As I've said before, I don't think all the C series drums are the same. My red thunder kit is of the highest build quality. The shells are birch/lauan like the YD drums but with no coating on the interiors. The lugs are a different design to the YD series but are the same quality. I've worked on both models and the earliest kits have a great build quality. The entry level models from the early 70s are not finished to the same standard. So I believe it's possible to pick up a C series kit with the same quality of material and build as a YD kit. However, I know some of the C series kits in the thunder patterns etc have reinforcing rings and 6 lug snare and maybe aren't as good but I haven't worked with any of those.

Yeah, that's interesting. I've only seen what must have been the early 70's entry-level C series drums with the re-rings. I noticed on the red thunder kit in the photo that it has the same tom mount as on the higher end YD series. The earlier C series tom mounts were the typical cheaper Japanese version.

I've actually refurbished a couple of sets from the early 70s and the shells were the same as the earlier ones but I suspect they used seconds with small defects for the entry level models. The finish on the edges etc is not as clean as the earlier red thunder kit (hard to tell in the photos). Still nice shells though.

73 sounds about right at a guess. Yeah, the mount is cool and works well. And the BD cymbal arm works really well too. I have since sold both of these kits and the Black Willow one. I just have the Red Thunder one now. I was keen on a Midnight Surf kit that came up for sale here this week but the seller decided to keep it and give it to his son. That was the first one I'd seen in that wrap.

73 sounds about right at a guess. Yeah, the mount is cool and works well. And the BD cymbal arm works really well too. I have since sold both of these kits and the Black Willow one. I just have the Red Thunder one now. I was keen on a Midnight Surf kit that came up for sale here this week but the seller decided to keep it and give it to his son. That was the first one I'd seen in that wrap.

Wow! Is that midnight surf? That is REALLY wild. I love it. Another Yamaha finish I've never seen "in person". Amazing.

I wasn't sure at first but it matches to the catalog scan you loaded up thread. I was pretty disappointed when he withdrew it from sale but you can't buy them all:)Here's a close up of the finish that the seller supplied