Octoban

File:Octobans.jpg

Octobans, also known as tube toms, are deep, small diameter, single-head tom-toms. Octobans were originally grouped in melodically-tuned sets of eight, hence the name, in reference to octave and from octo meaning "eight".

Part sets of two or four drums or an individual drum or octo are common additions to a drum kit.

Complete and half sets of octobans are commonly mounted in clusters of four, in a square pattern. Mounts for four drums in a straight line, dual mounts for two drums, and individual mounts are all also reasonably common.

History

Octobans were introduced by Tama Drums in 1978, and endorsed by Billy Cobham, at that time one of the most popular drummers who had switched to Tama drums. Tama octobans were made with fiberglass using a patented molding process. The naked shells were then painted in black lacquer (the raw color is something close to light brown, visible inside the shell where not completely painted). Since they were designed as rack toms the attachment was different from that used on regular tom toms - basically the same one used for concert toms. The rims were shaped to expose the maximum possible head area to the stick, since a 6" diameter is not easy to hit reliably. The lugs (4) were the same model used for the Swingstar series drum kits of the same period. The shell was 6" across (150 mm outside diameter), and the thickness was 5 mm, though the very first series may have been 4 mm as advertised. A variation was produced in the late 1970s using plexiglas instead of fiberglass for the shell construction; the plexiglas was considerably more fragile. During the 1978-1984 period, Tama offered the complete 8 piece set or two sub-sets of four pieces each, low pitch (i.e. longest) and high pitch. Some famous drummers used the low pitch set, for example Stewart Copeland throughout Police period. The dimensions of the low pitch set of shells were the following (length mm, edge to edge): 810, 733, 667, 607. The high pitch set was dimensioned as follows: 552, 498, 455, 411 mm. All had a 6-inch diameter. In 1985 Tama modified the octobans by reducing the length of the shells. The low-pitch-only set was discontinued because they had proved difficult to transport on stage. The lengths available in 2023 are the following: 600, 536, 472, 443, 390, 343, 301, 280 (mm). The lug design has been modified from the original, and though the batter skin is still clear it no longer has the black dot. The different lengths of the cylinders give each drum its distinct tone.{{Cite web |url=http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/world/products/original_percussion/octobans/index.html |title=Tama Original Percussion |access-date=2006-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194742/http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/world/products/original_percussion/octobans/index.html |archive-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead }}

The term octoban has since become a generic trademark used to refer to such sets of narrow-diameter tube drums.{{Cite web |url=http://www.tama.com/history |title=Tama History |access-date=2007-11-01 |archive-date=2007-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025091145/http://tama.com/history/ |url-status=dead }}

=Other makers=

6" diameter:

Pearl{{Cite web |url=http://www.pearldrum.com/Artists/Drumset-Artists.aspx?id=16 |title=Pearl Drums - Drumset Artists |access-date=2012-02-28 |archive-date=2012-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217003927/http://www.pearldrum.com/Artists/Drumset-Artists.aspx?id=16 |url-status=dead }}
Drum Workshop Rata Tom.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dwdrums.com/drums/collectors/specialty.asp|title=Specialty Drums - Drum Workshop Inc. - cocktail kit, piccolo toms, gong drum, mini-pro, rata toms|website=Dwdrums.com|access-date=19 April 2021}}
ddrum Deccabon.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ddrum.com/deccabons.php |title=Ddrum - Deccabons |access-date=2012-02-28 |archive-date=2012-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303213215/http://www.ddrum.com/deccabons.php |url-status=dead }}

Other diameters:

Meinl Percussion Attack Timbales, 8" diameter.{{Cite web|url=http://meinlpercussion.com/no_cache/percussion/meinl-percussion/timbales/action/show/Product/1323/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130122181209/http://meinlpercussion.com/no_cache/percussion/meinl-percussion/timbales/action/show/Product/1323/|url-status=dead|title=MEINL PERCUSSION - The Ultimate Selection: Timbales|archive-date=22 January 2013|access-date=19 April 2021}}

Octoban drum shells from other manufacturers are of varying lengths, and made from materials like fiberglass, acrylic, aluminum, and wood. Some people build their own octobans out of PVC or similar commercial tubing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arrickrobotics.com/tubetoms.html|title=Redirect for Tube Toms|website=Arrickrobotics.com|access-date=19 April 2021}}

{{gallery

|align=center|captionstyle=text-align:center;

|File:Home made octoban.JPG|A single home made octoban

|File:Daniel Löble.jpg|Daniel Löble with 10 Pearl Quarter Toms

}}

Notable octoban users

{{Columns-list|colwidth=22em|

}}

{{Gallery|align=center|title=Some users of Tama Octobans

|File:Stewart Copeland Marseille 2008.png|alt1=Stewart Copeland|Stewart Copeland

|File:Simon Phillips on drums.jpg|alt2=Simon Phillips|Simon Phillips

|File:Portnoy 2326965635 8e992fd904 o.jpg|alt3=Mike Portnoy|Mike Portnoy}}

References

External links

[http://www.arrickrobotics.com/tubetoms.html Building Tube Toms]
[http://www.duranduran.com/wordpress/?p=17150 Roger Taylor playing his vintage Octobans in studio 2010]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN3jyXHJmTs Stewart Copeland playing Octobans]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwSd3F3UjzQ Tama Octoban Drum Solo]

Category:Drums

Category:Drum kit components

Category:Pitched percussion instruments

Category:Unpitched percussion instruments

Category:20th-century percussion instruments

Category:Directly struck membranophones