Yamaha Oak Custom

[jazzdrummer5608]

After browsing the forums for a while, I have seen surprisingly little discussion about yamaha oak custom drums. I'm looking to upgrade sets, and I am an intermediate jazz player, and was thinking about a set of oak customs with either and 18"kick or a 20" kick. Would this be the right choice if I want a set that is good for jazz as well as versatility for some rock?

[aydee]

Oaks would be nice. I've heard Keith Carlock's which sound amazing. However, my advice basis a little flexibility in music styles would be somewhere in the Absolute Maple/ Beech custom area, in 20",14",10" sizes.

ps- there might be some info on the yamaha drums thread too.

[Erwin]

Hey, Aydee. I haven't heard them in a store, but from clips I have seen on the Internet ,they sound great. I play a Yamaha birch custom and a stage custom kit, but if I ever upgrade the latter, the oaks would be one of my first choices. Oak is a very hard wood, but a bit porous, that gives them a lot of attack and projection, and at the same time some nice low end. Rock players love them for their volume, jazz players for their sensitivity and clarity. Great players like Manu Katche, Billy Cobham and Marcus Baylor use them. Check out Marcus Baylors amazing drum solo with them here on the Drummerworld videos. The snare he is using is the Elvin Jones signature maple snare with wood hoops.
http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/marcusbaylor.html

[aydee]

Hey, Aydee. I haven't heard them in a store, but from clips I have seen on the Internet ,they sound great. I play a Yamaha birch custom and a stage custom kit, but if I ever upgrade the latter, the oaks would be one of my first choices. Oak is a very hard wood, but a bit porous, that gives them a lot of attack and projection, and at the same time some nice low end. Rock players love them for their volume, jazz players for their sensitivity and clarity. Great players like Manu Katche, Billy Cobham and Marcus Baylor use them. Check out Marcus Baylors amazing drum solo with them here on the Drummerworld videos. The snare he is using is the Elvin Jones signature maple snare with wood hoops.
http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/marcusbaylor.html

I didn't play them, but kind of banged on them in Sam Ash last summer when I bought my absolute maples. I found them to have more volume than my maples. They were'nt set up or particularly tuned so I could'nt gauge the sweetness or the low tone.
I heard Keith's kit unmiked as well ( pre sound check, warming up ), as I mentioned, and it probably is the best sounding set of drums I've ever heard someone else play. And you're right , the low end was like the bottom of the ocean.

I'm just not sure if it is the best you can do for a jazz trio type setting...

[fourstringdrums]

I owned a set for about 2 years and I *hated* them. They were loud, bright, and for me, hard to tune. I tried all sorts of head combinations and it really irritated me that videos of pro drummers using the OC's had sets that sounded great. But for me they didn't sound anywhere near what I was hearing.

So I always say that with a much denser wood like Oak you have to try these before you buy them. For me listening to video and audio of what they sounded like just didn't cut it as they were completely different in person.

[Tamascb10]

I owned a set for about 2 years and I *hated* them. They were loud, bright, and for me, hard to tune. I tried all sorts of head combinations and it really irritated me that videos of pro drummers using the OC's had sets that sounded great. But for me they didn't sound anywhere near what I was hearing.

So I always say that with a much denser wood like Oak you have to try these before you buy them. For me listening to video and audio of what they sounded like just didn't cut it as they were completely different in person.

Loud and bright? Sounds like a kit I need to try out (i've never played one)

[fourstringdrums]

Loud and bright? Sounds like a kit I need to try out (i've never played one)

Yes very. Not my cup of tea at all that's for sure :)

Kung_f00 has a set that he's still using the clear ambassadors that came with it and I think he's nuts *lol*

[metal overlord]

Yes very. Not my cup of tea at all that's for sure :)

Kung_f00 has a set that he's still using the clear ambassadors that came with it and I think he's nuts *lol*

I had an oak custom, it was 24x18 (major thunder) , 10x8,12x9, 14x14 and 16x16 with clear ambassators and a powerstroke 3 on the bass and wow, loudest kit i've ever played. But it sounded incredible, toms has tons of power, and the bass drum could knock you over. I couldn't imagine what that would sound like as a double-kick kit.

[fourstringdrums]

I had an oak custom, it was 24x18 (major thunder) , 10x8,12x9, 14x14 and 16x16 with clear ambassators and a powerstroke 3 on the bass and wow, loudest kit i've ever played. But it sounded incredible, toms has tons of power, and the bass drum could knock you over. I couldn't imagine what that would sound like as a double-kick kit.

Well I'll admit, the 17x20 bass and 8x10 tom were great, but I hated the 9x12 and especially the 14x15 that I had. They were incredibly hard to tune.

[jazzdrummer5608]

yeah, I have heard that they are hard to tune, but i wonder if the oak wont sound good for lighter jazz playing
the maple and beech yamahas might be pushing my price range a little bit, but I guess i'll have to try them all out to see

[metal overlord]

yeah, I have heard that they are hard to tune, but i wonder if the oak wont sound good for lighter jazz playing
the maple and beech yamahas might be pushing my price range a little bit, but I guess i'll have to try them all out to see

Well, lighter jazz?

If that's the case, may I suggest a Gretsch New Classic 3 piece. Great for Jazz drummers, I believe. What's your price range? Theres a great deal of lovely kits out there, if you know how to make a deal and look hard enough.

The Oak isn't "bad" for jazz, I don't think. But I'de look into more kits before deciding.

[Doug Masters]

After browsing the forums for a while, I have seen surprisingly little discussion about yamaha oak custom drums. I'm looking to upgrade sets, and I am an intermediate jazz player, and was thinking about a set of oak customs with either and 18"kick or a 20" kick. Would this be the right choice if I want a set that is good for jazz as well as versatility for some rock?

I've had my Oaks for about a year now and love them...I don't find them hard to tune at all. They are great for rock/pop music but here is my thoughts on jazz: Alot of jazz players use single ply heads and I tried ambassadors when I first bought the kit...no good. Too bright and harsh for me. Clear or coated double ply heads sound great but I'm not sure that is the appropriate sound for a jazz player. Personally I would go for the maple custom's.