Yamaha Maple Custom Definitive

I haven't found out alot about this line of Yamaha drums. It appears they were only in production for a short time (2003-2006?), made of 6 ply Chinese maple, and designed for a "vintage sound". Apparently were the forerunner for the Tour Custom series. In any event, I'm quite happy with this 4x13 snare, typically excellent Yamaha shell, components, and construction.

Update - sold on EBay March 15, 2011

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52926

http://www.yamaha.ca/content/drum/products/drumsets/TOUR%20CUSTOM/keyfeatures.jsp

Two Ply Blue Topo

Another one from Tom Wells of Wells Custom Drums. This is a "prototype" two ply (maple cherry) that I love the sound of. Also very fond of the wrap, a "blue topo" I don't believe is available any longer (Precision Drum still carries a gold topo).

www.wellscustomdrums.com

Tama Lama Ding Dong ...

This is not about Tama's "Bell Brass" cast brass snares from the early 1990's, which command a HIGH price (out of my range at least). Tama also made a line of more affordable brass snares at the time. This, as far as I can determine from my research, is the PB-365 model from the early 1990's. I've seen them online occasionally with different lugs (that look like modified tube lugs, and also appear to have been on some of their Artstar snares) and different throwoffs. Unfortunately this one currently has one broken lug - the genius who shipped it to me packed it in too small a box, and when I unpacked it it looked like the lug had taken a direct hit in shipping that snapped off the posts going through the shell; I've had my eyes open for a similar lug but haven't found anything yet.

UPDATED - finally found some replacement lugs in mid 2012 (thanks to another member of DrumForum), and replaced the broken lug. These pictures have been updated too, post-replacement.

Tama King Beats - 2

Here are some pix of the 6.5x14 King Beat, and an old catalog page ...

Updated - shipped this out this morning (February 8, 2013 - a very snowy day) to Winnipeg ...

Tama King Beats

Tama made a number of great snare drums from the late 70's through to the early 1990's. Their Imperialstar "King Beat" snares from the 70's and 80's are especially well known. Heavy steel shells, diecast rims, and a well-designed parallel strainer system. As I mentioned in a post on the Pearl snare drums from that period, a number of manufacturers (e.g. Ludwig with their Supersensitive strainer, Rogers Dynasonics, Pioneer with their Flo-Beam) offered these systems, which are designed to enable much finer adjustment, both "up-down" and "across", of the snares against the snare side head, and to reduce or eliminate "choking" of the snare which occurs when the wires are overtightened. I have 5x14 and 6.5x14 models. Here are some shots of the 5x14 model.