Yamaha Kit Questions

[414357N495649W]

Hello everyone,
I am really thinking about purchasing a Yamaha Absolute Maple kit. Is anyone using one of these kits who could tell me how they like them and any pros and cons about, the kit and hardware. And is there really any difference between the absolute maple and the absolute maple nouveau?. I was looking at Tama and Pearl kits but I am trying to go for something a little different and I have never really heard or played any Yamaha kits before, any info would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks for your time

[golions]

I play the absolute maple (absolute lug) and love it for these reasons:
1) craftmanship and finish is superb
2) versatile from a tuning standpoint (open or focused, warm or bright)
3) shells and bearing edges are flawless
4) hardware (i.e., tom mount, cymbal and hat stand) is very dependable and functional

Only cons (this is subjective) are that the pedals might 'feel' heavy and the bass drum is not virgin (this does not bother me but it might others).

The lug type is purely a functional decision by the buyer. To my ear I could not detect any difference in sound between the nouveau and absolute lug.

Give them a look; you will like what you see and hear.

[rendezvous_drummer]

The Yamaha Maple Custom drums are the greatest drums ever made...

Pros: Quality of the shells
Craftsmanship
Hardware is unbelievably durable

Cons: NO CONS!

Like Golions said, they are very versatile drums. You can use them for any style of music.

The original maple customs come with little gold square lugs (Beautiful lugs) and the nouveau lugs are clip on ones. The nouveau lugs make head changing easier and look nice in the chrome finish, but I prefer the Gold lugs. Get a Yamaha man, they're the greatest drums ever made.

[Garvin]

You've never heard a yamaha kit??? Really???

[aydee]

I agree with everyone on this thread...because I play em, and love em too. No question they are the best. I went shopping for a DW, then almost bought the GRETSCH renowns because they sounded awesome for 1/3 the price....UNTIL i tried the YAMAHA maple absolute nouveaus! These drums sing! you can tune them to sound like a high, tight jungle kit, or a deep and thunderous rock rig. The craftsmanship and qualityis evident

The way to go,bud.

[Signals]

I agree w/the above. I've always wanted a maple Yamaha kit, but I thought them to be a bit too expensive, so what did I do? I bought a Sonor Force 3005 kit, but traded it for a Mapex Pro-M. I traded the Pro-M for a Mapex Saturn. I traded the Saturn for a Yamaha Birch. Finally, I'm trading the birch for a white Yamaha Maple kit.

Moral of the story? Get what you want the first time, no matter how expensive, or you'll pay way more in the long run! :)

[cdrums21]

Hello everyone,
I am really thinking about purchasing a Yamaha Absolute Maple kit. Is anyone using one of these kits who could tell me how they like them and any pros and cons about, the kit and hardware. And is there really any difference between the absolute maple and the absolute maple nouveau?. I was looking at Tama and Pearl kits but I am trying to go for something a little different and I have never really heard or played any Yamaha kits before, any info would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks for your time

I too play a Yamaha maple custom absolute nouveau kit. The drums are awesome. The tone quality is superb and the craftsmanship is flawless and truly a work of art. They tune up beautifully and sound great in any setting. I like the nouveau lugs in that you can change heads alot faster, plust they look cool IMO. The only thing I don't like about the nouveau lugs is that because of their design, it makes it difficult if not impossible to finger tighten the lugs to get them all even when you first begin to put on and tune a head. But, that's really no big deal because they tune up so nice that it's easy to hear the pitch at each lugpoint and it doesn't really matter. The hardware is great, the finishes are great.....Yamaha just makes awesome drums, no doubt about it.

These are the nicest drums I've ever owned and the sound is just awesome. I love them. You definitely can't go wrong if you get them and just like signals said, go with the top quality right from the start if you can, you won't regret it!

[Michael G]

I too play a Yamaha maple custom absolute nouveau kit. The drums are awesome. The tone quality is superb and the craftsmanship is flawless and truly a work of art. They tune up beautifully and sound great in any setting. I like the nouveau lugs in that you can change heads alot faster, plust they look cool IMO. The only thing I don't like about the nouveau lugs is that because of their design, it makes it difficult if not impossible to finger tighten the lugs to get them all even when you first begin to put on and tune a head. But, that's really no big deal because they tune up so nice that it's easy to hear the pitch at each lugpoint and it doesn't really matter. The hardware is great, the finishes are great.....Yamaha just makes awesome drums, no doubt about it.

These are the nicest drums I've ever owned and the sound is just awesome. I love them. You definitely can't go wrong if you get them and just like signals said, go with the top quality right from the start if you can, you won't regret it!

I love them as well.

By the way, you wouldn't happened to of been at the Hilary Jones Clinic. I thought I saw you, or a look a like.

[Tomtom123]

I, too, have a Yamaha Absolute Maple, and it's AMAZING! You will not regret it...believe me.

[spleen]

Well, I was all set to get some Taye Studio Maples but at the last minute I changed my mind and I've now ordered some Absolute Maples instead. They were just way too irrestible--can't wait to get them!

spleen

[Signals]

The only thing I don't like about the nouveau lugs is that because of their design, it makes it difficult if not impossible to finger tighten the lugs to get them all even when you first begin to put on and tune a head.


Generally, I take each lug and push up on it while tightening w/a drum key until the top just touch the rim. I go all the way around this way until the tension is even (or as even as I can get it). That's how I "finger" tighten my kit.
There's a little concave section underneath each lug to accommodate your finger -- it's almost as if this is exactly what Yamaha had in mind when tuning with these lugs.

[cdrums21]

Generally, I take each lug and push up on it while tightening w/a drum key until the top just touch the rim. I go all the way around this way until the tension is even (or as even as I can get it). That's how I "finger" tighten my kit.
There's a little concave section underneath each lug to accommodate your finger -- it's almost as if this is exactly what Yamaha had in mind when tuning with these lugs.

Hah! I do the same thing and it works out just fine. I just posted the thing about not being able to finger tighten in case someone was used to starting their tuning method with finger tightening the lugs. That's how I used to start tuning heads and I couldn't get my fingers in between the nouveau lug casings good enough to turn the lug screws. You are right on the money though, the method you describe works perfectly.

By the way, you wouldn't happened to of been at the Hilary Jones Clinic. I thought I saw you, or a look a like'

Nope, wasn't me but we are not too far from each other. I live in Altoona, PA.

[Michael G]

Nope, wasn't me but we are not too far from each other. I live in Altoona, PA.

Altoona no kidding? We met a girl drummer from Altoona. Do you know her?

[Signals]

Hah! I do the same thing and it works out just fine. I just posted the thing about not being able to finger tighten in case someone was used to starting their tuning method with finger tightening the lugs. That's how I used to start tuning heads and I couldn't get my fingers in between the nouveau lug casings good enough to turn the lug screws. You are right on the money though, the method you describe works perfectly.


Yeah, it's almost as if the Nouveau lugs were designed with this in mind.

[cdrums21]

Altoona no kidding? We met a girl drummer from Altoona. Do you know her?

No, can't say that I do.

Yeah, it's almost as if the Nouveau lugs were designed with this in mind.

Who knows, maybe they were!