View source for Octoban

{{Short description|Type of tom-tom}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}}
[[File:Octobans.jpg|right|thumb|A cluster of four homemade octobans.]]

'''Octobans''', also known as  '''tube toms''', are deep, small diameter, single-head [[Tom-tom drum|tom-tom]]s. 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 [[Drum kit#Extended kits|addition]]s 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==
{{See also|Boobam}}
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&nbsp;mm outside diameter), and the thickness was 5&nbsp;mm, though the very first series may have been 4&nbsp;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 the [[The Police|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&nbsp;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 [[Cylinder (geometry)|cylinders]] give each drum its distinct tone.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

The term ''octoban'' has since become a [[generic trademark]] used to refer to such sets of narrow-diameter tube drums.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

===Other makers===
6" diameter:
* [[Pearl Drums|Pearl]]<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
* [[Drum Workshop]] '''Rata Tom'''.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[ddrum]] '''Deccabon'''.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
Other diameters:
* [[Meinl Percussion]] '''[[Attack Timbales]]''', 8" diameter.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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

{{clear}}
{{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==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2011}}
{{Columns-list|colwidth=22em|
* [[Tim Alexander (American drummer)|Tim Alexander]]
* [[Blue Man Group]]
* [[Bill Bruford]]
* [[Mark Brzezicki]]
* [[Clive Burr]]
* [[Danny Carey]]
* [[Randy Castillo]]
* [[Jimmy Chamberlin]]
* [[Billy Cobham]]
* [[Stewart Copeland]]
* [[Mick Fleetwood]]
* [[Hannes Grossmann]]
* [[Alex Van Halen]]
* [[Mickey Hart]]
* [[Joey Jordison]] <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pearldrum.com/artist/joey-jordison|title=Joey Jordison - Pearl Drums|website=Pearldrum.com|access-date=6 September 2025}}</ref>
* [[Dave Lombardo]]
* [[Dave Mackintosh]]
* [[Mike Mangini]]
* [[Anders Johansson (drummer)|Anders Johansson]]
* [[Roy Mayorga]]
* [[Nick Mason]]
* [[Joe Nanini]] ([[Wall of Voodoo]])
* [[Jose Pasillas]]
* [[Simon Phillips (drummer)|Simon Phillips]]
* [[Mike Portnoy]] <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://drummagazine.com/evolution-of-mike-portnoys-drum-kit|title=Evolution Of Mike Portnoy's Drum Kit|website=Drummagazine.com|date=17 December 2010 |access-date=6 September 2025}}</ref>
* [[Rikki Rockett]]
* [[Sivamani (percussionist)|Sivamani]]
* [[Roger Taylor (Duran Duran drummer)|Roger Taylor of Duran Duran]]
* [[Steve Jansen]] of [[Japan (band)]]
* [[Brooks Wackerman]]
* [[Gary Wallis]]
* [[Bill Ward (musician)|Bill Ward]]
* [[Chad Smith]] <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1NMZkIZ1rc|title=Chad Smith Im With You Drum Kit Tour|website=YouTube (iDrum Magazine)|date=15 February 2012 |access-date=6 September 2025}}</ref>
}}
{{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==
{{Reflist}}

==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] 
{{Percussion}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Drums]]
[[Category:Drum kit components]]
[[Category:Pitched percussion instruments]]
[[Category:Unpitched percussion instruments]]
[[Category:20th-century percussion instruments]]
[[Category:Directly struck membranophones]]