Yamaha Stage Custom | Classic White | Unboxing & First Play

Drums:
Yamaha Stage Custom in Classic White | 22x17 / 10x7/ 12x8 / 16x15
Snare:
Yamaha Stage Custom 14x5.5
Cymbals:
Sabian 14’’ AA Medium Hats
Sabian 18’’ XSR Fast Crash
Sabian 8’’ AAX Splash
Sabian 20’’ AA Medium Ride
Sabian 20’’ XSR Fast Crash
Sabian 19’’ AA Holy China
Heads:
Snare = Evans ST
Toms: Top = Evans G2 Clear | Bottom = Aquarian Classic Clear
Kick = Aquarian Super Kick II
Mics:
Snare = Sennheiser e609
Kick = Sennheiser e602ii
Overhead = Samson C02
Toms = Apex 326
Interface:
Zoom L12

[@StagePerscussion-yz4ht]

I swear Yamaha make the best sounding drums.

[@brandonmuschenick2785]

Yamaha, Sonor, Pearl, Tama, Ludwig, all great.. I always favorited Sonor. They seem to be "superior" so to say but I heard that Yamaha's most intimate focus is on sound.

[@andrewferrara11]

Awesome drums! I might get one of these drum sets in 2025.

[@JimPauls]

That’s awesome!

[@SataNick666]

Bonus points for putting new heads on immediately and playing through the toms a bunch. Gold medal for not talking too. Best unboxing/soundcheck video I’ve seen. 🫡

[@JimPauls]

@@SataNick666 Thanks. Appreciate the comment

[@damnyankeefl]

this new vintage white is gorgeous. and I can't imagine drums needing to sound any better than that.

[@JimPauls]

Thanks! Colour is great! Looks really nice on stages

[@damnyankeefl]

I’m torn between the similar sonor and this kit but this color wins

[@scottculver5728]

That kit sounds fantastic. Nicely done

[@JimPauls]

Thanks!

[@guillermojimenezcastelblan8456]

Stunning sound!!. The best of all video, two images, sound test, and unboxing and assembly job at the same time, very clever, nice man.

[@JimPauls]

Thanks!

[@therealbrentrolland]

You sound awesome and I have this color in the HipGig configuration!

[@JimPauls]

Thanks! I’m considering getting a matching Hip kit to go with this. Really only want the 20x8 bass drum though

[@williamperri3437]

WOW! The FT at 1:20 is INSANE!!!

[@T.Maximus]

The tom shells just sound so crispy and ahh man i love them! I added on an 8 inch tom to mine as well, this kit kicks ass! You put on an awesome demonstration of it bro!

[@JimPauls]

Thanks! Appreciate the comment!

[@williamperri3437]

Yeah, is that no mixing just mic’d live? Sounds like a little reverb. They kick ass as usual.

[@JimPauls]

@@williamperri3437 I did some mixing to the sound in post. Used Waves CLA Drums plugin which has EQ and reverb in it

[@user-yq5od9uj3f]

Jim, those g2 clears sound great on the toms. I think I like the sound demos of the stage with ps 3 a little better. The PS 3 gives the bass a little more attack/crack. Real nice playing by the way.

[@JimPauls]

Thanks! The PS3 is a solid head choice for any bass drum

[@ivanbajovic3476]

In my opinion bass drum sound best with minimum dampening only against the batter head. Good job.

[@JimPauls]

Thanks for watching! In this video there is an Evans EQ pillow inside the kick against the batter head and the pre muffled Super Kick 2 head on the batter side

[@thesonicsolution1976]

Man that sounds great. Congrats

[@JimPauls]

Thanks!

[@midnightmass128]

Love the new classic white, can't wait to get one next year, just can't decide between 20" and 22" kick

[@JimPauls]

20'' kicks are nice but I actually just got rid of my kit with a 20'' for these Stage Customs. Pretty happy with 22'' kicks lately. Sucks that the Stage Custom 20'' is 17'' deep too. That's a goofy size. I might get a Hip Kit in the classic white to get the 20x8 kick though. That would be awesome!

[@midnightmass128]

I like the portability and rebound of a 20, but you’re right, 20x17 is too deep, should be 20x15.

[@19ronin76]

nice tune man. iyi günlerde kullan (turkish)= May you enjoy it on the coming days !!!

[@JimPauls]

Thanks

[@lionellp3975]

Wow! Great tutorial

[@JimPauls]

Thank you! Appreciate the comment!

[@TruthNTime]

I have the exact kit Bro, would love to chat with you about your thoughts on this kit and maybe compare notes or thoughts after having it for a while?

[@JimPauls]

Kit is good. Sounds good with all the heads that I have tried (G2, Onyx, Coated Ambassador, & Super 2’s) and the Yamaha hardware is great

[@karinsherman1243]

Does it come with a stand for the snare?

[@giusepperomano3392]

Batteria che suona veramente molto bene, nonostante non sia la punta di diamante della Yamaha...

[@timothygayne2058]

What r u using for batters on the toms? I bought same kit to gig with had em 2 years and i love em white is KILLER

[@JimPauls]

In this video I had Evans G2 Clears on the toms. I switched them to Evans Onyx not long after and I actually preferred those heads. They are good drums

[@kellypace1534]

These sound magnificent. My SC kit, bought back in 2018, sounds terrible to the point where I don't take them out anymore. Wondering your bottom head tuning with regards to the batter? I'm reading where the newest SC's have rounded off bearing edges. I think that might be the difference.

[@JimPauls]

These kits have been the same since they got updated around 2014 ish to my understanding. I also believe they just have normal 45 degree edges on all the drums but I could be wrong. In this video the resonant heads are probably just a touch higher than the batter heads. I didn't really tune before filming this I just did it by feel when unboxing them and pressed record. After doing this I swapped the clear G2's for Evans Onyx heads and tuned the reso and batter heads to the same tension and they sound pretty huge. I've been very surprised by the sound of these drums. Have you replaced the stock reso heads? The ones that came in the box with this set were garbage. I didn't even put them on. I just immediately replaced all the heads.

[@T.Maximus]

​@@JimPaulsthe stock heads are pure garbage, I just ordered a 2nd stage custom bc I sold my 1st one, and I ordered some remo emperor clear for the batter, n gonna use ambassador heads as reso. The stock heads definitely are no bueno.

[@JimPauls]

@@T.Maximus Classic combo. Those will be worth it for sure

[@rampajarillaga1979]

What size/what is the model for the cymbal mount that goes in the tom holder?

[@JimPauls]

I believe it's the Yamaha CH-750. Fits in the Yamaha 3 hole tom stand

[@rhythmcaster2018]

What's your opinion on Stage Custom compared to NeuSonic?

[@JimPauls]

The Ludwig NeuSonics are better than the Stage Customs in every way. And of course you pay for that when you buy the kit. NeuSonics have better shells, better hardware, and better finishes (the newest ones anyway). Stage Customs are a better value though because they are awesome and provide everything you need at a great price. Both sets are great. The Tour Customs would be a better comparison to the NeuSonics and the Tour's would still be a better value

[@rhythmcaster2018]

@@JimPauls Thanks for your reply. By your definition, I'm more into Tour Custom (TC) than NeuSonic even it's made in Taiwan vs US. Maybe, being a Yamaha fan blinded me somehow. Unfortunately, Stage Custom w/o hardware pack is a no go because, somehow in Thailand, it's almost as expensive as Tour Custom.

[@drumrooster]

Wow great video.I usually don't buy mid grade kits but for some reason this little 20,10,12,14 in the green got me.Good choice on the heads they sound amazing. Do they stay in tune pretty good??? Thanks for the review

[@JimPauls]

@@drumrooster Yes and no. The hoops on the Stage Customs (like all other inexpensive kits) are not the greatest quality. So the tension screws definitely loosen over time and need to be retuned. In my experience of course

[@stevenfederico2594]

Way over processed and way over EQ. It’d be nice to know what they sound like without all that I’m guessing a lot different.

[@T.Maximus]

I play them on my page with just my cell phone raw audio since I don't have any mics or anything.

[@JimPauls]

Sorry you feel that way. Good thing there are hundreds of other videos about these drums on KZbin. Go check them out and leave positive comments about their natural sound!

[@T.Maximus]

@@JimPauls I personally like the mics, I get to hear them studio quality that way. I can play them raw any day but I don't have the mic equipment.

[@JimPauls]

@@T.Maximus The reality is recording a "natural sound" is meaningless. The only way to hear the natural sound of drums is to be in the same room as them and use your ears. The room effects the sound, the mics effect the sound, the preamps are effecting the sound, my sticks tips are effecting the sound. I barely tuned the drums for this video, just put the heads on close to my default tensions and I mixed the audio in 5 minutes with the Waves CLA Drums plugin. If anything this is the best way to hear these drums mic'd up because it represents like a minimal effort approach to all of this. Processing the sound less would have been harder, and if I didn't process at all you'd have to wonder if the drums sound bad or if the $25 dollar close mics are just terrible (they are). Anyone's Stage Customs can sound exactly like this with minimal effort and just some basic knowledge of what is going on here. I think that's kinda valuable to contribute to the Stage Custom community but of course other opinions on the matter are okay too

[@the_rummer]

when will yamaha give up making 17x20 bass drum? so unnecessary. 14x20 must be the standard.

[@JimPauls]

100% agree! They got closer with the Tour Customs and offer the 20x15 but yeah not sure why they won't just go with the tried and true x14

[@the_rummer]

@@JimPauls thanks for the reply and congrats for your kit. most vintage drums have 14 depth bass drums and when we listen to them on recordings or live they sound awesome.

[@T.Maximus]

Check my page I got the same kit a week ago! Unless you got the 22" bass, I got the 20". Cheers man!

[@oceana101]

toms tuned to high

[@JimPauls]

They sound really good tuned lower

[@oceana101]

yep the kit sounds good, cheers@@JimPauls

[@cruzzitomorales3700]

Nice color 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@JimPauls]

Kit looks great for sure! Thanks

[@user-of1hd2dy1t]

Are those heads...the heads that came with this kit....from the factory?

[@JimPauls]

Negative. The heads that come with the kit are garbage. I put Aquarian Classic Clears on the resonant side and Evans G2 clears on the batter side of toms. Aquarian SuperKick II on kick drum. Evans ST coated on Snare. All other gear is listed in the description too. Thanks

[@ramonkey2939]

@JimPauls Man great choice on those heads. I got Evans 56 calftone heads on two of my kits and Aquarians on another kit . I just bought this kit and was looking for a different sound. The Evan G2's sound like a winner