Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Review 

The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch drum set has been an institution in the drumming world for almost thirty years. The Stage Custom drum set is extremely popular amongst drummers worldwide, admired for its great sounds and rock-solid dependability.

The Yamaha Stage Custom has been recently updated to feature 100% birch shells, die-cast bass drum claws, new lugs, and attractive finish options. The Stage Custom Birch drum set has a fantastic legacy, and it’s now better than ever!

In this Yamaha Stage Custom review, I’ll be taking an in-depth look at the sounds, build quality, playability, and value of this drum set to determine if it’s worth the investment!

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Shell Pack Gallery

Contents

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Shell Pack Ratings

Sounds

4.8

4.8/5

Build Quality

4.9

4.9/5

Playability

4.8

4.8/5

Value

5

5/5

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Sounds

The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch drum set is a premium quality 5-piece shell pack that takes advantage of 100% 6-ply Birch shells. Birch is a classic choice of wood in the realm of top-quality drums!

Birch is renowned for its bright and punchy sonics, and a snappy attack with a focused tone. Birch is a popular wood for premium level drum sets and has traditionally always been the first choice for recording studios.

Putting the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch drums to the test, each drum speaks with a clear tone that has a relatively short sustain, which I personally really like. It’s a more focused and drier sound.

All of the drums in the shell pack excel individually. The snare drum offers a great attack and responds well to all different playing dynamics. The kick drum is really solid and beefy, producing a satisfying low-end. The rack toms and floor toms produce a strong initial attack and a clean musical note. 

Overall the drums compliment each other superbly. Even with the factory-installed Yamaha heads, these drums tune up easily and have a wide tuning range. Eventually, these drums would benefit from upgrading to some quality two-ply drum heads, however.

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Build Quality

Yamaha is well-known for producing fine musical instruments. They don’t make cheaply built equipment. Yamaha’s drum sets are some of the most desirable and sought after because the Japanese company sets such high standards for build quality.

The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch drum set is no exception. Yamaha uses the same high-quality metal lugs and hardware (including tom mounts) on the Stage Custom drums as they use for their top-of-the-range drum sets. 

The overall quality of the drums and the hardware is outstanding, considering the affordability of the set. It’s also worth noting that the is expertly applied Honey Amber finish looks fantastic with a high-gloss lacquer.

Everything feels rock-solid, and the drum shells themselves are thick and sturdy. The shells are precisely constructed, and the bearing edges are smooth across all of the drums. The quality of the shell construction is superb for an intermediate level drum set. 

The hardware adorned with the shells, including the lugs, is equally impressive. Everything provides smooth operation and has a substantial weight. The Yamaha YESS mounting system, in particular, is very well designed and allows for effortless rack tom positioning.

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Playability

Sitting behind the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch drum set, you can appreciate its quality. The drums feel great to play, and they produce amazing tones across the board. They have a nice high-end attack while also being super responsive.

This is an ideal drum set for both studio and live use. The drums produce a strong fundamental tone that makes them perfect for recording with a drum mic kit.

Everything feels super reliable behind the kit. The drums and hardware are all substantial, and it feels like you are sitting behind a far more expensive Yamaha drum set, such as the iconic Recording Custom.

The snare drum is dynamic, articulate, and responsive. It produces a great crack while also having depth and body. The kick drum is focused and punchy, without being too aggressive. 

These drums are very enjoyable to play, and they are ultra-versatile. These drums would fit in amongst any style of music you wish to play!

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Value

The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch drum set gives the impression it is a more expensive drum set than it is. Everything feels so remarkably sturdy. This drum set boasts class-leading shell hardware and one of the best tom mounting systems available.

While it’s a mid-level drum set, the quality, and sounds of the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch far exceed its modest price point. This 5-piece Yamaha Stage Custom set offers incredible value for money.

Verdict

The Yamaha Stage Custom Birch is an exceptional drum set package that will last a lifetime. This drum set would be a perfect addition for all different drummers, ranging from students right through to teachers and working drummers.

The lively Birch drum shells produce remarkably clean tones, with a bright attack and a focused punch. The short sustain and strong attack makes them ideal for drum recording and playing a wide range of musical styles.

You honestly can’t go wrong with the Yamaha Stage Custom Birch. The affordable price tag makes them one of the best bang-for-your-buck drum sets you can buy today!