Yamaha Drums

Yamaha Drums is a subsidiary of the Yamaha Corporation founded in 1967. The company manufactures acoustic and electronic drum kits as well as percussion instruments, marching band equipment, and drum hardware.

Contents

Production

Most of Yamaha's drums are manufactured at two different locations in Asia. Their factory in Osaka produces their high-end professional drums as well as all of their marching percussion. The research and development of new products also takes place there. Marketing is managed from the Yamaha Corp. headquarters in Hamamatsu.The factory in China produced the entry-level GigMaker kit and the intermediate-kit Stage Custom Birch. Their factory in Indonesia produces the Tour Custom and the newly introduced Rock Tour series drums. The Indonesian factory uses the same machinery and techniques in their drum shells and all of the 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 on their professional series of drums. The Osaka plant will also allow some custom ordered sizes, finishes and different badges from the previous generation of the series. In addition to drum production, several smaller sites in Osaka also produce their classical percussion instruments, such as timpanis, marimbas, xylophones, vibraphones and glockenspiels.

Yamaha’s hardware manufacturing process was developed in Yamaha's motorcycle factory, but the manufacturing has been moved to a factory in China. All of the manufacturing processes are the same, however. For these reasons, Yamaha drum hardware has been the standard for backline and cartage companies all over the world for decades.

Innovations

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

Acquisition of Premier

In 1987, Yamaha acquired the Premier Percussion factory in 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". In 1992, Yamaha withdrew and sold their stock shares back to Premier.

Current products

Acoustic drums

Beginner and Semi-professional Lines

Professional Lines

Past Drum Series

Power Tour Custom - A line of Yamaha drums in production from the mid 80's to the mid 90's. These drums featured a Mahogany/Birch hybrid shell. The shells were 6 ply. There were 3 finishes available for the Power Tour Custom's including Pure white, Piano Black, and Cherry Red Stain; all in a high gloss lacquer. These drums featured chrome hardware. The Power Tour Customs were deeper in depth than most other tom's at this time.

Yamaha Rock Tour Custom - In production from the Early 90's until the mid 90's. Similar Birch/ Mahogany construction to the Power Tour Custom range, but with 11ply Bass drums and floor toms, and 8 ply tom toms and snare drums. Rock Tour Custom drums also featured Yamaha's high tension lugs. Finishes available were Stage White, Piano Black, Mellow Yellow, Cobalt Blue, and Black Sparkle.

Signature Drum Lines

Current endorsers

These artists were on the roster at the time of their passing:

See also

External links