Founded in 1980 by session drummer Richard Taninbaum, Rhythm Tech is a percussion instrument company based in New Rochelle, New York, operating as a division of JAM USA LLC. The company was born out of a practical problem: during a marathon tambourine recording session at The Power Station studio in New York with producer Bob Clearmountain, Taninbaum grew frustrated with the fatigue caused by traditional round tambourines. He realized that since most studio tambourines were headless, the circular shape was unnecessary — it placed all the weight at the outer edge, making them tiring to play. His solution was the now-iconic crescent-shaped tambourine, which redistributes the weight to the center of the player's grip and adds cushioned handles for comfort.

The Rhythm Tech crescent tambourine became so influential that it earned a place in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection and spawned numerous imitators across the percussion industry. The company's endorser roster reads like a who's who of professional drumming, with players such as Kenny Aronoff, Carter Beauford, Dennis Chambers, Vinnie Colaiuta, Terry Bozzio, Bill Cobham, Hal Blaine, Will Calhoun, Gregg Bissonette, and Liberty DeVitto among its users.

Beyond tambourines, Rhythm Tech manufactures a broad range of percussion instruments and accessories, including cajons, shakers, maracas, cowbells, woodblocks, triangles, drumstick attachments, tongue drums, and youth percussion kits. The company's design philosophy centers on solving real-world problems for working musicians — rethinking familiar instruments to improve ergonomics, sound, and playability.

Rhythm Tech has 32 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Tambourines, Maracas & Shakers, and Cowbells. Their gear is featured by 15 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Funk / Soul. Notable users include Dave Grohl, Trent Reznor, and Liam Gallagher.