Yamaha Stage Custom

[question444]

I've got a 90s Yamaha Stage Custom five-piece kit. (tom setup- 8x8, 10x9, 12x10) If any of you are familiar with this set, I'm curious to know what you think of it and what recommendations you may have for heads. I prefer a lot of tone in my toms, almost a distinct note, opposed to an obnoxious thud. Durability is important too, since I am poor.

[Tim Brown]

It depends upon how low you tune them.


I would suggest either Pinstripes or clear or Coated Emperors on the batter side, since you want durability, and clear Diplomats (thinnest heads) for the Resonant side. That way the drums will speak quickly, and have a good tone to them.
Since they are small toms - I would personally prefer very thin heads on the resonant side.

On the other hand - you may like Ambassadors all the way around.


Tim

[bleyrad]

I have a Stage Custom Advantage kit. I currently use Pinstripes on the batter side and Ambassadors on the resonant sides. I keep them very well tuned. Frankly they never sound amazing, as the Pinstripes combined with the smallish tom sizes and types of wood tends to create a rather punchy/thuddy sound without much tone. I find this an acceptable trade-off for the fact that the Pinstripes really last forever, and I play hard enough to get tone of out them in a live situation (where the audience hears more of the resonant side) but I'd find it hard to recommend for recording (where the overheads pick up more of the batter side, so less tone).

You are not going to get BOTH great tone and extended durability unless you are playing light jazz styles or something (and in that case I would assume you would've chosen a different kit anyway). But in your case I would probably recommend Ambassadors on the batter rather than Pinstripes. It's going to take some very careful tuning and possibly damping to get the bad rings out though.

[mikeh]

When I had a Stage Custom (which I thought the best "mid priced" kit compared to the Exports, etc) I used Evans G2's on the batter and G1's on the bottom - I got good low tone with plenty of attack.

If I were to use Remo heads I would then do as Tim Bron suggested - Pinstripes and Diplomats

[errr314]

I agree with mikeh. I have a 90's Stage Custom Standard (in a closet now) but I went through alot of heads before I got to the ones that sounded good. Evans G2's on the batter and G1's on the bottom. Once tuned well they sounded great (low tone w/attack). That kit should sound good. I was always happy with mine. For some reason I wont let it go.

[question444]

by the way the toms are actually 10, 12, and 14.

[bubbagump]

How hard do you hit and do you use nylon tipped sticks? Hard hitting and nylon sticks are the two ways to break heads in a hurry (or at least dent the snot out of em) The deal is, thinner heads will give you more tone and less thud... but by their nature they are less durable. So a rock and hard place.... if you don't hit reslly hard and don't use nylon tipped sticks... I might consider good old single ply (G1s or Ambassadors) for the batter. If you liek more attack, go with clear, more "roundness" go with coated. I am afraid if you go Pinstripe... it will just be thuddy. You have a mahogany kit to begin with which is going to be "darker" and have less attack than say birch and I am afraid Pinstripes will just amplify this. Emperors might be a good trade off, but you will have to judge that yourself as they won't be nearly as thuddy as Pinstripes, but not a open and "toneful" as a single ply head.

Here is a link to Evans chart of what heads sound like. Take it with a grain of salt as what does "open" and "warm" really mean... but it might help you get pointed in the right direction.

http://www.evansdrumheads.com/EVAProductsDS.aspx?ID=13

[question444]

here is what I decided for the toms with the help of an employee at a local drum shop. Diplomat Clear for the resonant side: to ring and produce a good amount of tone.
I got Emperor Coated for the batter side for durability and a softer attack. I've decided I like the sound of the stick striking the coated head more than the clear, but my only concern was whether I would have trouble with volume. I play with dynamic, but when I want volume I want to be able to get it out of the drum without pounding it. My friend uses a mylar head on his snare and he cranks it real tight, his drum is not loud and i think he rim shots most all of his strokes.
I would consider myself an amateur, but I want to start out in basically the right direction as my tastes develope.