Thank you for this podcast! I fell for Yamaha Drums in 1986. My first Yamaha Drums purchase was a 700 Series hi-hat stand, which I bought in 1987 and still use today, in 2024. I remember how happy I was just to own that hi-hat stand with a Yamaha logo on it. I went on to buy Power Tour Custom (1989), Maple Custom (1996), and Stage Custom Standard (2001) shell packs. In 2024 I would love to buy a Stage Custom Birch shell pack as my final purchase. It's perfect for me right now. However, I don't have room (or a justifiable need) for another drum set, and I can't bring myself to part with the maple or SCS drums (I no longer have the PTCs).
Greetings! I worked in a local mom and pop drum store for 6 years. I put together tons of kits. Nothing, and I mean nothing comes to Yamaha as for as quality and consistency. From entry level to high end. Top knotch.
I had a Tour custom in jazz sizes ad a practice kit in my garage for years, bought it around 2010. Just switched it to a Stage custom about the same age, but with a 20" kick and four toms, so it's more all around. I know it's almost entry level stuff, but they sound great! Back in 2010 Tour and Stage were basically the same price, but nowadays Stage are around half the price of Stage.
I'm a beginner with a used Ludwig accent kit. The more I research companies and different kits, the more I want a Yamaha. The Birch sounds awesome, and the hardware is top notch. Thanks for the interview, it's very informative and interesting
I am primarily a Pearl player but I have owned the 8000 birch/mahogany Tour Customs and currently own a new Tour Custom maple kit. Both fantastic kits, though I upgraded the hardware to Pearl. I also owned a couple of the Manu Katche Jr. kits, using them for rehearsal and performance.
Did I miss where Yamaha bought Premier? I have a set of the Power V specials that were made in England. I call them a predecessor to the Stage Customs.
I have the Yamaha live oak customs , the first kit they made in the new plant and I think they really worked hard to make that kit super high quality at the price point it was selling for . Sadly they discontinued them a few years later for a more expensive version that I’m confident isn’t better sounding .
My first pro kit was a Yamaha Turbo Tour Custom that I bought in early 1990. One thing I'll say for Yamaha; when you tune that drum, it STAYS in tune. I'm talking no cases, stack your drums in the back of a van, Marshall heads tipping over and falling on top of your toms, and some dipshit from the club crew accidentally dropping your bass drum-staying in tune. They are definitely road warrior drums. What I can't figure out is why they got to the top of the mountain in terms of offerings and options, and then stripped their entire line of drums down to almost nothing compared to what they had? At one point they were putting Tour series hardware ( lugs, rims, and mounts etc. ) on Beech, Birch, Maple, Oak, and possibly even Cherrywood shells. They had regular and power size toms for all of the shells, and something like 30 finishes that you could put on ANY of the shell choices. In short; it was the Tour series taken to the absolute max. And then they were gone.
Why I guess the Absolutely Series gets skipped. 3 solid species of wood options, countless size options, countless stunning finishes, hardware preferences...Makes me curious why Yamaha does not feel the need to talk about this. The Absolute Series and its era is a long way from the current solid maple kit consisting of only two shell packs in 5 colors where the color beige is the best looking. We can hope for Yamaha Drums. What Yamaha Drums produce and offer today is just a fraction of what it once was. Their hay day was the 90s and early 00s.
Great podcast! I am playing Yamaha Recording Custom drumkit since 1980 and this will continue as long as I live! Greetings from Germany! Ben Christa
Thank you for this podcast! I fell for Yamaha Drums in 1986. My first Yamaha Drums purchase was a 700 Series hi-hat stand, which I bought in 1987 and still use today, in 2024. I remember how happy I was just to own that hi-hat stand with a Yamaha logo on it. I went on to buy Power Tour Custom (1989), Maple Custom (1996), and Stage Custom Standard (2001) shell packs. In 2024 I would love to buy a Stage Custom Birch shell pack as my final purchase. It's perfect for me right now. However, I don't have room (or a justifiable need) for another drum set, and I can't bring myself to part with the maple or SCS drums (I no longer have the PTCs).
I love these history episodes. Thank you for creating them, it's very much appreciated!!
Greetings!
I worked in a local mom and pop drum store for 6 years. I put together tons of kits.
Nothing, and I mean nothing comes to Yamaha as for as quality and consistency.
From entry level to high end. Top knotch.
Great Information! More about all the drums factorys all around the world 🌎
Thank you!!! Jim Haler 🤘🏾🔥🥁🙏🏾😎 Arigato!
Yamaha should do more factory tour videos like how DW does. If more people saw the quality and craftsmanship process it would be a good thing
Totally agree 💯
I had a Tour custom in jazz sizes ad a practice kit in my garage for years, bought it around 2010. Just switched it to a Stage custom about the same age, but with a 20" kick and four toms, so it's more all around.
I know it's almost entry level stuff, but they sound great! Back in 2010 Tour and Stage were basically the same price, but nowadays Stage are around half the price of Stage.
I'm a beginner with a used Ludwig accent kit. The more I research companies and different kits, the more I want a Yamaha. The Birch sounds awesome, and the hardware is top notch. Thanks for the interview, it's very informative and interesting
Thanks for watching. I have always wanted a Yamaha kit too, an old recording custom would be incredible
Great interview 👍🏾
I am primarily a Pearl player but I have owned the 8000 birch/mahogany Tour Customs and currently own a new Tour Custom maple kit. Both fantastic kits, though I upgraded the hardware to Pearl. I also owned a couple of the Manu Katche Jr. kits, using them for rehearsal and performance.
I just got a vintage Yamaha Recording Bass Drum (from 1984) with no tuning fork image on the metal logo badge.
Did I miss where Yamaha bought Premier? I have a set of the Power V specials that were made in England. I call them a predecessor to the Stage Customs.
I have the Yamaha live oak customs , the first kit they made in the new plant and I think they really worked hard to make that kit super high quality at the price point it was selling for . Sadly they discontinued them a few years later for a more expensive version that I’m confident isn’t better sounding .
My first pro kit was a Yamaha Turbo Tour Custom that I bought in early 1990. One thing I'll say for Yamaha; when you tune that drum, it STAYS in tune. I'm talking no cases, stack your drums in the back of a van, Marshall heads tipping over and falling on top of your toms, and some dipshit from the club crew accidentally dropping your bass drum-staying in tune. They are definitely road warrior drums.
What I can't figure out is why they got to the top of the mountain in terms of offerings and options, and then stripped their entire line of drums down to almost nothing compared to what they had? At one point they were putting Tour series hardware ( lugs, rims, and mounts etc. ) on Beech, Birch, Maple, Oak, and possibly even Cherrywood shells. They had regular and power size toms for all of the shells, and something like 30 finishes that you could put on ANY of the shell choices. In short; it was the Tour series taken to the absolute max.
And then they were gone.
I have a vintage set of Yamahas. How can I find what year they were made? The only marking I found was a stamp of "C10 78" inside the bass shell.
I'm bummed he didn't talk about Yamaha's Crosstown Advanced light weight hardware,
Why I guess the Absolutely Series gets skipped. 3 solid species of wood options, countless size options, countless stunning finishes, hardware preferences...Makes me curious why Yamaha does not feel the need to talk about this. The Absolute Series and its era is a long way from the current solid maple kit consisting of only two shell packs in 5 colors where the color beige is the best looking. We can hope for Yamaha Drums. What Yamaha Drums produce and offer today is just a fraction of what it once was. Their hay day was the 90s and early 00s.
Tempted to get a Yamaha recording custom snare
I think rob brown owns the phx