Yamaha Tour Custom All Maple Shell Pack Review

[@writestuff4all]

Bought these in piano black from Sweetwater 3 months ago and I can't keep my hands and feet off of them. Nick's playing is insane here, as usual, but the audio representation is spot-on. Owned (and paid a lot more for) Starclassics, Renowns, Sonor, Premier, etc. and liked them all but the combination of killer sound, great hardware, and Yamaha's reputation for quality makes this kit my all-time favorite.

[@metothemoon1227]

💯 agree, do you still have the kit?

[@writestuff4all]

@@metothemoon1227 I do, but I'm actually going to be putting it up for sale. Love the kit but the bands I'm playing with now require a different kind of sound.

[@metothemoon1227]

@@writestuff4all Thanks for the answer dear Friend, What kind of kit do You want? Gretsch, Ludwig? I personally like Gretsch Ludwig and Yamaha. But need to Rob a bank before. Lol

[@gregcruickshank]

I’ve been playing this kit for the last 10 years. I’ve owned a few kits and this by far has been my favourite.

[@selwynkatz519]

Nick is a great representative for Sweetwater..and a superb drummer...its HIS JOB...to say all kits sound " COOL". But he will never tell you personally Yamaha drums have always been the greatest and most competitive ever to come out of Japan putting all other brands in the shade. That's my opinion. I was an ex Ludwig drummer.

[@arithmetech]

Worst thing about Nick: he makes it look so easy and fun...then you rush down to the local music store and get trucked by reality... Nice sounding kit :)

[@milton.oliver2364]

I don't understand

[@auralitegames3367]

Thats how i feel when i practice at home lol

[@anthonyn1312]

I don't think so

[@joeldrummer23]

It’s like singing in the shower we all sound good until reality hits us lol 😂

[@metothemoon1227]

@J M 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ehleroo]

"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" @ 4:33.

[@MarkosVassiliou]

Steve Gadd ;)

[@drvijil]

Love Nick’s drumming ! This guy could make cut out paint buckets with saran wrap heads sound good.

[@spacecowboy0700]

I never liked Yamaha drums, but I actually like this set!

[@dinospumoni663]

@@edwardgbone3287 I've always thought Yamaha's drums have always sounded great. What don't you guys like about them?

[@lancehollum5566]

Yamaha has a shit load of great sounding drums. I was never a Yamaha guy. But I am now. Man they have so many kits that are great.

[@ObscureMotions]

@@lancehollum5566 nowadays I realise it...

[@michaeljohnson8058]

If Nick played a toaster, I'd buy it

[@mineheadX1]

those floor toms are really sweet....I've looked at every kit for roughly a grand and per usual, Yamaha takes the cake, they beatdown every maple kit on the market for tone & punch...this kit is a true contender. if you've ever heard Andy Newmark in person, then you know what his Yamaha maple's could do when mic'd up...

[@a-8702]

Even though it's called a "Tour Custom", I'd be happy to use it in a studio setting, this set sounds really good!

[@lancehollum857]

Man Nick your getting better and better all the time. You must have the best job in the world.

[@milton.oliver2364]

Yamaha Tour Custom Shell Pack is AWESOME!!!

[@allanso266]

I just picked up the first Australian delivered one. Absolutely amazing kit for the cost as well!

[@JD-qp9ox]

Nick you are the best in the biz!

[@jnagime]

Great drum kit......never go wrong with Yamaha drums.sounds much better than DW performance series plus is cheaper.

[@metothemoon1227]

True :) 10 x better than Dw performance and 2x better than Dw Collector .

[@MyTony40]

I never thought Yamaha would recover from their break from Sakae .. But man I am proven wrong !!!

[@jonyq]

They haven't. Very disappointed actually when checking out the drums in person.

[@MyTony40]

jonyq wow really?

[@SeanZetterlund]

I own a Yamaha Live Oak Custom and it's quite excellent. I went from a DW Performance Maple kit to it and haven't looked back, though the Performance was still a great kit. Dont get me wrong though, learning how to tune your drums and getting the sounds you hear in your head onto your kit are more important than manufacturer preference ultimately.

[@jazzmartyrs]

Same here! Their Recording Customs and Maple Hybrid are KILLER. Now these are incredible too, especially for that price. They're similar to the original Maple Custom Absolute. Love the Slingerland type hoops.

[@austing.8870]

No they really haven't. The Absolute line has never sounded bad, and the new Hybrids are great and all, but they don't offer any of the options they used to on these kits. Where is the Absolute Birch? The new RC's are as good as the old one's I will say, but do those prices justify it? The older ones weren't nearly as much and they sounded way better. They hit a home run on the Live Custom, and I will go as far as to say they sound way better than their predecessors, but can't they just offer chrome hardware and some nicer stain finishes? It's like they're always so close to making great stuff again, but they miss it by a hair. These new Tour Customs must be made with low-grade North American Maple or Chinese Maple, because they sound very similar to Concepts and the low-line Sonors. I will say they look really sharp though, I dig the finishes.

[@rhythmista7707]

Diggin the music at the end of the video.. Very 80's pop prog rock a la Asia and Yes.

[@kevinfrazee7690]

Yamaha and Sweetwater ='s a winning combination! I just purchased the tour custom standard size plus the component toms in candy apple satin. I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival to say the least. Huge Thanks to Stephen my sales engineer for being very kind and helping to make everything easy. You guys are the best!!!

[@brushcl]

Gotta love Nick casually perfectly executing the hardest drum fill in history at 2:50. On a drum set review!? Dude is amazing.

[@TheDrummerPearl]

"Sustain for days" 1:37

[@raymondm4441]

Nick's playing makes me want to run out a buy this kit right away. Yamaha should give him commission.

[@Bryancmillsii]

What cymbals are you using I love how they sound

[@claudebessette551]

Great review, I’m buying a Tour Custom!

[@susanstringfellow8151]

Nick is a world class player..

[@DennisLeeflang]

Nick! Those 2002's are still your sound! I missed hearing you play those. Killing it!

[@trevormaynard4892]

Watched a video a bit ago and the guy mentioned every time they use Yamaha drums they have a friend that own a stage custom kit from the 80s’ that is the best kit Yamaha has ever produced. I don’t know personally but if this man is a sound tech for a recording label he must know something about it!! Just figured I’d share....

[@larrytate1657]

Wonder why Sweetwater doesn’t handle the hybrid maple kits?

[@pinheadlarry1019]

You know nick is rocking out when he hits the drums and cymbals harder than usual.

[@drumprof1772]

Great sounding kit and excellent build as always. Anyone know why Sweetwater doesn’t carry the Absolute Hybrid line? Crazy they don’t have them on their website. They have all the other’s.

[@bilalmasood2328]

Drums you played at the end of the vedio was freaking amazing!!!!! i loved it !!!!!

[@felicianomedel]

Nice job Nick!

[@shadowseal22]

Not gonna lie, if they come out with this in bop sizes I might have to cop these. This would make a great Jungle D&B kit.

[@ebpat]

These are some of the best sounding drums I've heard in your reviews! Quick question: I'm looking to buy a new kit. Gretsch Renown or Yamaha Tour Customs? I know I could get a bigger Yamaha kit for the same price (adding a 14" FT). But there's something about the Gretsch sound that's pretty incredible too.

[@sweetwater]

Hey, Wolfman. Thanks so much for your interest. They are definitely both great kits for sure. I have a Renown kit at home and it’s phenomenal. I really like the stick chopper hoops on those. Happy Holidays to you! Jason Thiele, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1391, [e-mail]

[@ebpat]

@@sweetwater Thanks, Jason! Greatly appreciated!

[@Ashlord]

Haha I have the same concern. Been looking a lot between both kits. I was leaning more towards the Gretsch but I heard these and they sound awesome. Tough choice indeed

[@ebpat]

@@Ashlord I’m getting up there in years. I have three kits and they’re all HEAVY! I look like I’m 80 after a gig and trying to tear them down and get them loaded! I have read from several people that the Tour Customs are incredibly light. That is VERY appealing to this old man!! I wish you well with your decision Ashlord! 👍

[@Ashlord]

@@ebpat Ah didn't know the weight difference. I personally don't gig a lot so weight doesn't really matter, but I might in the future so why not invest in the future haha. Thanks a lot and happy holidays!

[@beatboxerz]

I have the Live Custom. I love it!

[@Batucada408]

I also have a Live Custom. I too love it.

[@PowersOnDrums]

Coated emporers would sound great! Also, loosen the bass head a little... with an Power Stroke 3.

[@appleZac]

that 16 floor tom... whoah

[@bpdrumstudio]

Love your review and you playing. As always. How can I get that track you played here. Tks

[@jonpace7304]

I bought a dw design series and after 2 years, I have buyers regret. I’ve had stage customs most of my life and now want to buy a tour custom. The Tom’s sing more and sound better imo. Anyone have experience with both these sets? If so what’s your preference?

[@tobyvattilano7846]

Your Design series are better drums with superior shells made up of North American Maple, not this soft, Chinese maple. Yamaha are a great company but the shell material is porous and inferior. Put the right heads on what you have and steer clear of these.

[@drumprof1772]

There North American maple

[@PSModernKitchens]

Nice fill at the end of the song!

[@timcloutier3729]

Beautiful kit. Curious in comparison to the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kit. Is there any similarities? Or does the maple kit blow it out of the water? 🤘🏻🥁

[@jazzdrummer000]

paiste 2002 classic cymbals the best sound!

[@a-8702]

Paiste 2002s are some of the best cymbals ever recorded!

[@denisdolgiy4108]

Zil K Dark Thin! :D And Paiste 602 ME =)

[@firmans12]

my first drum set till now i bought it about 7 - 10 years ago. awesome sounding i check the price now wow its about 2000 bucks cant believe i remember i bought it for only 1000 bucks lmao

[@metothemoon1227]

In France this great sounding kit: 1500€ ;( it's super high priced but it's quality and it's Yamaha :)

[@JakeStaffin]

This video is really making me consider a Tour Custom as my next kit. I have a Gretsch Catalina Maple (7 piece, 22 kick) and a Yamaha Stage Custom (5 piece, 20 kick). I love the Gretsch but in the settings I play in, I feel like there are some areas where it could sound better and I just can't dial in the sound to the extent I need. My Yamaha kit I keep at school and use it for all styles, I find it to be very versatile from the lighter jazz to the harder prog rock like Nick is playing here even with the 20 inch kick. Seeing this Tour Custom combining aspects of the Stage Custom along with some of the higher end Yamaha kits, I think that gives this a really good edge as a great all-around kit. I would go for this exact kit that Nick is playing (same finish, sizes and including the add-on 14 inch floor tom) as these are perfect sizes for all settings in my opinion. If Sweetwater could stock this kit with the add on floor tom, I would definitely consider this. Plus, I think it would sound really nice with my Ludwig Supraphonic LM400 that I got from you guys!!

[@RRPerez]

I recently got this exact kit in the same finish. Added a 14” floor tom AND a 13” rack tom which I was lucky to find. The 13” is the ‘X’ factor in bridging the entire kit together. It actually brings out the 14” more because of lower bottom end that blends beautifully with the 14” floor tom. Great thing of having all the toms is it allows me to mix and match like a multiple kit in one. I prefer to play a 4 pc. one up/one down config. for my band stuff and the 13” rack tom and 16” floor tom is an awesome combination. I love everything about this kit and is an underrated option for maple drum lovers who don’t want to break the bank. It’s not $2K but it’s also not $699 where you can tell and feel the difference in sound, hardware and construction.

[@JakeStaffin]

@@RRPerez Nice!! I'm debating between this kit and the Pearl Session Select as to which one I will ultimately go for. This Yamaha kit has so many pros and it just feels "right" but I think I'll need to play both before I really decide. Just wish the Yamaha had an 8 inch tom available as an add on, that would make this the ultimate perfect kit!!

[@mrtc29]

The 14 floor isn’t part of the kit, it’s an add on drum 16 as standard 👍

[@vibes..585]

Hi, How similar is the tour custom maple to the old absolute maple ? Is it as good as dw performance ?

[@neilbarbu]

Wow, hey Nick, is that a real Wurly piano in that backing track? That's some sweet sounding keys

[@TheSweetboy5]

Tu so much :) Do you think there will be available tom toms like 14x11 or 14x12 ? :)

[@mjm5081]

Nice full, warm sound and understated look.

[@dcaudio1]

I wish Nick would do the new Pearl session studio select kit with each tom having its own mic...he did a great review but having some beyerdynamic TG58c mics on those drums would sell them for me. He used a single mic for two toms in the center between them...did not do them justice i think... been relying on youtube other samples but there are not many.

[@cuznred]

I am going to have to get one of these

[@erikestrada7951]

Dw design or Yamaha tour custom? Im on a trouble

[@mackedwards303]

Does anybody know what the price is for this kit??? im looking into buying this but cant find the price anywhere

[@stevesmith8791]

Nick is the best snake oil salesman on the web

[@billytrance6893]

Great video! For me, there is only one issue with these drums...they are touring drums right? Well, why don't they come in a Delmar wrap? Open-stained drums will get a lot of "dings" and scratches out there on the road. This is the only "downfall" I have found overall. Any thoughts?

[@mogwix]

Good point. A quality wrap should be an option, even if they came in basic solid colors. I wish there were some more color options, the satin stains are a little TOO utilitarian for me. It'd be great if Yamaha had a series above the Tour Customs that had more color options and thicker shells but didn't cost an arm and a leg like their high end kits.

[@go4384]

Everything there minus the recording equipment is around $3700. I added it all up.

[@bradanderson1442]

I love the sound of this kit. Hope they expand the line to offer a 24x15 bass drum, 8" and 13" racks ,and an 18" floor tom.

[@steverizundrums]

Brad Anderson Me too man! A 24” Bass Drum would be killer, 24”x14” would be perfect to be exact. Love these drums!

[@pietrojun8635]

Nick is as if Neyman found a good therapist and decided to have a happy life

[@Mryuriy.s]

nick always have crazy hair

[@randywiedmer4656]

Wish I had that sweet lid

[@royalmania9516]

Love my Customs

[@slysendice]

Am I wrong in thinking these are basically a reissue of the old Maple Custom Absolute drums, just with matte finishes instead of gloss?

[@chrisluisi7468]

Where did he get that Yamaha bass drum head?

[@dhjeun]

Gretsch Renown RN2 vs. Yamaha Tour custom?

[@leonaharfouche]

Yamaha > Gretsch. But both are the best

[@lieutenantcolumbo114]

@Leona Harfouche 💯 true

[@IslandDigital]

What track is he playing to ? Is it available ?

[@HadEnough745]

If they had the lock lugs that are on the hybrid kits, I would get a set of these.

[@austing.8870]

You can actually just get some nylon lug locks for like $20 if that helps in your decision making

[@danielmorales6151]

How is this compared to the DW design series

[@dinospumoni663]

Jon Lovitz is a good drummer.

[@Beefnhammer]

Did....did really he say 'sustain for days'?

[@cpu554]

Yo Nick,going for the Gene Krupa coiffe?

[@ניראלבג]

2:56 super fun to play!! Hahaha live ittt

[@Mowgl_Drums]

Why hasn’t drumeo had nick yet that’d be so sick

[@Suprematista]

I guess, Sustain will improve greatly on the bass, taking away the toms.

[@HR2635]

as always a great review from SweetWater... but boy.. I dont like those shells.. PLEASE Yamaha .. bring back the best drums you ever made: 80's Tour Custom.. pretty please!!?

[@roybeckerman9253]

Ever notice Yamaha and DW, are used by so many drummers at feature concerts .. Personally, I prefer Ludwig and Gretsch.

[@shannongreene1796]

I was like, Nick better stretch out soon.. he did.

[@SKARKIBANEZ]

So "Chicago" song :P

[@drummerboy5083]

DAMN!!!!!

[@maeu59]

What’s with the faces on this guy?

[@maeu59]

@@lieutenantcolumbo114 it’s pretty clear.

[@maeu59]

@@lieutenantcolumbo114 I guess I’m not woke enough 😂

[@maeu59]

@@lieutenantcolumbo114 I think you’re going off the rails now.

[@lieutenantcolumbo114]

@maeu59 No, I was very serious, you told me that you weren't woke enough. And I tell you that wokism is indeed not good. 😂

[@lieutenantcolumbo114]

@maeu59 Stop yelling at me in front of my friend and telling the truth about me. 😂 No but seriously You speak of fact here dear friend. Sometimes it's good to mess around a bit and get off the rails. It's human...I think.

[@lieutenantcolumbo114]

*Tour custom vs old maple custom*?

[@robsingletary2383]

The track sounds VERY influenced by RUSH....

[@robsingletary2383]

Music & kit sound a lot like something RUSH would play.....

[@Merrillizer]

Please stop putting the kick mic INSIDE the shell! GROSS. Treat like a speaker cab, because it IS a speaker!

[@lancehollum5566]

Snare wires on. Snare wires off. Ok bubba

[@papapoodo6685]

They sound great... Yamaha is just so..... boring.... Not much personality...

[@lieutenantcolumbo114]

Not agree but I respect your opinion. Yamaha, gretsch and Ludwig are the drums the most played in history. Yamaha recording custom and Ludwig classic maple are the drums the most played for recording in history of modern music. Tour custom sounds really great to me.

[@lieutenantcolumbo114]

Maybe you prefer, Canopus, noble and cooley, British co, sonor, tama, Asba, gretsch, porkpie, Pearl, Craviotto, Dw, Pdp, Mapex, Groove co, C&C ? great compagnies. I like every company but i'm a Yamaha guy.

[@stevenfederico2594]

Just not a fan of Yamaha drums. Love their dirt bikes just not their drums.

[@FootmasterSeattle]

So which brand drum set has maple and birch drums with the price value and hardware similar or better than Yamaha?

[@mattfrischman2508]

When is Sweetwater going to realize we don’t want to hear him play along to his idiotic tracks. Just play the kit. Also get an adult haircut you’re like 50 dude

[@lieutenantcolumbo114]

Don't take this the wrong way dear I respect your opinion. And that remains your opinion dear sir. Because there are people who like this kind of music. Personally, it's not my musical style either, even if I remain open. I would also prefer a demo only of the kit without music. Regarding his hairstyle, I think it suits him well. And then after all that remains a hairstyle and personal. He's not there to please everyone.

[@lieutenantcolumbo114]

Looking like 50 is not a bad thing. Some people are 50 years old and look younger than 30 year olds. Look at guys like Greg Bezinsky, Sylverster Stallone, they're 70 and they're in better shape than us. Lol.