Yamaha Oak Custom

[ed4644]

Hey der

I am about to purchase a new kit, and I am leaning strongly towards the Yamaha Oak Custom Matte kit. I've seen some posts on this awhile ago, but I was wondering if anyone else had anymore information on it, or anything else to say about this kit.

Everyones input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

-Ed

[erskoman]

The matte-finish Oak Custom is my favorite Yamaha drumset ...! They simply sound great.

Best regards,
PE

[trommari]

The Oak custom gets 10 for sound in my book. A frend of mine has them as a house kit in his studio. I have recorded few albums ther usin them with great result.
Check this Yamaha ad out

http://www.keithcarlock.com/images/N...d/YamahaAd.JPG

It seems that they are incorporating the Oaks into the Absolute line??
Maybe Erskoman has some info on that??

[CLWarunki]

Dave Weckl and Billy Cobham were both using them in clinics last year and they sounded AMAZING esp for "mid-priced/semi-pro" kits. Then again, they were going through the mixer/eq/pa and had a couple of the worlds best drummers playing them!

They look great too... esp the satin/matte finishes. I myself was thinking about getting an Oak kit, but got a used Gretsch birch instead.

Anyways, I don't see anything wrong with these drums and from what I recall they got a great review in Modern Drummer too.

[matricks]

I don't have much to say about it because i have never played on one, however what i have heard is nothing but good. I have a buddy who works at a music store and he had Yamaha send him a 12x9 to test out. He said that he loved it... the projection was great, great attack (oak, so of course), and the tone spread of the drum was warmer than expected... which was a bonus. He A-B'd it against every 12x9 in the store and was quite happy with it. He is deciding now between that, and a Ludwig Classic Maple set.
To me, it sounded as if it was one of those 'best of both worlds' kind of drum. Closer to rock maple than he would have guessed, as far as resonance, but that crisp attack that you don't find in that (maple) kind of wood. What he had to say made me want to seriously check them out.
In regards to them being a "mid ranged/semi-pro kit", i believe they are a top-of-the-line kit, correct? Compared to Gretsch and DW they may be priced as a lower level kit, but i think they are equal to a Yamaha flagship level kit, right? I just think since it is a newer wood to use as a whole set, not just a snare (for example), so therefore may not be looked at in the same regards as a maple set; i think they are on the same footing as a good maple set, just a different sound/newer to the 'market'.
Example: If birch is suited for studio, and maple is suited for a well-mic'd live situation; then oak would triumph in a live situation where you need the drums to 'work for themself' to get the sound out there... cut through and speak without the pleasure of a great sound system.

[sjj123]

You guys must stop talking about these drums....I've had my DW's for less than a year and already I think I want an Oak set

[ed4644]

You guys have pretty much confirmed my thoughts about these drums...now all I have to do is shift some "funds" around.

-Ed

[CLWarunki]

Yamaha's mounting system makes me cringe! I am using a rental Maple Custom Absolute right now and it has a suspended 14" floor tom... with a mounting system like that, it dosen't make me feel like I can really dig into the toms, I am afraid to really lay into these drums because of the primitive YESS mounts [img]frown.gif[/img]

I bet you anything that within the next 2 years, Yamaha will improve on this.

I guess Peter E would be the one who knows best of the longterm effects of the YESS system on toms.

P.S. matricks, I think you are right - these are supposed to be high-end kits at mid-range pricing. However, Weckl went back to his maple kit from what I know.

[Derek DeFields]

I've got a maple custom that's almost 10 years old with YESS mounts on the 14 and 16" and I have had zero problems. Yamaha's drums are very thick and can take the strain with no trouble.

Having said that, I do think it's time they came up with a system that works better but I can't think of one honestly.

[trommari]

I have a 10 years old Yamaha Maple Custom set with the YESS mounts. It has 14" and 15" hanging floor toms and in those 10 years I have had NO problems with it.

The Yess system is perfect!