YAMAHA CREATED the original Stage Custom series in the mid-'90s. Aimed at budget-conscious working drummers, the series provided great-sounding drums at a modest price, mostly by using less expensive shell materials. Yamaha resurrected the Stage Custom line last year but divided it into two series: Standard and Advantage. Stage Custom Advantage drum sets come in three size configurations at the same price.
Stage Custom Advantage drums differ from those in the Stage Custom Standard series primarily in terms of shell finishes, shell construction, and lug design. Shells for the drums in the Stage Custom Standard series are made of birch and mahogany with traditional-style separate lug casings. Shells for the Stage Custom Advantage drums are constructed of birch, Philippine mahogany, and falkata, an Indonesian wood that has characteristics similar to mahogany, and they feature the same one-piece, high-tension lugs that Yamaha uses on Recording Customs and the old Stage Custom series.
PACKAGE DEAL
I reviewed a five-piece kit that was outfitted in a lacquer finish that Yamaha calls gold metallic. The set consists of a 17-by-22-inch bass drum, rack toms measuring 10-by-12 and 11-by-13 inches, a 16-by-16-inch floor tom, and a 5.5-by-14-inch wooden snare drum made of the same combination of birch, mahogany, and falkata as the toms. The bass drum has nine plies of wood, and the toms have eight plies. The rack toms have six lugs per rim; the snare drum, floor tom, and bass drum each sport eight lugs per rim. As for drum heads, Yamaha supplies a clear Remo PowerStroke 3 for the bass drum's batter head, a Remo Ebony PowerStroke 3 for its front head, clear Remo Ambassadors on the toms, a coated Ambassador for the snare's batter head, and a clear Ambassador Snare for its snare side.
The package also includes six hardware components from Yamaha's 700 series drum hardware line: a CS740 cymbal stand, a CS745 boom stand, an HS740 hi-hat stand, an SS740 snare drum stand, and an FP700 bass drum pedal. A TH945A triple-tom holder completes the package. Yamaha manufactures the hardware in its motorcycle factory.
YESS IT IS
All Stage Custom rack toms and floor toms are mounted with Yamaha's proprietary Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System (YESS) mounts, which are designed for minimal shell contact and maximum resonance. YESS mounts attach with two bolts to a shell's nodal point, where the least vibration takes place, and they eliminate the need for the tom-holder rod to pass through the shell.
The TH945A has short rods attached to hard resin-ball clamps that you tighten with heavy-duty wing bolts. The resin balls provide extra flexibility in positioning and angling toms. The rod is about three inches long, just long enough to accommodate the tom mount. I'd like the option of pulling the toms toward me incrementally. Short rods come standard for every series (except for the entry-level YD series) because short rods are designed for use with the YESS mounting system. Adjusting the 12- and 13-inch power-size rack toms is a bit cumbersome, but I was nonetheless able to angle them the way I wanted.
I applaud the selection of snare, cymbal, and hi-hat stands included with this package. Yamaha's 700 series hardware is sturdy, well designed, and flexible. Positioning and angling cymbals is straightforward, and I adapted to the hi-hat stand right away. The lightweight bass drum pedal suffices in its role. I was disappointed that the floor tom legs must be adjusted with a drum key, because I much prefer grabbing a traditional T-screw. Making adjustments to the bass drum spurs was also somewhat difficult.
SOUND CHECK
The YESS system helps produce clear, open, resonant sounds from the toms. These naturally loud drums project well. Overall, I was pleased with the sounds; the snare drum and bass drum were my favorites. Yamaha claims that increasing the depth of the bass drum from 16 inches to 17 inches “delivers greater bottom end and density to the bass drum's sound.” Indeed, the bass drum offers a satisfyingly full, low, and punchy sound. For dampening, I placed a blanket inside the bass drum so that it lightly touched the batter head, and I was pleased with the resulting sound. The snare drum is a highly versatile instrument that I could take to any live gig. I especially appreciated its crisp sound and smooth, dynamic response at all volume levels.
Sonically (and visually), Stage Custom Advantage drums strike me as primarily rock 'n' roll drums. I play many styles of music, and I think that smaller drums are better suited for varied styles. If you play rock or blues, this power-size set should serve you well.
During the review period, I played with a San Francisco band that blends blues, rock, jazz, and rockabilly styles, and the Stage Custom Advantage drums were just right for the job. The music benefited from the beefy-sounding toms, and the snare drum responded perfectly throughout a set that included all-out backbeat rockers and subtler, jazzier numbers that I played with brushes. Again, I like the snare drum's sensitivity and natural tone. Its snare strainer was also easy to operate on the go.
The 12- and 13-inch rack toms are too similar in size to achieve a desirable tuning separation. I tuned them easily, but my ears prefer a wider spread than I could attain with these sizes. My primary drum set (which is standard size) has 10-, 12-, and 14-inch toms; and I know that many drummers go for a 10-, 13-, and 16-inch alignment for greater variety.
BAM FOR THE BUCK
The bulky drums and hardware require major schlepping, though they actually feel lighter than they look. Bear in mind that Yamaha offers the line in two other size configurations, giving you some options. You can select from kits comprising a snare, 10- and 12-inch rack toms, a 14-inch hanging floor tom, and a 22-inch bass drum; or a snare, 10- and 12-inch rack toms, a 14-inch floor tom, and a 20-inch bass drum. Although I wouldn't choose to purchase the configuration that Yamaha sent for review, I would definitely be interested in checking out that last configuration.
Yamaha's Stage Custom Advantage drums are serious contenders for the working drummer's dollars. For a relatively small price, you can acquire truly professional-sounding drums that are roadworthy. If you play the drums onstage, I highly recommend that you consider one of the kits.
