Tama JR1455 Lil John Roberts Signature 14" Snare

Over his 30-year career, Lil’ John Roberts has played with countless artists, cementing himself as the most in-demand jazz, R&B, and Pop drummers of his generation.

His long list of credits covers a wide range of genres, having played and toured with Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Quincy Jones, DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (Will Smith), Queen Latifah, Michael Jackson, and many more.

With such a diverse resume, when it came time to design John’s signature snare drum, he knew it needed to be extremely versatile, with simple yet unique features.

The Lil’ John Roberts Signature Snare Drum is a conventional 8-lug 1mm thick Steel shell with professional features such as die-cast hoops for sharp attack, Linear-Drive Strainer & Butt Plate, and 20-strand Carbon Steel snare wires for clarity and sensitivity. Its most unique feature is the silicone filled top & bottom bearing edges, which give the drum its distinct sound and feel.

Increasing the shell’s strength and controlling excess overtones, the silicone beautifully tempers the steel shell’s naturally bright tone while delivering a remarkably broad tuning range.

All of these features come together to perfectly encapsulate John’s pure sound and style.