Yamaha, a "jack of all trades" in the music industry, established its subsidiary, Yamaha Drums, in 1967 to produce acoustic drums, electronic drums and other percussion instruments. For more than 50 years, Yamaha has become one of the most popular drum kits in recording studios thanks to its consistent sound performance and craftsmanship. Famous drummers such as Steve Jordan and ColdPlay's William Champion have served as the face of Yamaha.
Whether it's acoustic or electronic drums, Yamaha's flagship products reflect Yamaha's strong R&D capabilities, and these unique innovations have made these products competitive in the market. However, for the mid-to-low-level drum kits, Yamaha's update frequency in recent years is not as good as that of its industry rivals, and it is not as cost-effective as similar products from Sonor, Ludwig, Gretsch and other manufacturers. In terms of electronic drums, Yamaha, which was originally on par with Roland, has shown signs of being left behind by its opponents because it is not as fast as its opponent in terms of generational change.
Let's start with the acoustic drums. Since its launch in 2009, the PHX (Phonix) has occupied the first page of Yamaha's annual product catalog and is a well-deserved flagship series. The PHX is the culmination of Yamaha's innovative technology, with three patent-pending technologies: the hybrid drum cavity structure, the YESSII. drum cavity suspension system, and the hook drum lug structure. One of the most notable designs is that the drum chamber of the PHX is made of a mixture of South American teak (Jatoba) and kapur (officially called borneol) and North American maple. Such a three-layer structure, with a hard center and soft sides, increases resonance and sustain, creating a ripple-like sound effect. The thickness of the PHX drum cavity is close to 0.5 inches due to the addition of wood inside the drum cavity, which naturally adds weight to the drum but keeps its sound warm and varied. The PHX features Yamaha's new Nouveau lugs, which have a retractable design that attaches to the drum cavity for a quick and easy adjustment, and a thick chrome alloy polish that looks gorgeous and elegant. The PHX comes standard with a 4-piece set without a snare drum and costs up to 70,000 RMB, with customization options going up.
For most drummers, Stage Custom and Tour Custom would be the more realistic options. These two intermediate drum sets have excellent cost performance at a price of about 18,000 yuan. In contrast, the Maplewood Stage Custom has a wider vocal range, more bass, and a more concentrated sound, which is suitable for pop, funk, and rock music. If you're looking for a lot of noise, we recommend the Tour Custom made of birch. It has shorter overtones, more sensitive controls, and amazing volume. These two drum kits are basically suitable for recording, but if you want to pursue a personalized tone, you need to modify them, which is one of the skills that intermediate drummers need to master to start with. For the entry-level drum kit, priced at 7,200 yuan, the Rydeen (Thunderbolt) is one of the more noteworthy series in Yamaha.
In terms of electronic drums. As we mentioned in Roland's introduction, most users use electronic drums as an alternative to acoustic drums, so it's not necessary to go after a flagship. Among Yamaha's products, the 900 series and 700 series, which cost more than 30,000 yuan, are mainly for professional electronic musicians, while for general users, it is recommended to consider the 500 series. They come with Dtx-pad pads, which are professional electronic drum surfaces that compete with Roland mesh drum faces. Both have their own merits, and the market has mixed reviews, so it is recommended to try it out in a physical store. Yamaha's electronic drum series is solid in workmanship, but the update speed is slow, and the difficulty of updating accessories is much greater than that of Roland, so it is recommended that users with more experience in using electronic drums choose.
Yamaha is one of the few drum kit brands in this list that has a Chinese official website, and there is a detailed product introduction on the official website, so you may wish to pay attention. In addition, Yamaha dealers are located in major cities across the country, and the relevant addresses and contact information can also be found on the official website, so that the purchase and after-sales service are more guaranteed.
