Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum 

Comments about Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum:

After using this 10" snare for a while now, I have really warmed up to the high pitched tuning I gave it (on recommendation of a pro drummer). The cool thing is that the bassist in my primary band, a 60's trio, actually commented on how much he likes the sound. My wife also said that my "drums" sound better lately, but can't say why. I am guessing it the bigger contrast between the high and low pitched drums I'm using.

Now these comments are about my main band, not the low volume coffeehouse type gigs I often play or fill in on. I can use this snare in any of my situations with confidence, I love that!

I tune it high, and put a tiny piece of moongel or a dead ringer on it for the quiet gigs, as it is a bit ringy. Usually, on the regular gigs, I wind up removing the damping.

Hitting the drum dead center does NOT ring, the further off center I go, changes the ringy tones and sustain. Makes for easily changing the nuances at will.

I can't say enough about this cheap little snare, Yamaha rules!

Comments about Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum:

Just bought the 10" version of this snare and a Yamaha mount, at a great price. I mount it off my high hat and use as my main snare for small venues. The tuning range is all over the place, in a good way.

It's a little "boxy" sounding to me, but then I imagine most of this size are and I'm still experimenting with the tuning to work that out. It has a nice ring to it that I really like, but it's not good for the gigs I'm doing with it. No fault of the drum though. When I muffle it down with a small piece of moon gel, it kills the tone a bit too much, but it's better for what I need. It matches up great with my Satin Natural Gretsch Jazz kit.

Excellent throw off system, well built, solid, a bit heavier than I expected...not a bad thing.

I highly recommend this thing for my type of use, or as a side snare.

Comments about Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum:

The 14x5.5 snare in natural wood is a beautiful drum. The laquered birch and chrome hardware looks wonderful. Acoustically, this snare is bright, ringy, articulate, with cracking rim shots. Thus, it is most suited for medium-high tuning range or tighter. I know this snare is advertised as being "warm" and a well-rounded snare, but this snare will not sound warm and fat no matter how low you try and tune it. Thus: if you want bright and ringy and a nice crack-this is a great snare. If you want a fat, warm snare, try a 6.5 depth maple or brass shell.
Comes with a muffling ring, but I don't use it.
For the price, this snare is built well. The strainer is awesome; the lugs are beautiful. Snares are good. The shell is pretty nice too. The bearing edges weren't high-end quality, but good enough.
A good value for a middle-level snare.

Comments about Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum:

This snare is exactly what a beginner to intermediate percusionist is looking for as an upgrade from their first snare. It is the perfect mid-level snare that delievers on all fields and is surely enough incentive for the young aspiring drummer want to wear it down imediately for the enjoyment it will bring. Great job Yamaha and thank you Musicians Friend for selling at such a resonable price!
This snare has the exceptional tone of what one would hear when thinking of a snare. It is crisp yet has body to the tone. The throw off is just about as simple as it gets and the finish (Natural Wood) is gorgeous complementing my wine red drumset. I myself purchased the 5.5" by 14" and have not looked back since. This is a great "all-around" snare for a musician who dabs in a full array of genres.
I have not complaints to Yamaha. This snare is solid from what I have seen over the past 2 months of owning. From what I've learned about snares so far is that: the sound produced is the most important part of the instrument. That being said, the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare delivers in full.
I was blown away by the item recieved compared to the price tag attached. Granted I have only been playing drums two years though I felt this was an apporopriate upgrade from my orignal snare that came along with my poplar Pulse drum set. This snare was worthy of tears once I tuned it to my style and let myself get aquainted with it.

Comments about Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum:

Great snare for size and sound. It'll be what your looking for. It's a very crisp sounding snare and it's fantastically priced. I mounted this snare in between the high tom and the mid tom, and with a cymbal stand. I've loved it since I took it out of the package!

Comments about Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum:

I purchased the 14"x5.5" natural wood to use as my primary snare. After changing the heads and tuning the drum the warm deep tones and crisp snare sound were amazing for a drum of this price. Using a 14"x6.5" chrome snare since 1985 I was somewhat skeptical about trying this drum. Delighted I made this choice and my bandmates were very surprised at the rich tones.

Comments about Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum:

I have had this snare for a couple of years now and it's definitely a great addition to any collection. It has great projection & tuning range. I hate piccolo snares so this drum gives me just enough crack with alot more versitility. I would suggest getting a Russ Miller Groove wedge to give clarity to your cross stick. Other than that there aren't any other negatives about this drum. Its not at the top of Yamaha's line but it's a good snare.

Comments about Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum:

I just recieved it and immediately replaced the heads with a Remo clear CS dot and Ambassador bottom. I've had experience with the ddrum 6x10 and the Pearl Popcorn 6x10 (not the firecracker 5x10 though), and this finally the sound I've been lookin for. Don't be fooled when it says "low fundamental tone", thinkin its not going to be a high enough pitch, when this baby is cranked out it has a one of a kind snap and pop, with rimshots begging for more. Yet tune it low and you see more of a Pearl Popcorn range in tone, the extra inch shaved off of depth truley allows it to move in to a higher pitch range with out it being completley choked out. I've seen Allen Aucoin play on this snare on a rider kit and sounded phenomenal. Would recommend this to anyone for those lookin for that high "Gack" sound.

Comments about Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum:

The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Snare Drum is the way to go. It provides a nice snappy tone, but yet still has that warm tone to it. I own the 12" by 5" and I have to say, I think the smaller snare is the better one. I've been playing for fourteen years and am very, very happy with this product.