Tama has released a new signature snare drum built with Rush drummer Anika Nilles for all your progressive rock and jazz needs.
The drum centers on a 1.2mm Aluminum shell built to a 6.5″ depth, chosen to combine the bright attack and sensitive response typical of aluminum shells with a stronger, more assertive low end. Four grooves run through the center of the shell, reinforcing its structural integrity while preserving its resonant character.
According to TAMA, the design was shaped directly around the demands Nilles faced touring arenas with Rush on the band’s Fifty Something Tour in June 2026, where she needed a snare that could cut through a large room while still tracking her technical, detail-oriented playing style.
Hardware includes a pair of inward-flanged 2.3mm Sound Arc Hoops, anchored by eight center-mounted original Starclassic lugs for precise tuning stability across a range of tensions. TAMA’s Linear-Drive strainer and butt plate combo controls a 20-strand set of Starclassic Hi-Carbon Steel snare wires, engaging and disengaging quickly for reliable performance in live settings.
The snare also introduces Tama’s newly developed Mod-Tone Muffler system, which allows drummers to switch muffling on or off instantly and adjust pressure on the fly — giving Nilles (and any player) a fast way to sculpt attack and resonance from song to song without swapping gear mid-set.
Visually, the drum carries a natural Aluminum finish paired with sharp, geometric signature badging, echoing the look of Nilles’ earlier signature releases while nodding to her appreciation for classic snare design.
Get the Tama Anika Nilles Signature Snare Drum here for $849.99.
