TAMA Anika Nilles Signature - 14x6,5"

Product Description

The AN1465 is Anika Nilles' signature model, developed with her over two years around three goals: a powerful low end, clear note definition and a vintage-inspired look. The aluminum shell brings dry warmth and plenty of projection, while the 6.5" depth adds a fuller bottom and a clearer fundamental. The newly developed Mod-Tone Muffler lets you damp the drum on the spot, without tape or loose dampers.

Anika Nilles is known for her expressive playing, her command of polyrhythms and a feel that always starts from the groove. She has played with Jeff Beck and, since 2026, has been the touring drummer on Rush's Fifty Something Tour. This drum was built to sit at the centre of that sound: weight and depth underneath, with enough definition that the small details still register.

Aluminum with a dry warmth

The material is the starting point. The thin aluminum shell has a naturally dry warmth and carries well, so the drum stays clear even when there is a lot going on around it. The extra depth was chosen to give stronger lows and a fatter fundamental. In practice, that means the backbeat feels heavier without turning muddy.

A rigid shell and Sound Arc hoops

The shell has four precision-formed grooves and an extended bearing edge, a construction that adds stiffness without killing the resonance. The heavy Sound Arc hoops bring out the shell's natural voice, sharpening the attack and giving rich rimshots rather than scattered ones.

Mod-Tone Muffler: damping when you want it

The muffler is built into the drum and can be engaged or disengaged in an instant. A dedicated dial sets how firmly it presses against the head, so you can move from open and singing to dry and controlled between two songs. It is the detail you notice most in the studio, where tape and wallets usually end up doing the job.

Hardware built to last

Superstar lugs, a Linear-Drive strainer and butt plate, and a twenty-strand Starclassic Hi-Carbon Steel snare wire. The strainer throws smoothly and securely, and the drum holds its tuning through a run of hard gigs.

Who it suits

A good choice if you want depth and definition in the same drum – technical grooves, polyrhythmic playing and fusion styles that ask for a wide dynamic range. It works equally well in the studio and on stage. It is not primarily aimed at players looking for a thin, high-pitched side snare; the emphasis here is on body and low end.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Mod-Tone Muffler?

A built-in muffler that can be engaged or disengaged instantly while you play. A dial controls how much it damps the batter head, so you can leave the tape at home.

What do the Sound Arc hoops do for the sound?

They emphasise the shell's natural resonance, sharpening the attack and giving fuller rimshots.

Why is the drum 6.5" deep?

The depth was chosen to provide stronger lows and a fatter fundamental than a shallower shell, without losing definition on ghost notes and accents.

Who designed the drum?

It was developed in collaboration with German drummer Anika Nilles, built around her preferences for sound and feel.

This description was generated with AI assistance. Errors may occur.