Very Rare! Yamaha Recording Series Timpani Floor Tom 16”x16” – Excellent Condition!

Very Rare! Yamaha Recording Series Timpani Floor Tom 16”x16” – Excellent Condition!

I know I’ll regret letting this go…but here it is:

A supremely rare, beautiful looking, wildly revolutionary and (most importantly) fully-functioning Yamaha Recording Series Timpani Floor Tom (FT916T) in the coveted 16”x16” size!

If you’re familiar with this drum – hell, if you’ve been lucky enough to actually play one – then you know how special it is. 

And unlike ones you very occasionally come across on auction sites, this one looks hardly played. Which is crazy, considering it’s going on 35 years old! 

Check out the photos. You’ll only find the occasional shell imperfection and hardware blemish. Honestly, without a time machine, you’re not likely to ever see one in this condition:

–  One hundred percent birch shell, with hardly a mark on the natural wood finish. I’ve tried to capture the few minor nicks as well as possible. 

(NOTE: the tiny vertical lines visible on the shell in some of the photos are original to the drum, and not scratches. Yamaha scored the outside of the drum so that when the internal tuning mechanism was engaged, the outer ply did not form an irregular hairline split. This feature was only on the natural-wood-finished drums.)

– Bearing edges are smooooooth.

– The External Pedal & Internal Tuning Mechanisms work as flawlessly as they did on day one. Everything has recently been cleaned and serviced. 

– The remaining hardware is in tip-top shape as well, especially considering its age. This drum has been extremely well cared-for. 

– Nearly-new Remo Fiberskyn batter head, which I found flexible enough for floor tom, timpani, and even bodhran sounds. Remo Coated Ambassador on the bottom.

All hardware is original to the drum with the exception of the batter and resonator hoops, which I replaced with Pearl Super Hoops. These hold up much better under tensioning than the original thinner Yamaha hoops, and keep the drum more consistently in tune.

I also added part of a hardware clamp to the pedal leg to aid locking in the height (see photo). For owners of this drum, this was a common remedy; it can easily be removed. For those wanting a little extra drum height, I’m including an extension screw for the top of the pedal post.

I am the original owner of this drum. I purchased it in the early ‘80s after seeing Max Roach play one. At the time, I was told this was the latest and best iteration of the drum. Not long after, Yamaha discontinued it. (Go figure.) I’m scaling back my collection and haven’t played it in well over a year, so it needs to go to a good home where it will get the appreciation and playing time it deserves.

Because of the rarity of this drum, I will have it professionally packed for shipping.

Exceedingly rare. A joy to play. Nothing like it on the market. Guaranteed to increase in value.

Own a piece of drum history!