Yamaha Drums

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yamaha Drums is a subsidiary of the Yamaha Corporation. Yamaha has been building drums since 1967, and builds their drums by hand in Japan. The company currently manufactures acoustic and electronic drum kits, as well as other percussion instruments, marching band equipment, and drum hardware. Many professional drummers are endorsed by Yamaha.

During the 1990's, Yamaha acquired Premier Percussion of England, in an attempt to establish the Yamaha name in the tougher European market. Yamaha placed machinery and trained the Premier craftsmen in the "Yamaha-way" of making drums, resulting in Premier producing a large number of Yamaha drums "made in England". After a few years, Yamaha withdrew and sold their stock shares of Premier.

Yamaha has made many innovations in drum hardware. They were the first to introduce:

• a hide-away cymbal boom-arm,
• locking hi-hat clutch,
• a ball-joint tom mount with 360 degrees of rotation,
• Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System (YESS).

Yamaha drums are manufactured at two different locations in Asia. Their Osaka Japan factory produces their high-end professional drums, as well as all marching percussion. The research and development of new products also takes place here. Marketing is managed from the Yamaha Corp. headquarters in Hamamatsu, a few hours away.

The massive factory in Indonesia produces all hardware and the entry/budget-line drums. Some 500,000 drums shells are shipped from this factory every year. The Indonesian factory uses the same machinery and techniques in the making of a drum shell, and all craftsmen working there are trained by Japanese craftsmen from the Osaka site.

The only difference between these two plants is that the Osaka plant uses the more exclusive woods (maple, birch and oak); and a produces a larger range of options in sizes and finishes. In addition to the drum production; several smaller sites in Osaka also produce their classical percussion instruments, such as timpani, marimba, xylophone, vibraphone and glockenspiel.

Yamaha’s hardware is engineered and manufactured in the Yamaha motorcycle factory. For these reasons Yamaha drum hardware has been the standard for backline and cartage companies all over the world for decades.

Contents 1 Endorsers 2 Current products 2.1 Acoustic drums 2.2 Electronic drums 3 Discontinued products 3.1 Acoustic drums 3.2 Electronic drums 4 Trivia 5 External links

[edit] Endorsers

• Paul Leim — Studio Legend — Toured and recorded with Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Lionel Richie, Doc Severinsen, Neil Diamond, Peter Cetera, Amy Grant, The Boston Pops, London Symphony, Return of the Jedi soundtrack and much more.
• Carter Beauford — Drummer for the Dave Matthews Band.
• Will Champion — Drummer for Coldplay.
• Mickey Curry- Drummer with Bryan Adams, formerly with Hall & Oates
• Tommy Aldridge — Independent hard rock drummer, played with Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake.
• Anton Fig- Drummer for the House Band on The Late Show w/ David Letterman.
• David Garibaldi- Drummer for the funk/soul band Tower of Power.
• Larry Mullen Jr. — Drummer for U2.
• Sonny Emory-independent funk drummer, formerly of Earth, Wind, & Fire (1989-2000)
• Justin Foley — Drummer for the Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage
• Dave Weckl — Independent jazz fusion drummer, played with the Chick Corea Elektrik Band from 1985 to 1990.
• Matt Cameron — Current drummer for the band Pearl Jam, played with Soundgarden from 1986 to 1997.
• ?uestlove — Drummer for the band The Roots.
• Akira Jimbo — Independent jazz fusion drummer, played with Casiopea from 1979 to 1989.
• Steve Gadd — Independent session drummer, played with Paul Simon, Steely Dan and Eric Clapton.
• Cozy Powell (1947-1998) — A rock legend played with Rainbow, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore, Brian May and more.
• Elvin Jones (1927-2004) — Independent jazz drummer.
• Richard Hughes — Drummer of Keane
• Mike Bordin - was the Co-Founder and drummer of Faith No More and is now playing with Ozzy Osbourne
• Kyle Palmieri - of progessive rock trio Manhole

And many more...

[edit] Current products

[edit] Acoustic drums

• NEW Yamaha Tour Custom — Introduced in 2006. They are a new series of affordable pro/semi-pro drum kits featuring 100% Maple drum shells. They are finished in high-gloss lacquer with three translucent and one solid finish.
• Yamaha Rydeen — A series of beginner drum kits featuring 100% Philippine Mahogany wood, and five colors and finishes.
• Yamaha Maple Custom — A professional series of drum kits which is known as Yamaha's flagship Maple drum kit, featuring 100% Maple wood, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS). Maple has a warm tone with full sustain and outstanding projection.
• Yamaha Recording Custom — A professional series of drum kits which is known as Yamaha's flagship Birch drum kit, featuring 100% Birch wood, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS). Birch is punchy with a low fundamental tone and short decay.
• Yamaha Stage Custom Series — A series of affordable drum kits featuring Birch, Falkata and Philippine Mahogany woods, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS).
  • Yamaha Stage Custom Advantage Nouveau — A series of affordable drum kits featuring Birch, Falkata and Philippine Mahogany woods, various colors and finishes which are unique to the Nouveau line of drums, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS).

• Yamaha Absolute Nouveau Series — A series of drum kits featuring a variety of shells, configurations, and various colors and finishes which are unique to the Nouveau line of drums.
  • Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute Nouveau — A series of drum kits featuring 100% Maple wood, various unique colors and finishes, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS). Maple has a warm tone with full sustain and outstanding projection.
  • Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute Nouveau — A series of drum kits featuring 100% Birch wood, various unique colors and finishes, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS). Birch is punchy with a low fundamental tone and short decay.
  • Yamaha Beech Custom Absolute Nouveau — A series of drum kits featuring 100% Beech wood, various unique colors and finishes, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS). Beech has a low fundamental like Birch, but has the projection of Maple.
• Yamaha Absolute Series — A series of drum kits featuring a variety of shells, configurations, and over 30 colors and finishes.
  • Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute — A series of drum kits featuring 100% Maple wood, 30+ colors and finishes, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS). Maple has a warm tone with full sustain and outstanding projection.
  • Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute — A series of drum kits featuring 100% Birch wood, 30+ colors and finishes, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS). Birch is punchy with a low fundamental tone and short decay.
  • Yamaha Beech Custom Absolute — A series of drum kits featuring 100% Beech wood, 30+ colors and finishes, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS). Beech has a low fundamental like Birch, but has the projection of Maple.
• Yamaha Oak Custom — A series of drum kits featuring 100% Oak wood, 4 colors and finishes, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS). Oak is loud and powerful, with razor sharp attack. They are professional drum kits, but less expensive than the Absolute series kits.
• Yamaha Hipgig Portable Drumsets — A series of compact portable drum kits with a variety of different configurations and finishes.
  • Rick Marotta Signature Hipgig — The original series of compact portable drum kits which comes in a Cherry Wood lacquered finish and a White Marine Pearl wrap finish. They feature Birch, and Philippine Mahogany wood shells.
  • Al Foster Signature Hipgig — A larger version of the original Hipgig drum kit which features a special "Jaguar" finish as well as White Marine Pearl and Gold Marine Pearl wrap finishes. They feature Birch, and Philippine Mahogany wood shells.
  • Manu Katche Signature Junior Hipgig — A smaller version of the original Hipgig drum kit featuring new Black and Silver lacquer finishes. The feature 100% Philippine Mahogany wood shells.
  • Steve Jordan Cocktail Hipgig — A cocktail drum kit which features a standard cocktail snare, a secondary 8" snare drum as an option, a tom drum as an option and the choice of two sparkle finishes. They feature Birch, and Philippine Mahogany wood shells.

[edit] Electronic drums

• Yamaha DTXPLORER DTXPL — A beginner 9-piece electronic percussion system.
• Yamaha DTXTREME IIS — An 11-piece electronic percussion system using the DXT2SU drum controller.
• Yamaha DTXPRESS III — An affordable 9-piece electronic percussion system.
  • Yamaha DTXPRESS III Special — An affordable 9-piece electronic percussion system, comes with additional hardware.

[edit] Discontinued products

[edit] Acoustic drums

• Yamaha Custom — A custom series of drum kits featuring either 100% Maple or Birch wood, a variety of colors and finishes, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS).
• Yamaha Club Custom — A professional series of drum kits featuring Birch and Mahogany wood.
• Yamaha Beech Custom — A series of drum kits featuring 100% Beech wood, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS).
• Yamaha Stage Custom — The original series of affordable drum kits featuring Birch, Mahogany, and Falkata wood.
  • Yamaha Stage Custom Standard — A series of affordable drum kits featuring Birch and Philippine Mahogany wood, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS).
  • Yamaha Stage Custom Advantage — A series of affordable drum kits featuring Birch, Falkata and Philippine Mahogany woods, vairous colors and finishes, and the "Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System" (YESS).

[edit] Electronic drums

• Yamaha DTXPRESS II — An affordable 9-piece electronic percussion system.
• Yamaha DTXTREME DSXT10 — A top-of-the-line 10-piece electronic percussion system.
  • Yamaha DTXTREME DSXT11 — A top-of-the-line 11-piece electronic percussion system.
• Yamaha DS9 — A 9-piece electronic percussion system using the DTX drum controller.
  • Yamaha DS10 — A 10-piece electronic percussion system using the DTX drum controller.
  • Yamaha DS11 — An 11-piece electronic percussion system using the DTX2U drum controller.

[edit] Trivia

Taken directly from the Yamaha Drums website.

• Yamaha has been creating handcrafted drums since 1967.
• Yamaha's high end drums are made by the hands of 60 craftsmen in a small factory in Japan.
• Yamaha's design team was the first to create the hideaway cymbal boom arm, locking hi-hat clutch, and ball joint tom mount that rotates 360 degrees.
• Yamaha drum hardware is engineered and manufactured in the Yamaha motorcycle factory.
• Yamaha makes its own shells by hand, utilizing its exclusive Air-Seal System with staggered, diagonal seams for greater durability and strength.
• Yamaha is the only drum company that offers 4 different 100% wood shell kits: Maple, Birch, Beech, and Oak.
• Yamaha craftsmen were the first to utilize the same lacquering and buffing techniques made famous on its world renowned pianos.
• Yamaha was the first in system hardware innovation, creating interchangeable pipe diameters to provide maximum flexibility in hardware set-up.
• Each aspiring drum maker studies 3 years as an apprentice before being given the title as an official Yamaha Drums craftsman.
• Yamaha Drums are the #1 requested drums worldwide for touring, festivals and cartage needs.

[edit] External links

• Yamaha Drums Website