With NAMM officially underway today, we're getting a look at more brand-new products from companies that have played their cards close to their chest so far. Among those brand is Yamaha, which has finally unveiled two new drum products we're pretty excited about.
The first announcement is for a new drum set joining the brand's Stage Custom series, the Stage Custom Hip. This kit aims to expand the successful Stage Custom series into a smaller, more compact realm for drummers looking to increase portability and decrease their footprint.
The Stage Custom Hip is built from six-ply birch shells and features a 20" x 8" bass drum, a 13" x 8" floor tom (which can also double as a snare), a 10" x 5" rack tom, and a 13" x 5" snare drum. It might not be the most compact that we've seen, but it's a lot of bang for your buck when it comes to smaller-footprint acoustic drums.
The Stage Custom Hip will be available in three finishes—natural wood, raven black, and matte surf green—and will retail for $1,160 USD. Exact shipping dates are TBD, but availability is expected in the spring. Click the blue follow button to add this kit to your feed for notification when it's officially available.
Next up is a new, extremely limited edition signature Steve Gadd snare. Gadd, who has been playing Yamaha drums for over 40 years, has spent the last two decades hand-in-hand with Yamaha's drum product development team and this new snare aims to celebrate such a fruitful partnership.
"I have been playing Yamaha drums for over 40 years," Gadd said, "It’s been a pleasure working together and I hope our relationship continues to grow."
This new Steve Gadd Signature Snare features a steel shell sized 14" x 5.5" and 1.2mm thick. It's fitted with aluminum die cast hoops, features a new Steve Gadd 10-strand wire for maximized articulation, and is finished in Gadd's requested black nickel finish.
The snare is limited to 200 units, set to hit the streets in March at a retail price of $999 USD. For more gear news from the NAMM floor, click the orange banner below to follow along.