Yamaha Drums

Somebody bought a PHX....:).... Pics to follow...

OMG OMG

Scorch!!!! That's awesome!
Yes, lots of pics. We also need a full, long, in depth review please…there is so little about Phoenix drums in general on the internet. Owners don't seem to post or they aren't members of Drummerworld. So it's all up to you :)
Did you buy new or used? One of those used 6 piece kits at Memphis Drum Shop perhaps??

Neal
 
Wow, you are officially my new hero! Can't wait to see the pics and hear about your experience with them. Congrats!

OMG OMG

Scorch!!!! That's awesome!
Yes, lots of pics. We also need a full, long, in depth review please…there is so little about Phoenix drums in general on the internet. Owners don't seem to post or they aren't members of Drummerworld. So it's all up to you :)
Did you buy new or used? One of those used 6 piece kits at Memphis Drum Shop perhaps??

Neal

Thanks Spleen and Neal!...yea Im pretty stoked about getting this kit...been wanting to buy one for a long time...just had to get the funds right and figure out what to sell to help with purchase..I ended up selling off my e-kit..just don't use it / play it anymore and couldn't part with BCA or MCAN..Im also going to sell a couple snares...

I purchased the PHX new from Fork's and got it in my favorite color textured black sunburst...here are some Fork's photos.

Once I receive it I will take more detailed photos and also give a review of it compared with BCA and MCAN. That may take me a little time, as I have some business / work trips in the near future...but I will give you a full review as soon as possible...:)

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Thanks Spleen and Neal!...yea Im pretty stoked about getting this kit...been wanting to buy one for a long time...just had to get the funds right and figure out what to sell to help with purchase..I ended up selling off my e-kit..just don't use it / play it anymore and couldn't part with BCA or MCAN..Im also going to sell a couple snares...

I purchased the PHX new from Forks and got it in my favorite color textured black sunburst...here are some fork's photos.

Once I receive it I will take more detailed photos and also give a review of it compared with BCA and MCAN. That may take me a little time, as I have some business / work trips in the near future...but I will give you a full review as soon as possible...:)

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Great. Beautiful drums Scorch. And really good call selling the e-kit. They were really nice too , but if something had to go, I think you made the right choice. MCA and BCA are must haves for Yamaha freaks like us. And PHX too of course.

They are on my distant radar...can't wait to see/hear yours.

I have to make a few choices soon as well...so I can pick up a second Club Custom kit in my fav sizes.
 
Ancient Japanese Secret Ninja Drums - LOL

Awesome stuff Scorch.
(where's that 'thumbs up smilie?)

Edit: I have yet to see any PHX drums in person.
I suppose a dealer can stock a lot of lower priced, entry to mid level kits for the price of one of those.
Not many people around here would be able to drop that kind of coin for top end drums.
I too think that given what you have, I would have made the same decision about the e-kit - nice as it was.
 
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Yea, Yamaha pretty much didn't introduce anything new for us drummers...very disappointing!!!....

I agree. I was hoping for a pro birch line in 2015. And snares! They only have two pro snares in their lineup!

I'm patient. I have a feeling that they will announce when it's ready, and it will be GLORIOUS.
 
I agree. I was hoping for a pro birch line in 2015. And snares! They only have two pro snares in their lineup!

I'm patient. I have a feeling that they will announce when it's ready, and it will be GLORIOUS.

I'm really surprised they aren't coming out with new versions of things often. I mean, they only have three pro series at the moment, correct? The PHX, the Live Custom, and the Absolute Hybrid? I thought for sure they'd come out with a new series at every NAMM. This year would've been perfect for a Recording Custom style line. Maybe they're close, but weren't ready in time?

I just can't imagine they're making much money if they only have those few lines. Seems like they'd need to get alot more things out there to really get back to where they were.
 
Can any of you Yammie specialists help me save this snare I've just acquired? I's a 14x5,5 seamlees brass shell with aluminium cast hoops, model SD4105.

The patina on the shell doesn't bother me to much as I know this can happen over time. I might consider polishing it but I presume that there's a clear protective coating that would have to be taken off first?

What does bother me A LOT is the state of the hoops. The chrome is pitting on several spots on both hoops. Not peeling or flaking off like on some old vintage drum, but still quite visible. The hoops look and feel rough, the worst areas look like they have barnacles. Thought of sanding them down but I'm concerned this would worsen the problem. What ever could have caused these wonderful hoops to become like this?! Is it a lost cause? Funnily, the lugs are in good condition, no problems with the chrome.

This snare certainly hasn't been treated well. The strainer is really worn out, still functioning, but not as you would expect to find on a high end Yamaha. There's even a small crack in the metal of the back of the strainer block. Ideally I'd have replaced this but Yamaha parts are always a "special" special order.

If I can't get this snare upto my desired condition, I might replace it with a second hand Manu Katché model for sale right now in France. I suspect it might just be the same shell with a black finish?

Here's some photos of the SD4105.

What a dissapointment after all the great (second hand) Yamaha snares that I've had over the last few years.
 

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Hey mike ... It looks like your snare probably was left in an environment where humidity got to it and started the tarnishing (shell) and corrosion (hoops) process.... You could possibly try polishing the hoops with something like neverdull (that product may be too strong, so use with care), but where you have pitting (corrosion), there's really nothing that can be done other than maybe polishing rims so it's not quite as noticeable...
 
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If I can't get this snare upto my desired condition, I might replace it with a second hand Manu Katché model for sale right now in France. I suspect it might just be the same shell with a black finish?

.

IMO the Manu Katche is a better sounding drum than the other Yamaha brass snares from the same era. Not sure if the shell is the same...

Dutch
 
I bought a set that has some pitting like that.
If you're looking to get them back to like new condition, the only option is to take them to a chroming shop and have them de-chromed and then re-chromed.

One thing I can absolutely advise against is the often recommended aluminum foil and coca-cola treatment.
I tried it on one rim, and it lifted the chrome away from the pitting, making it look much worse.

For the rest of the hoops, I used chrome polish, lightly applied and thoroughly removed, followed by a coating of wax. Those came out better.

Makes me a bit disgusted when nice drums aren't taken care of properly.
 
IMO the Manu Katche is a better sounding drum than the other Yamaha brass snares from the same era. Not sure if the shell is the same...

Dutch

They had 4 runs of the Manu, so it depends on which model. The two latest didn't had a seamless shell like this one does if i'm not mistaken.

Thanks for the feedback on the Katche snare. It certainly looks like a nice alternative to a Black Beauty.

I bought a set that has some pitting like that.
If you're looking to get them back to like new condition, the only option is to take them to a chroming shop and have them de-chromed and then re-chromed.

One thing I can absolutely advise against is the often recommended aluminum foil and coca-cola treatment.
I tried it on one rim, and it lifted the chrome away from the pitting, making it look much worse.

For the rest of the hoops, I used chrome polish, lightly applied and thoroughly removed, followed by a coating of wax. Those came out better.

Makes me a bit disgusted when nice drums aren't taken care of properly.

Same here. I accept that not everyone places the same importance on taking care of their belongings and drums can begin to show wear and tear after heavy use. I don't even mind when a cheap item ends up as scrap metal. But a drum like this, it deserves better.
I can hardly look at it, it's like the ugly duckling of the drum set.
I think I'll probably end up selling it on.

Update: just ordered an identical replacement for the strainer. Apparently Yamaha Europe have it in stock. Regardless of whether I keep this snare or not, I just couldn't leave it with the worn out strainer. The new one costs a pretty penny though.
 
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Does anyone know if high end Yamaha metal snares are still made in Japan, or is everything now made at their facility in China?

Excuse my ignorance, I'm just presuming that Sakae only made their high end wooden drums and that the metal ones were made by Yamaha themselves and as such, production might still be in Japan?
 
Does anyone know if high end Yamaha metal snares are still made in Japan, or is everything now made at their facility in China?

Excuse my ignorance, I'm just presuming that Sakae only made their high end wooden drums and that the metal ones were made by Yamaha themselves and as such, production might still be in Japan?

I thought they had ceased manufacturing of all metal snares, but I'm not certain. Which models do you reckon are still being produced?

Dutch
 
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