Yamaha Recording Custom Series with Steve Gadd

The Story Continues - Iconic Yamaha Recording Custom Drum Series is Re-Designed Alongside Legendary Drummer Steve Gadd.
Yamaha today reintroduced the world to one of the company’s most iconic lines of drums and the most recorded drums in history with the return of the Recording Custom Series.
Widely regarded as the industry standard for all drummers, Yamaha collaborated with legendary drummer and longtime Yamaha Artist Steve Gadd to retain the greatest features of the previous Recording Custom kit while incorporating the latest innovations to produce an optimized sound. The result is a drum kit that delivers both the classic signature sound and benefits from the latest enhancements in drum technologies.
For the first time in its history, Yamaha Recording Custom Series snare drums will be available in a variety of metal shells including brass, stainless steel, and aluminum with sizes that compliment all performance styles. The new Recording Custom Series snare drums include Steve Gadd’s signature 10-strand snare wires in the 14” x 5.5” edition for maximum sensitivity producing a more natural tone with greater dynamics.
The Recording Custom Series drum sets include 100% birch shells, 30-degree bearing edges, and a unique combination of the classic Yamaha sound with the latest improvements in manufacturing.
These drums offer features that elevate classic design elements, producing a refined tone that is recognizably Yamaha. The high-tension lugs that Yamaha helped pioneer reflect the styling of the Yamaha Absolute lug, and are now weighted to enhance subtle lower frequencies, “ghost notes,” and with greater sensitivity to dynamics for any style of drumming.
The Recording Custom Series is synonymous with some of the greatest performances in history. Drummers of all ages and levels of experience now have the opportunity to see, hear, and play these new drums that have the incredible influence of Steve Gadd behind them.
Explained Gadd, “For the past three years, I have been meeting with the Research and Development guys at Yamaha with the aim of bringing the Recording Custom Series up to date. I told Yamaha what I thought throughout the process. The result is that everything is a step up, yet they still feel like the Recording Custom. I think we did a great job. The drums sound great, and I am excited to see them unveiled so people can see and, importantly, hear them.”
Available from April 2016 at your Yamaha Drums Dealer.

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Shot & cut by: Merlin Ettore
2nd unit camera by: Barbara Klein

[Twotontessie]

I feel privileged to have lived during a period where Steve Gadd roamed the Earth playing Yamaha Recording Custom drums. And they're back- too much!

[eriksmithdrummer]

As a Yamaha drummer since I was 12 in 1978 and being an endorser since 1993, I have closely followed all the developments that Yamaha has done through all these years. I have been involved with promoting and playing the Recording Custom, Maple Custom, Beech Custom, Birch Absolute, Maple Absolute, Hip Gig, Absolute Noveau series, PHX, Oak Customs and so on. I have recently been playing the Live Custom from the China plant and i have now been using a Absolute Hybrid Maple kit for about one and a half year. The "Yamaha quality" has not chanced one bit, quite the contrary. And most importantly, Yamaha is coming up with kits that are more up to date for todays recording and live environments. These new Recording Customs will be a welcome addition to the worlds greatest drum lineup.

[jtshp]

I own a Maple Custom absolute set made in Japan, and I just purchased a Stage Birch Custom which was made in China. I am totally pleased with the quality of these "Chinese" drums, the sound, look build quality is totally what I have come to expect from Yamaha drums!

[Hoprgras]

Since Sakae left Yamaha, I was wondering when they were going to add more kits to their Family. What a Huge idea to Bring this one back, and have the Right Guy (Steve Gadd) being apart of it! Great Job Yamaha. Another excuse for me to stay in the Family!

[BenChrista]

I'm playing my Yamaha Recording 9000 since 1980 and I love them...

[farclebaba]

So glad Yamaha made the absolute smartest move they could have here: working with Gadd to get these right. Outstanding. We were all wondering what the future of the Recording Custom series would be after their split with Sakae. I think these drums answer the question. Way to go guys! You're back.

[leorodriguez]

Yamaha is so great!!! I am pround to have My DP series untill today here in Brasil.

[andreasbreitwieser]

I'll check out the new Recording playing a beautiful 8000 Tour Custom in birch/mahogany (cobalt blue) for 27 years. And please don't forget using kapur wood - the Club Custom was amazing !!! keep on going!!

[bradparra]

i have a steve gadd 30th anniversary kit only 100 made in 2006, added these recordings to my collection so worth it

[leightonwatkins]

Had mine for twenty years and an army woudnt take them from me .lol....these and the orig maple custom are the best most versitile kits ever made i reckon, , , , in the right room mine sounds miked even without best

[andrewyka]

Yamaha sands Great!!! Yamaha Made All Orchestra instrument!!! Killer Japan Tech!!!

[musicalala]

Wonder what the weighted lugs mean exactly. Just more mass, heavier,solid vs hollow? Anyone know? They really do sound amazing! I think the review by Guitar Center ( light blue kit)recorded the sound at their best. Tuned up tight and the sustain and brightness was what I love. A friend used to complain about gigging the older 8 ply bop kit he had due to their weight. Weighted lugs that are already exceedingly heavy may be a bit of a pain. Those venues that are upstairs and have no elevators.I have a casual like that this week. Thank God I play jazz and play bop kits excusively🤣

[BlueThunderFan]

Roughly how much will these cost when they come out?

[jameslleary]

It would be nice to hear these with pinstripe heads, just for comparison purposes against the older Sakae produced model.

[SONORSQguy]

What heads on the kick and muffling? It sounds wonderful!

[suntsu]

Never considered Yamaha but I'll give me a try.

[RichieGeno]

Okay, so what snare is Gadd Playing here...the Stainless or the Aluminum?? I gotta get one.

[DRUMTALK]

sounds awesome!!! but no muting is not sounds like steve. whos with me?

[garethpepin]

Ooh.. I have played the 'Old' Ones for years, this is interesting, Japanese or Chinese ??

[stelcapetanakis]

Make no mistake, customs came from one country, one origin, one soul and China ain't that !!