toms, Roger Arrick

External links

• Building Tube Toms
• Roger Taylor playing his vintage Octobans in studio 2010