As for Japanese drums, YAMAHA are in my opinion the best of the big three.

I am referring to their Japanese drums not Indonesian or whatever they are in the lower lines.

I love TAMA drums and hardware, the designs (especially in the 80's) and I have never been a fan of Pearl hardware, bulky 7/8 tubes in your shell. i cant believe its still used today with the ims and all. Bass Ackwards.

Tama and Pearl have really chromey shiney parts but they are both outsourced and not made in Japan anymore. How sad is that we are actually wanting MIJ on stuff.

Yamaha has its own foundry from their motorcycle lines. Their hardware is function over form. Dw ripped off their disappearing boom design. And their resin uni or omni ball design is stronger than most others.

As for shells, yamaha like the others started with top end birch and are now pushing maple. I love their birch shells.

But with the previous statement about their shell manufacturer, I don't know.

I've played a lot of different kits over the years. ... Pearls, Luddies, Kents, Yamaha's, Gretsch's, Sonor's, Tama's, of various quality and level. But in the late 90's when I got the go ahead to get a new kit "dream kit" if you will, I did some research and picked a DW. Unfortunately after the sticker shock I began looking for something used. I "settled" for a used Yamaha maple custom absolute 7 piece kit in sea blue lacquer finish.

I have to say in my experience it has been a great kit. It tunes easily and stay's tuned, the hardware is first class. Sets up easily and stays in place. The tom mounts are very flexible and versatile.

I was never crazy about the yamaha pedals so I switched to DW 9000s and love 'em. I do find the DW hi-hats to be a pain sometimes.

I get a lot of compliments on the color and finish of my Yammies and it has deepened a bit over time and continues to look and sound great. I have also provided my kit as the back line kit for a Jazz festival every year for the last 5 years and receive nothing but compliments from the jazz drummers. I did buy a 20" bass drum and eventually an 18" as well.

Every year I get a lot of compliments and follow-up questions from drummers who play the kit and ask "what heads did you have on that kit?" or what's your tuning secret? But I think its actually the kit. And the sound guys at the festival love the sound of it.

So with that said I think I've got a really nice sounding kit and I'm happy with it. I eventually bought a second newer Yamaha and haven't had the same success with it. It has the quick release lugs and shorter toms, it also has a 20" bd and the die cast hoops. So maybe that's part of the problem. I have a hard time getting it tuned so it sounds comfortable.

Crazy question, but are the Yamaha drums and motorcycles the same company? I would think so, but??? maybe they can tune their exhaust to sound like a double bass drum LOL

Every Yamaha drum or kit I've owned through the years has been of extremely high quality. Attention to detail is a high priority, evidently.

Yess ( pun fully intended) they are, and they use the same logo.

I play a big yellow tour series set 14/16/18/24 and thought it would be good fun to put the tuning forks in a circle logo on my bass drum kinda like John Bonham's symbol, the local speed shop had yamaha logo decals for jet skis, and motocross ect and they made me a 14" one for my bass drum

Another funny or annoying thing is searching eBay for "Yamaha turbo tour custom drums" you get turbo yamaha motorcycle parts, yamaha touring motorcycle parts, yamaha drum brakes, the list goes on and on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kMo8qxYP7HI

Here's my Yammies Rockin' out (or Klezzin' out or whatever). They were a good versatile kit! I got accustomed to Stage Customs because I played backline ones so often. They always worked well for me so I eventually got one. She got thrown in and out of trains, planes and automobiles for 9 years without any hardware failure to speak of.

Wow, funkypoodle!What a great video! Your band is very unique and each member very talented! Your drumming was fantastic! Thank you very much for sharing! Amazing!

BrianBowing

+1 on Salty comments. That was a very cool performance! Your drumming was solid and that fiddler was extraordinary. Loved your drummer face about minute six. Classic.

when I was growing up in the 80's, everyone was playing the yammie 9000 RC's. I even remember my drum teacher joking:

"what has a clitoris and a Yamaha 9000 got in common? Every C*** has got one!"

One day I walked into my local drum shop as a skint teenager and the owner showed me a new RC kit in that gorgeous green stain they did, nice small sizes and YESS mounts. Before I could object, he'd signed me up on a HP agreement and I had them in the back of my car. They looked stunning, however I was fairly disappointed with them. I just couldn't tune the damn things and could get more out of my Premiers and budget Sonors I had had previously. Not sure if it was the painted black interior, the Birch or what. (Yes, I know it was me) Plenty of attack, but sooo much sustain it was ridiculous. Im sure they would have been better without the YESS mounts. Or tuned by someone else.

Anyway, some years later I wanted more toms and a 22" bass drum and I picked up a used Yamaha Maple Custom on Ebay. Well gigged, a bit beaten up but it had 8,10,12,14 and 16 toms, all in super deep sizes. I actually like traditional shorter toms, but these sounded amazing.

Its the easiest kit Ive ever had to tune. No nasty overtones and its happy with coated heads, singly ply thin resos or double ply pinstripes or whatever. It can be a jazz kit, a classic rock sound, a modern contemporary sound or (IMO its best sound) that session studio / live TV band / funk rock sound like dancing with the stars or Letterman show etc:)

Hardware is heavy and a bit clunky but very sturdy and reliable. Some of the finishes are easily marked, but then again, they aren't cheap plastic wraps.

The Maple Custom is also the only kit Ive had that everyone wants to buy off me / borrow / take home. I also get more compliments from sound engineers / punters / other musicians about its sound than any other kit Ive ever owned. Its now different to everyone see because its not really retro (yet) and theres loads of toms (way uncool) some of which are hanging floors (yuck!) and the toms are deeper than power toms and have cast hoops. The 10 and 12 are the same depth!! Ive even bought a rack for it.

I guess its just me. When everyone was playing pink Tama granstars with double bass drums, hanging floors and big racks, I was playing a vintage 4 piece premier kit with standard tom sizes a floor tom on legs (yuck!) :)

Eventually my Yammie will be trendy again

I don`t personally own any Yammies but from what i`ve heard from the audience perspective-they sound great! And my Yammie friends swear by them.Very well made drums with alot of R&D gone into them! I`m going to have to get one of their sets and like others have said here...depends on what style you play and what level of kit you need.Thumbs up to Yammies!!!

Wayne