Yamaha Drums
Yamaha Drums is a part of the Yamaha Corporation an international company based in Japan. Yamaha Drums is a leading drum brand that manufactures both acoustic and electric drum sets along with drum hardware as well as marching and concert percussion. Unlike other top drum manufacturers, Yamaha has a very strong footprint in electronic drum sets and accessories with their Yamaha DTX series being one of the most popular non-acoustic drum lines available to drummers.
Production of Yamaha Drums takes place at three different locations. High-end drums and marching percussion is produced at their Osaka plant where R&D is also conducted. Mass produced starter drum sets are produced between Yamaha’s drum factories in China and Indonesia. Marketing and other business development is handled by Yamaha corporate in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Yamaha Drums History
The Yamaha Drums division of Yama Corp. was founded in 1967. Yamaha originally started out as a piano and reed organ manufacturer in 1887. The company was established by Torakusu Yamaha and was first called Nippon Gakki Company, Limited. When drum production first began it took place at Yamaha’s Niitsu factory where their patented Air Seal System was first created.
In 1974 production moved to Sakae Rhythm in Osaka and has remained there to this day. In Osaka, Yamaha developed innovated concepts such as the “System Drum” which allows mounting hardware from any Yamaha series to be mixed and combined as required. This practice is commonplace today but was a huge leap forward at the time. In the 70s Yamaha introduced the YD9000 Recording Custom which featured 100% birch shells and one-piece lugs.
As Yamaha Corp. is a conglomerate and owes a large part of its growth to mergers and acquisitions, Yamaha drums followed suit when in 1987 they purchased Premier Percussion’s factory in England in order to gain market share in Europe. Although Yamaha invested in machinery and training, the project was short lived and Yamaha withdrew in 1992 selling back their stock shares to Premier.
In the early 90s Yamaha develop YESS or the Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System. This was created for maple drums in order to minimize dampening of resonance due to the dimensions of parts on the drum shells. Yamaha first applied this to their Maple Custom series of drums and continues to apply it to all other sets to this day. This includes their Stage Custom, Maple Absolute, Oak Custom and PHX lines of drum sets. With the PHX series, Yamaha introduced new hook lugs and dubbed the technology YESS2.
Yamaha Acoustic Drum Sets
Yamaha’s acoustic drum sets are produced from a wide variety of woods and involve a patented process driven by technology. Woods used for Yamaha’s drum shells include North American Maple, Japanese Birch, Asian Kapur, South American Jatoba, Asian Oak, Asian Big Leaf Mahogany and Asian Ash. The process for creating Yamaha drums shells and snares is a unique 8 step procedure that is driven by Yamaha’s “AIR SEAL SYSTEM” technology and YESS – Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System.
Yamaha Drum Production Process
- Raw Wood: Sliced into 1mm sheets – 6 to 11 layers (plies) per shell
- Ply Preparation: Plies laminated with each grain layer perpendicular for max strength
- Air Seal System Shell Formation: Specially formulated adhesive applied to plies and hammered into shape
- Sanding: Both outer and inner surfaces sanded to even smoothness
- Finishing: Advanced UV-curved finishes applied thinly for high visual appeal
- Bearing Edge Shaping: Bearing angle and radius matched to each shell
- Drilling: Manual drilling for ventilation
- Assembly: Alignment of parts and proper tensioning
Starter and Semi-Pro Drum Lines
Yamaha’s beginner and intermediate drum kits provide drummers from all genres with a wide variety of options at prices points that are more affordable than their professional lines.
GigMaker – Available in two 5 piece configurations and can be purchased as a standalone shell pack, with hardware or packaged with Paiste 101 cymbals. Offered in five glitter finishes the GigMaker is made from basswood and popular. Priced with hardware, the GigMaker kit can be purchased for around $600 new.
Rock Tour – Featuring 9-ply Big Leaf Mahogany shells and a virgin (no mount) ten-lug design, the Rock Tour provides a powerful and deep resonant sound. Available in 5 finishes and shipping with Remo Pinstripe heads, the Rock Tour kit is designed for durability and easy tuning. Rock Tour shell packs can be purchased for between $850 and $1,100 brand new.
Stage Custom Birch – The Stage Custom is a 100% birch shell drum set that is deigned for semi-professional drummers. Available in 3 pre-designed configurations and 7 finishes, the Stage Custom Birch provides drummers with diverse options. Shell packs run between $500 and $900 depending on package.
Tour Custom – A popular discontinued line of drums that are made of a mahogany-birch blend. Originally offered in three translucent and one solid finish, the Tour Custom can be purchased for $900 to $1,300 new.
Professional Drum Lines
Oak Custom – Yamaha is one of the few drum brands to offer a drum kit with oak shells. The Oak Custom features a 7ply bass drum with 6-ply toms and is available in both Jazz and Power tom depths. Despite the unique material the shells are still made using Yamaha’s Air Seal System and are offered in 7 different finishes. Shell packs are priced between $2,000 and $3,000 depending on number of pieces and individual drum sizes.
Recording Custom – Yamaha’s longest running drum series that features birch shells matched with Remo drumheads. Hi-tension lugs and YESS mount ensure drum durability and reliability when gigging or transporting the drum shells. Finishes include Cherry Wood, Solid Black, Antique Sunburst and Deep Blue. New Recording Custom drum shells cost between $2,500 and $3,500.
Club Custom – The shells feature 100% Kapur wood from Indo-Malaysia and are 6-ply with 60 degree bearing edges. The Club Custom is available in three swirl finishes including, black, blue and orange. Club Custom drums are Yamaha’s version of a drum set with a vintage look but modern technology and production quality. Club Custom shells packs are consistently priced at $2,600 online including free shipping.
Absolute Series – Options for the Absolute Drum Set include Maple or Birch shells and Absolute or Hook lugs. The YESS2 mount system is standard across all Absolute drums. Custom vintage finishes are available for this drum line which features a unique coating process that is thinner but harder than normal. Shells packs range from $3,000 to $4,000 new.
Phoenix “PHX” Series – The PHX line is one of the newer drum sets developed by Yamaha and is also coined as their premier drum pack. Featuring 11-ply hybrid shells that are made of jatoba at the core, sandwiched by kapur and outlined by maple. The PHX drum shells include a 30 degree bearing edge, the Nouveau lug and YESS. Available finishes include Matte Natural, Matte Black, Polar White and Cherry Sunburst with pure maple. By including an outer half-ply of ash, Garnet Fade, Sapphire Fade, Turquoise Fade, Textured Amber Sunburst and Textured Black Sunburst finishes are available. PHX Series drum sets are $5000 or more.
Acoustic Drum Accessories
Along with the drums that Yamaha manufactures, they also produce acoustic drum accessories to complement each kit. This includes the Subkick (SKRM-100) which sits in front of the bass drum and works in tandem with the kick microphone to create a lower bottom-end sound. Also included in drum accessories are items such as vintage wood hoops, groove and cascara wedges as well as other miscellaneous parts.
Yamaha Snare Drums
Yamaha’s snare drums are produced from a wide variety of woods that match their acoustic drum sets along with other individual snares designed for unique sounds. Yamaha’s metal snares include the use of Steel, Aluminum, Brass and Copper depending on the application. On top of these options Yamaha also offers a Signature line of snare drums.
Wood Snare Drums – Includes snares to match sets with special attention paid to the Vintage, Oak Custom, Stage Custom and Absolute Maple lines. Other wood snares include the Sensitive, LOUD and MUSASHI Series.
Metal Snares – Snares made from steel, aluminium, brass and copper. Varying sizes are available.
Yamaha’s Signature Snare – Many of Yamaha’s Signature snares are discounted but can still be found on the used drum market. Including specialized snares from the likes of Steve Gadd, Mike Bordin and Billy Cobham.
Drum Hardware & HexRackII
Yamaha is not as popular or well known for their hardware as they are their drum shells or electronic sets. Despite this Yamaha offers quality hardware and a rigid rack system dubbed the HexRackII. Included in Yamaha’s hardware offering are cymbal stands, hi-hat stands, snare stands, double tom stands, tom holders, tom ball clamps, boom arms, multi clamps, bass drum pedals and drum thrones.
Yamaha Electronic Drums
Yamaha is one of the most popular drum brands that has an in-depth line of electronic drum kits. Known as DTX drums, Yamaha provides superior electronic and digital drum applications for drummers looking for fun, serious practice or live performance. For detailed information be sure to check out Yamaha DTX.
DTX500 Series – Features the new and improved DTX500 module with over 427 sounds. The product lineup includes the DTX560SP, DTX520SP, DTX500K, DTX520K, DTX560K, DTX530K and DTX 550K. Each kit varies on type of shell pack and included accessories such as cymbal pads and triggers.
DTX700 Series – The DTX700 trigger module features 1,268 percussive sounds and 128 instrument voices. There are four products in the 700 series including the DTX700SP, DTX700K, DTX750K and DTX790K.
DTX900 Series – Features Yamaha’s flagship DTX-PADs as well as a new kick pad and professional cymbal pads. The 900 series is the closest match to acoustic drums that Yamaha offers in an electronic set. Available in both DTX900K and DTX950K models.
DTXPLORER – Abbrievated the DTXPL, this 5 peice electronic set is top to bottom packed full of features.
DTXPRESS – The DTXPRESS IV includes acoustic drum sounds from Yamaha’s Oak Custom Series of acoustic drums. With 50 preset drum kits for styles such as rock, jazz, reggae, funk and latin, the DTXPRESS IV Standard Set and V2 versions are designed to feel, sound and play real.
DTXTREME – Designed for power and live performance, the DTXTREME III brings acoustic sounding tonality in an electronic package.
Digital Percussion and Accessories
Known for its presence in electronic drums, Yamaha offer periphery devices such as the DTX-m12 drum pad and the Tenori-on MIDI controller for musicians that require diversity of sound. Yamaha also offers Portable Digital Drums and electronic drum accessories to be combined with their existing sets.
Marching, Concert & Student Percussion
Like other major drum brands, Yamaha manufactures drums for practically every percussive need. This includes concert and orchestral percussion with instruments such as xylophones, marimbas, chimes, timpani, snare drums, vibraphones, bells and more. Yamaha also makes marching snare drums, toms and bass drums along with the holders to carry them.
Yamaha Drums Review
Yamaha corporation is known for making a variety of musical instruments. From pianos to guitars and drums, Yamaha has a wide and diverse product offering. By purchasing a Yamaha drum set, the customer can rest assured that Yamaha Drums will be around for a long time should support be needed. Yamaha makes quality high end acoustic and electric drums as well as kits for beginners, with products for every music genre. It is no surprise that top endorsers such as, Jimmy Chamberlin from The Smashing Pumpkins and Larry Muller, JR. from U2 support the Yamaha drum brand.
For more info on Yamaha Drums check out their website at yamahadrums.com
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