New Old Yamaha YD-9000

joao3208

Junior Member
Hello DW folks,

I recently found a used 4 pc. Yamaha YD-9000 kit in a Real Wood finish. I saw this kit on sale online at a ridiculous price. I eyeballed it for a few weeks, and finally decided to call. According to the store the kit was a Made In Taiwan and "not pre-Recording Custom" but a "Tour", I guess they assumed because of the lugs and finish. The condition I was told was a 7/10. The only notable damage mentioned were moderate scrapes on a rack tom and on the bass drum hoop where the pedal is attached. After researching and reading about the history of the 9000's I knew what I was gonna get. After a few calls I pulled the trigger on the kit.

I got the kit two weeks ago, inspected it and indeed it was a bit dirty, but in decent condition. The sizes are 9x13, 10x14 rack toms, 16x16 floor and a 14x22 bass drum. The top heads were (used but with some life) pinstripes and old ambassadors on the bottom. I gave it a few hits and was surprised and pleased with the punch and warmness. I took about a week to clean it all up, rods, lugs, hoops, shells, swapped the old reso's with Coated ambassadors and the end result was astounding.

This is what I found:

The only drum with the scrapes is the 13, the rest are aside from an occasional small nick around the shell, in very good condition!
The edges are round, giving it a warmer sound. The quality is amazing. These are very well made regardless where they were made. Much more solid and durable than modern stuff...
The drums are loud and punchy... I love the low end,... especially the kick... It came with a NEW EMAD head and I slapped a black Aquarian reso to the front. no muffling desired, this thing sounds nuts!!
I'm in love with these drums.
 
These are some pics I snapped of the kit. Looks great!
 

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Killer pre - Recording Custom era 9000's. Love those. Nothing wrong with the Made in Taiwan. It's like the modern made in China 9000. Just as good in quality as the Japanese made.
Well I like the Japanese model from 1980s. My favourite year would be 1987.
 
The 9000 is what you want..lots of reading over the years..from Gadd to Kunkell they were THE kit. For yamaha? That's the bomb right there.
Yeah even Isaac Mtshali uses one since Paul Simon's Graceland album (1986) and tour (1987). I gotta get me one of those.
 

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Last edited:
I would rather have mine with 3 rack/mounted tom toms and a clear/uncoated snare drum skin. Don't forget the bass drum, floor tom and cymbals. My cymbal brand of choice would be random.
 
That's a good looking kit.


Enjoy. :)
 
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