Hey Vets....help me with my Yamaha Kit!

[sugabear]

I'm going to be purchasing a Yamaha kit real soon I need a few suggestions. I'm a fan of both maple and birch so I'm thinking of doing a Yamaha Hybrid configuration.

Drum Sizes:
7.5x10
8x12
14x14
14x16
18x22

I love the sound of my smaller toms to be bright and lively w/ a little bit of focused attack. I like the sound of my bigger toms to be deep focused and precise (more like the sound of the oak custom floor toms). I like the sound of my bass drum to have a nice low thunderous sound when not using dampening as much and a wicked focused low punch when using dampening techniques.

Now, based on the configuration and the sound characteristics I want, which wood material would you guys suggest for each drum? Or if you have a different idea about the configuration, I'll take those suggestions as well. If you hate my idea completely, let me kow also. Okay, fire away!

[Jedi3]

Sounds like you want birch small toms, oak floor toms and a maple bass drum...I think.

[E.R.]

I say forget about Yamaha and get DDrums!
























 
















 

[E.R.]

All kidding aside, you are speaking about their Absolute Series right?

I would go with all Maple shells or all Birch shells. I wouldn't mix it up. Either wood will give you the tonalities that you want to a point. The rest (and larger part) of the equation is drum size and head selection.

Your desired small tom sound is: "bright and lively w/ a little bit of focused attack"
The Birch shell will give you the bright portion of that combination, and your head choice and tuning preferences will adjust your attack.
Your size selection 7.5x10 and 8x12 are great sizes and in my opinion are versatile in being able to step or down in tuning range without too much difficulty.

Your desired big tom sound is: "deep focused and precise"
Birch is known as the "EQ'd" wood. Hence, its focused and precise. Loose tuning and correct heads will give your birch shell the deep tone you are looking for.

And Your Kick, thats easy, No matter what, throw a SuperKick II on it and you are good to go.  Birch will carry a slightly brighter aftertaste. (Hey, thats my way of explaining it). Head Selection and tuning of course will get you to what you are looking for.

Now....The Maple Shells will give you all the desired sounds you want, with a tweak in tuning and head selection.

Either kit is great and a worthy investment, or......
if you really want Hybrid, the PHOENIX might be calling your name. 
 

[Jedi3]

Your desired big tom sound is: "deep focused and precise"
Birch is known as the "EQ'd" wood. Hence, its focused and precise. Loose tuning and correct heads will give your birch shell the deep tone you are looking for.

But maple tends to be more focused in the middle to low end range...does it not?

[E.R.]

But maple tends to be more focused in the middle to low end range...does it not?

Yezzzir. Maple is a warmer tone leaning towards middle to low end frequencies.

The wood selection will dictate your overall taste in tonality. The Nuances come from the Drum sizes, Head selection and Tuning.

The tonalities that suga mentioned would make me lean towards Birch over Maple.

Regardless of wood (Maple, Birch, Beech, Bubinga, Oak) a 10" tom is going to be a higher pitched tone than a 16" tom. But how do you want that high pitch to sound? Open and Airy? Crisp? Dry? Bright? Warm? Thats what each of us has to answer when we are drum shopping.

a 10" is a 10" a 16" a 16" etc. What Tonality do I care about the most. What Natural Characteristics cater to my ears more?

[Jedi3]

Yup...I was kinda thinking maple because when describing the floor toms, the first adjective was deep.  But you're right on point though.  But I don't know, maybe he should just jump...his pocket sucks anyway.  K bye.

[JFunky]

...just get a Phoenix! lol

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

Birch shells are the most versatile.  They have a natural "EQ" quality to them.  You can go anyway you want to with the snare.  I recommend maple for that one.

[Jedi3]

How do you (as a player) define what "natural EQ" means.  I've seen the term and heard it a million times before, but I'm curious to know how you all define it for yourselves, sonically speaking.

[j_kay]

How do you (as a player) define what "natural EQ" means.  I've seen the term and heard it a million times before, but I'm curious to know how you all define it for yourselves, sonically speaking.

I interpret "natural EQ" as the highs, lows and mids being "mixed" as if you're listening to the finished product from a recording.  Again, that's how I interpret that term...

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

I interpret "natural EQ" as the highs, lows and mids being "mixed" as if you're listening to the finished product from a recording.  Again, that's how I interpret that term...

Dude, that is exactly what I was going to say.  Birch naturally emits all of the sonic possibilities that a drum shell can give. 

Here's a chart that gives a good description.......

Wood characteristics as described by Pearl drums

[SabianKnight]

Oak Custom or Oak Custom X series (which is only in England right featuring a 22"x20 virgin kick). Either way get h the 14"x7" snare for the widest tuning range. Genera, Genera HD or G2 batter over a Hazy 300 maybe some 42 wires.

Oak has the warmth of Maple when turned medium-tight to low. It has the clarity and articulation on the highs and punchy articulation on the lows. They speak in volume with having to smack them and don't overly sing in the mid range while still retaining a fatness in the mid range (yet no muddiness).

Weckl toured a couple years with them. Akira Jimbo, Keith Carlock and Sonny Emory.

G Plus on top or G2s with G1s or J etched on bottoms. GMAD batter with and with EQ3 or ported LOGO head with the $40 bass port thing that Beatboxer told us about. Yamaha Hex Rack.
This way you have a great live kit for small or large stage/venues plus a great studio kit. Birch alone sounds real thin in a large um-mic'd situation or outdoors un-mic'd becaus eit lacks the mid range and maple can get muddy or ringy tuned to low or high in these situations. Oak stays solid overall because of it's density without over-compensating either way.

[sugabear]

I love the responses you guys gave thanks so much for all the suggestions and advice.

Oak Custom or Oak Custom X series (which is only in England right featuring a 22"x20 virgin kick). Either way get h the 14"x7" snare for the widest tuning range. Genera, Genera HD or G2 batter over a Hazy 300 maybe some 42 wires.

Oak has the warmth of Maple when turned medium-tight to low. It has the clarity and articulation on the highs and punchy articulation on the lows. They speak in volume with having to smack them and don't overly sing in the mid range while still retaining a fatness in the mid range (yet no muddiness).

Weckl toured a couple years with them. Akira Jimbo, Keith Carlock and Sonny Emory.

G Plus on top or G2s with G1s or J etched on bottoms. GMAD batter with and with EQ3 or ported LOGO head with the $40 bass port thing that Beatboxer told us about. Yamaha Hex Rack.
This way you have a great live kit for small or large stage/venues plus a great studio kit. Birch alone sounds real thin in a large um-mic'd situation or outdoors un-mic'd becaus eit lacks the mid range and maple can get muddy or ringy tuned to low or high in these situations. Oak stays solid overall because of it's density without over-compensating either way.

Uncle Sabe, you're all in my KoolAid. To be honest I love the sound of the oaks over the maple and birch customs. The only reason they're out of the running is due purely to cosmetic reasons. As a matter of fact I talked with a Yamaha rep a few days ago to see if they could do a custom oak kit in one of the finishes available on the birch/maple customs and he said that they didn't do it. I just may have to give up on having the finish I want to get the sound I want. Thanks for your two cents.

[drumzalicious]

I love the responses you guys gave thanks so much for all the suggestions and advice.
Uncle Sabe, you're all in my KoolAid. To be honest I love the sound of the oaks over the maple and birch customs. The only reason they're out of the running is due purely to cosmetic reasons. As a matter of fact I talked with a Yamaha rep a few days ago to see if they could do a custom oak kit in one of the finishes available on the birch/maple customs and he said that they didn't do it. I just may have to give up on having the finish I want to get the sound I want. Thanks for your two cents.

doc you better get that silver sparkle and call it a day. those silver sparkle kits are gorgeous

[sugabear]

doc you better get that silver sparkle and call it a day. those silver sparkle kits are gorgeous

That's exactly the finish I was going to get if I got the oaks. Silver Sparkle is a cool finish and it's not a trendy color, so I won't have to worry about it going out of style.

[j_kay]

And if you wanted to get the same look as the Absolute (regular and Nouveau) series, you can also fit them with the AL die cast hoops for the tops and bottoms...

[sugabear]

And if you wanted to get the same look as the Absolute (regular and Nouveau) series, you can also fit them with the AL die cast hoops for the tops and bottoms...

That is a good idea as well J! I think that's what I'll do! I won't be upset with putting +$1000 back in my pocket and using for cymbals and auxilary items.

[SabianKnight]

I love the responses you guys gave thanks so much for all the suggestions and advice.
Uncle Sabe, you're all in my KoolAid. To be honest I love the sound of the oaks over the maple and birch customs. The only reason they're out of the running is due purely to cosmetic reasons. As a matter of fact I talked with a Yamaha rep a few days ago to see if they could do a custom oak kit in one of the finishes available on the birch/maple customs and he said that they didn't do it. I just may have to give up on having the finish I want to get the sound I want. Thanks for your two cents.

I don't believe that is true. It is simply a custom order that may take 6 months. They may be trying to avoid doing it or he just doesn't know how to close a sale. They use to say the same thing about virgin kicks. They also would not have made the Habinero (orange)Sparkle Oak Custom for the Five Star dealers nor the Blue Sparkle Oak Custom w/ 24" virgin kick I saw at Guitar Center. That Oak Custom they did for Gorden Campbell with Nouvou Lugs also ruins that reps statement, remember this pick? and peep the Musashi... your money is just as good as theirs.

Call Shane at D2G in Orlando or Memphis Drum Shop or Forks Drum Closet in Nashville and tell them what you want to order and in what color. MDS and Forks are both Yamaha Absolute Certified meaning they get first dibs basically on whatever they want from Yamaha. Shane being a Five Star pretty much gets what he wants as well. Membership has it's privileges.

http://www.yamaha-drums.co.uk/products/oak_x.html

Also remember to ask for the Nouvou Lugs on the Oak Custom a la Keith Carlock and the pick above. They are putting the Pheonix-style ones on the new Absolutes as seen at NAMM 09. I mean if you have to custom order get the works, doc.

[sugabear]

I don't believe that is true. It is simply a custom order that may take 6 months. They may be trying to avoid doing it or he just doesn't know how to close a sale. They use to say the same thing about virgin kicks. They also would not have made the Habinero (orange)Sparkle Oak Custom for the Five Star dealers nor the Blue Sparkle Oak Custom w/ 24" virgin kick I saw at Guitar Center. That Oak Custom they did for Gorden Campbell with Nouvou Lugs also ruins that reps statement, remember this pick? and peep the Musashi... your money is just as good as theirs.

Call Shane at D2G in Orlando or Memphis Drum Shop or Forks Drum Closet in Nashville and tell them what you want to order and in what color. MDS and Forks are both Yamaha Absolute Certified meaning they get first dibs basically on whatever they want from Yamaha. Shane being a Five Star pretty much gets what he wants as well. Membership has it's privileges.

http://www.yamaha-drums.co.uk/products/oak_x.html

Also remember to ask for the Nouvou Lugs on the Oak Custom a la Keith Carlock and the pick above. They are putting the Pheonix-style ones on the new Absolutes as seen at NAMM 09. I mean if you have to custom order get the works, doc.

This what I'm talking about uncle Sabe. I had this very pic as my screen saver for a very long time. I know that Manu Katche also has an oak custom in the Midnight Sparkle finish. I just figured that they were willing to take it elbow deep for their endorsees to save face. I didn't even think about contacting a Five Star drumshop. We had one in Tampa and boy  I really miss it. There's a new drumshop here that's been around for about 2 yrs now but they're still in the building stages and don't carry a lot of the brands on the market. I may have to make the call/trip to D2G to get what I want.