The Yamaha kit looks like the split lug 8000 (Tour Custom) series, with the longer lug. The early lug looked a lot like a Gretsch lug. The longer version, came out in '85/'86 (I think). And I think your right on the Gretsch kit. That looks like the "Monster" double tom holder (1975-1979).
I looked at several vids of them back then, and sometimes I think I see connected lugs and sometimes I think they’re split. I see a lot of 9000 lugs on sets connected, though. Damn Alan had to get black. Funny thing is I saw them twice back then and I can’t remember. I guess I was more interested in the funny looking guitars and bass back then.Those are 9000 drums. You can see the ligs connected if you look closely.
This video, the camera sweeps over the drums @ 1:17, and the drums are certainly 9000 series.I looked at several vids of them back then, and sometimes I think I see connected lugs and sometimes I think they’re split. I see a lot of 9000 lugs on sets connected, though.
I can tell by the distance of the end of the edge of the lugs (in the middle part), these are slightly different than the 8000 lugs because o fthe metal ''bridge'' that connects the two ends.I looked at several vids of them back then, and sometimes I think I see connected lugs and sometimes I think they’re split. I see a lot of 9000 lugs on sets connected, though. Damn Alan had to get black. Funny thing is I saw them twice back then and I can’t remember. I guess I was more interested in the funny looking guitars and bass back then.
They are doing more than fine in this crowded market over the whole line-up. No struggling there..
I love seeing these older Yamaha's... The years of Yamaha being so cool and having incredible lug options.. All they had to do was leave the look alone more or less but they could upgrade the shells and suspension.
It is obvious to me their upper lines are struggling now and even the mid level Tour is not really in demand. . Easiest solution for the mid level IMO is to just remake that exact Tour series with the slim separate lug ( which they currently use in some of their marching drums) in the same finishes.. They would start selling drums again and create a real desire like they used to have.
They are doing more than fine in this crowded market over the whole line-up. No struggling there.
Without access to their financial information, it’s all just opinion.Nah.. I disagree totally.. They are not doing nearly as well and there is no hard desire like there was previous. . Nobody freaks out over current Yamaha pro drums.. 80's to 90's .. People freaked out and had to have them. I was one of them.
The Tour was VERY desirable decades ago.. The Tour currently has a desirability level of like 2 on a 10 scale lol
Absolute lug is ok but not nearly as cool as the slim tour or even the fatter early tour.
Without access to their financial information, it’s all just opinion.
That means not much. I still see Yamaha drums all over the place. And they don’t seem to have a problem selling what they make. And SCs are hugely popular these days. Are they as popular now as they were in the last 40 years? Probably not, but the market is very competitive and crowded and they still hold their own.sure it is.. but observation is crystal clear to me. .. Look around.. feel it out on the forums.. You know it when you go in a drum shop and what people are talking about. . This equipment was in demand big time and people had to have it..
That means not much. I still see Yamaha drums all over the place. And they don’t seem to have a problem selling what they make. And SCs are hugely popular these days. Are they as popular now as they were in the last 40 years? Probably not, but the market is very competitive and crowded and they still hold their own.
There is perseveirance and personal feel (underbelly if you want), and there is knowledge.Nah.. I disagree totally.. They are not doing nearly as well and there is no hard desire like there was previous. . Nobody freaks out over current Yamaha pro drums.. 80's to 90's .. People freaked out and had to have them. I was one of them.
The Tour was VERY desirable decades ago.. The Tour currently has a desirability level of like 2 on a 10 scale lol
Absolute lug is ok but not nearly as cool as the slim tour or even the fatter early tour.
DW and Yamaha are still the top backline rental kits by far.There is perseveirance and personal feel (underbelly if you want), and there is knowledge.
Im basing on what I know from my work for them.
Do with that what you want.
I do can say times have changed for all brands and Yamaha is no exception, but this doesn’t mean they are in hard times.
On the contrary.
They are still being wanted (in terms of actual sales) from the Stage to the Hybrid Models, to the RC and PHX.
They are still being used in studio’s and as backline kits (a lot of the backline companies invested in the new models as replacement for the older ones, mostly the RC and Maple Hybrids) too.
There is perseveirance and personal feel (underbelly if you want), and there is knowledge.
Now that you said that, I’m doing it more oftenI hate the use of cute little nicknames for Companies like Luddy , Yammie , Slingy etc is it too much of an effort to type the proper name ?
Wow, that’s really wacky levels of obsession with it! It’s that important to you, eh? Ok, well you are right and we’re wrong. Yamaha is about to go out of businessI know they make a quality product and people order it and studios use it.. However there is no fiery desire for the pro level stuff compared to 80's/90's.. even into the early 2000's..
and to make sure my spidey sense is in tune.. I called 3 older drum shops .. they agreed with what I stated about the desire for the pro level stuff is definitely not as strong.