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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
The matte-finish Oak Custom is my favorite Yamaha drumset ...! They simply sound great.
Best regards,
PE
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??
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.
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.
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
You guys have pretty much confirmed my thoughts about these drums...now all I have to do is shift some "funds" around.
-Ed
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.
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.
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!
I've had a stage custom for a little over 7 years, and no problem with the YESS system. This is partially the reason why I want to stick with yamaha...oh yeah they sound great too.
-Ed
i remember talking to joe testa of yamaha at a clinic in pasadena few years back and i mentioned the same thing (my concerns) about the YESS system. he's told me that they'd never had any returns in all the years of implementing the yess system. yet, i still opt for floor toms starting from 14" on up. i guess it's a psycological thing.
on a side note, does anyone else hate the fact that they moved the wing nut over to the side, on their boom stands? you know where the angle and height adjustment of the boom arm were controled by wing nuts opposite eachother? now they put one on the side so when i try to just swing the arm the other way, the dang wing nut's there! what a design flaw. all they needed to do was put a memory clamp with a small notch on that round axle and it would've been perfect. now they have that logo there instead. i still think they have the best grade metal for all their hardwared.
I have Maple Customs and use to have a set of Beech Customs and have never had a problem with the YESS mounts. I like the YESS mounts over any other mount I've tried. They seem a lot more adjustable than the other manufacturers.
I've never really got the whole RIMS thing. Do you really think there would be a discernable tonal difference? If there was a small difference wouldn't it just get lost in the band mix?
I say "yes" to YESS.
PE
I bought the new, authentic RIMS for my 10" and 12" toms last year. They make the toms sound just like they do if you suspend them from your thumb and forefinger. The problem is that my 12" sounds great when suspended, but the 10" sounds only marginally better than with the old shell-mount bracket. So, the RIMS do exactly what Gary Gauger claims...they don't "supercharge" a drum that is flat or dead sounding (like my 10" tom).
Some thoughts:
- The do tend to reduce cross-talk between different drums.
- The authentic RIMS are a pain in dupa, however. You have to make sure the collar closely follows the contour of the hoop/shell so that the RIMS mount does not put any "inward" or "outward pressure on the drum, which would severly choke it. Also, you have to line up the movable links right to where the tension rods are (for the same reason).
- And....you need two assistants and a full repertoire of curse words when changing the batter heads. [img]mad.gif[/img]
It's not impossible, and it's worth it for the sound improvement. Overall I'm happy with them.
It would be neat to take a heavily-used, 10-year old Yamaha 16" floor tom with YESS mounts, and give it a detailed screening for roundness, wood distortion and stress, etc. I will say that the YESS system seems to be the least cumbersome system of any I've seen.
I've had some ideas for the ultimate mounting system for a while....maybe I'll get to work on a prototype sometime this century. [img]eek.gif[/img]
Mitch G. (the guy that runs Bison drums) is not too far from me...I think I'm gonna bring that 10" in for an inspection. He really seems to know his stuff!
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 13, 2004 09:52 PM: Message edited by: mja61 ]</font>
I haven't played the Oak Customs, but I've heard nothing but great reviews....I'm definitely going to check them out when I get around to shopping for my next kit.
I can't find it, but on one of the threads, someone mentioned the YESS mounting system leaves something to be desired. It's a neat idea in the sense that it doesn't add the inconvenience of RIMS (like when changing heads), and doesn't force you to space the toms farther apart.
However....
I always thought that mounting the drum like that surely MUST put undue stress on the wood somehow or other over time, especially for a big 16" tom. Also, while it probably improves resonance, I can't believe it does as good a job as RIMS.
Any thoughts?
that's a cool ad. i looks like they're adding gloss finish with a smooth surface for them. i like the fact that they're making it available in nouveau style lugs. they look really high end. now if they would make some in wrap finishes.
Yamaha make some great drums, with great endorsers and a great (recent) history.
The only thing that bothers me about them is the fact that they also make motorcycles, boats, keyboards, etc... Imagine if dw did this!!! I opt for drum companies that are 100% drums personally. I wonder though.. as an endorser of Yamaha drums if one would get a discount on their boats and/or bikes as well! [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Oh and their "Nouveu" lugs bug me too.
I am curious about the new Jimmy Chamberlin snare drum though...anyone try it?
The fact they are such a big corp did, i am sure, contributes to the problems with customer service that i have had. HOWEVER, that is a BIG HOWEVER, when i finally got in touch with the right man, who is THE MAN, it was all worth it. Dave (last name unable to spell but sounds like Syche... as in: cy-key), hooked it up ALL THE WAY. I had a double bass pedal problem, and since i am a lefty and pedals are all backwards, made it hard to get info on returning it. I actually was past warrenty, but Dave hooked it up. I hadn't even sent the pedals back yet and UPS shows up with the NEWER model on my doorstep. It was less than 4 days after i talked to Dave, when i received them, so that means they must have gone out the NEXT DAY after we talked... and they paid for all the shipping. Of all the wrong connections, due to a huge corporation, when i finally got in touch with the right guy... it was 110% worth it. A buddy of mine wanted to know about some custom questions as far as having them do things like stopping the production line, pulling a set off early and sending the drums without finishing lacquers... things like that. The Yamaha guy in the states had to send a properly worded email to Japan, so that is could be translated properly, then get it send back, translated again... it made it time consuming, but as i said, once you get the big corp, inherent problems, out of the way; i have heard nothing but good stories from all i have talked to.
Example: Guy i know had a set delivered to the store... opens it up, the 12" doesn't match the other toms, not even CLOSE to the color! Calls, Yamaha... two days later the regional rep shows up, sees the tom and calls in to have every 12" tom, in that color, in the nation shipped to that store. Within a week every tom shows up (it was surprizingly less than 10 toms in the nation!). The regional rep shows up again, apologizes, credits him something for the inconvenience and has a happy customer, therefore. No one has ever said 'no' to anything i have asked for, and they did everything before the expected deadline given to me... that to me is worth it, i would rather have that than an easy to get a hold of company that tells me 'no' when i have a problem.
Ah, but don't push it... i wouldn't ask for like 24k gold toms at no extra charge or anything [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Oh, and that was in response to what Chris said about the big corp... to ease his worries [img]wink.gif[/img]
Chris, those last two stories, the one about the producion line stop, and the store that got the funky colored drums... that is Mike Cota, so you can ask him so you know i am not making it up [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img]
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Quote:
Originally posted by 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.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I had Yamaha make me a 16" hanging tom ( 14" deep) this year, to match my Beech Custom set, I hit very hard, all the other drumers around the area I live in can confirm this, but I feel totally secure with the Y.E.S.S. mount that I asked for, I would never own a floor tom again.....clunky wappy horrible things! Give me suspended Yamaha's any day!Quote:
Originally posted by 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.
Chris
Tom
What am I thinking? Of course precision!! I hear some pretty wicked players play them too. Expensive sounding drums at an inexpensive price! What more can drummer ask?
-Ed
Hey Ed,
Of course, Precision Drum Company makes some nice drums too........ [img]biggrin.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img] [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]cool.gif[/img]
What is the average going price you guys have found for these?
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Chris,Quote:
Originally posted by CLWarunki:
Yamaha make some great drums, with great endorsers and a great (recent) history.
The only thing that bothers me about them is the fact that they also make motorcycles, boats, keyboards, etc...
I don't think it's the same guy building everything. [img]wink.gif[/img]
Seriously though, Yamaha has some of the best quality control there is. And, everything they make from instruments, to electronics, to motorcycles is top notch stuff.
Matricks
I don't know what the average price may be because there are totally different prices at different places.
Places like sam ash and guitar center are around $1300 for shell set of three toms and a bass.
Midwest percussion on the other hand costs $1196 for the same stuff. Not a big difference, but one none the less.
Midwest Percussion always has great deals.
-Ed
"I don't think it's the same guy building everything"
Daniel that was so funny I spat my diet coke all over my keyboard......damn.
i remember someone at G.C. telling me that bob gatzen had alot to do with developing the YESS system. is that true? anyone? bueller? ....
the maple custom line was indeed a joint design venture between noble and cooley and yamaha and Gatzen was still working with NnC at the time, the nodle placing of the lugs, the shells and the YESS system.
The NnC maple series were their version of the Yamaha drums and that's why when you bought a Noble maple kit it had Yamaha kic spurs on it.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Haha! [img]tongue.gif[/img]Quote:
Originally posted by GaryL:
Daniel that was so funny I spat my diet coke all over my keyboard......damn.
Hope your keyboard still works.
very nice randy. thanks for the info on the YESS history.
Yamaha makes motorcycles. Right, I agree. But it's not the same division. I've been to Jakarta, dear reader (and believe me you don't want venture there on a vaction) and I can tell you that the Yamaha factory is a blessed respite in the middle of urban chaos. For one thing, in the Yamaha factory you don't smell burning garbage...a feature of Jakarta no matter where you dwell. Second, the pedals and hardware come right off the line, although directed by different folks, with the motorcycle parts, meaning that if it's going to hang for street bikes, odds are it's going to hang for your pedal.
I agree with Peter Erskine that the Oak is special drum. It responds to a flick of the brush and if you hit it hard it doesn't choke. It seems to have more "presence" than maple, in my opinion, but this is subjective. I dunno, my old Camco stuff is maybe maple, maybe wood filler plus maple plus poplar. All I know is that the Yamaha Oak reminds me of vintage drums and, incidentally, is slightly undersized a la Camco. I'm not preaching, mainly because I love my vintage stuff, but the Oak comes closest: in sensitive response, in generating real pitches without being "clinical", and in the critical area: feeeeee.
WB
Sorry for posting twice guys, an incomplete post then one with a typo. That last word "feeee" should have been "feel". This forum graciously provides me with a "preview" function. Guilty. Didn't use it.
WB
i tried these drums out before and was really impressed with the sound. it reminds me of a maple drum on steroids. great attack and response. perhaps had to do with the innated density of oak itself? i'm also happy that they're available in nouveau style lugs. now if they'd only change their badges to the same ones that are on the birch, maple, and beech custom absolutes. those oak badges' logo and font treatment is reminiscent of like writing on a softball team's shirt or something. i'm sure they'd sell alot more stage customs if they revamped those as well. just keep it clean and simple.
Hi everybody..
well.ı was play this drums on a jazz club istanbul-turkey..the sound was a wery focused and dry!..its a wery different sound from recording custom and maple custom..my idea this drum more jazzy others yamaha models..
Just wondering if anybody has anything to add since this thread was up front....still feeling as tho' I have to get some of these
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">IMHO, the Yamaha Yess system is the most functional system out there.Quote:
Originally posted by 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.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Here here! Those "OAK" badges are cheesy. They look like entry level badges. Remember the "STEEL" badges on the old steel snares? Like that.Quote:
Originally posted by Da Chuch:
i tried these drums out before and was really impressed with the sound. it reminds me of a maple drum on steroids. great attack and response. perhaps had to do with the innated density of oak itself? i'm also happy that they're available in nouveau style lugs. now if they'd only change their badges to the same ones that are on the birch, maple, and beech custom absolutes. those oak badges' logo and font treatment is reminiscent of like writing on a softball team's shirt or something. i'm sure they'd sell alot more stage customs if they revamped those as well. just keep it clean and simple.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I demo'd a floor model at GC a while back. With the factory heads they were so totally out of control I couldn't appreciate them at all. The were very loud, harsh and ringy. But, I'm sure they'd sing sweetly with some Aquarian Studio X's or even some Coated G1's or Ambassadors.Quote:
Originally posted by sjj123:
Just wondering if anybody has anything to add since this thread was up front....still feeling as tho' I have to get some of these