The Maple Custom Absolute comes complete with die cast hoops, the Maple Customs (discontinued at the time of this post), came with triple flange hoops. Maple Custom Absolute is 6py toms and 7ply bass drums. Maple Custom was 7ply toms and 10ply bass drums. These MCAs also are using the Y.E.S.S. Mount II's, where the Maple Customs did not see those upgrades before being discontinued. How do you like the sound of THIS kit?!
Went to Guitar Center with enough cash to buy any kit three times over. They were setting up a 5-piece DW collectors kit in Natural Stain on the floor. Behind that was a used Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute five-piece kit in near-mint condition. They were skinning the DW with the same heads on the MCAs. Evans G2 coated on top and Ambassadors on the bottom. Bass had a Remo Ebony and a EMAD on the impact side. Same DW 5000 pedals on both kits. I hung around until they finished about an hour later. A Dude comes and beats on the DWs. They were great sounding. He ran a key to the toms and came out with an even richer sound. Outstanding. Other guys and girls in line took the DWs for a spin. The line to play them was l o n g! I just sat behind the used Yamahas watching and listening to some future great drummers taking a wail at the DWs. An early teens girl is burning away at them, motions to this old dude to play. Some sticks are handed to me and I take a ride on the used MCAs. WOW!! I wanted to go home with the MCAs right then! Shit! The guy that tuned the DWs to perfection had already paid for them and was there to pick them up. Beautiful kit in a Silver fade to black. Year and a half later I see a MCA kit in 8,10,12,13, 14, 16, 18 and a 22 and 24 inch Bass drum in "Great condition" at GC on line out of Colorado. I'm surprised they didn't split the kit in two! 1800 bucks? Mine!! Since my purchase I've come to find that any kit larger than a five-piece was a custom order and rare. A 24 Bass was even rarer. A 20 inch Bass drum even more rare. Not the slightest variation of stain among all the drums and they all got sequential serial numbers, even more rare. Someone paid some big bucks for this kit and the folks I talked to at Yamaha/Sakae in Japan said the customer waited 9 months for these drums. They were the Last custom order set in Plum Stain finish with sequential serial numbers. I picked them up at the local CG a week later after work. The impact side hoop of the 22 inch Bass was broken in two places during shipping. They took off another 200 dollars and out the door I went with a 9-piece, mint-plus Maple Custom Absolute in Plum Stain for 1600 bucks. I ordered a hoop from Keller unfinished and got a well known local luthier to stain it as close as possible to what I have. he got 95% there. That hoop is on the impact side anyhow. They've been sitting in the middle of my living room and get played just before walking out the door to go to work. They get beaten first thing walking in after work, and just before going to bed. For an old dude who left drumming for over thirty years they are my most prized possession and have given me over 4 years of great sound in my living room. Since then I've purchased two more drums in the same stain color on Ebay that don't match for spare parts and have spent another 2 grand in Yamaha's HexRack system. The best rack in the business too! Gonna die playing a dream to reality kit!
Holy shitballs this is the deal of the century. $1800 for ALL THAT... then knocking off another $200..? That's about as good as the lotter. Great story. I owned the same sizes (minus the 18, and two 22s) and wish I'd never sold them. Best sounding drums I've ever played, and owned, and I sold them to downsize & make a few bucks cash. So glad to know others have the same respect for them that I do.
Reading this 6 years after, what an amazing story!!!!! would be awesome to see or hear you playing that amazing kit, have you ever uploaded any video?? MCAs are hands down the best sounding drums I've ever played with (I'm 33 and playing since 12 yo). Cheers from Buenos Aires, Argentina 🍻🍻
Hi Sherwood, a wrap finish will only change the sound slightly. It will be very difficult to tell any difference. There are a lot of theories regarding "dampening" the drum with a wrap finish as opposed to a lacquer finish - but a great drum will still sound like a great drum, regardless. You are right, these are incredible Japanese drums.
i really enjoy watching videos of the drums sold by MDS and I always try to find my dream kit here. These toms sound very very good. Probably the best sounding toms ever to be put on a Memphis Drum Shop youtube video !!
what is your favorite drum company, i own a tama and a slingerland, im looking for a new set, lately ive been really loving yamahas sound, i like the high end pearls as well but i would probably go yamaha
Thanks for the reply. Great sounding kit, for sure! The reason I ask is I have a 90's Maple Custom kit and I'd been considering going the Maple Custom Absolute route, but honestly I think they are very close to equal in quality and tone. However, the MC toms needed to be taken off the older style YESS mounts and have RIMS installed to get the most out of them. Absolutes are worth every penny!
Is there a chance that you fine people at MDS could post Tune-Bot settings for each drum in this kit, including the snare? Thanks. It would be much appreciated!!
I've always thought of the brand Yamaha as so so, and rather bland when it comes to drums.....BUT I must admit my ears don't deceive me....These sound great, as most of their drums do! I've noticed this for quite a while now, and it's just more proof of why the Yamaha brand is so strong in everything they manufacture. Ben did an excellent job here, as well! If he gets bored or tired of demoing, he never lets it show. He always looks like he's really in the moment!
I heard some roumours that Yamaha drums manufacturer Sakae Rhytam wil stop with production for Yamaha and wil produce only his own brand , Sakae drums ! is this true ? ( PS - I notice lately that some Yamaha endorsers are allready swiching to other brands ! Rus Miller - Mapex , Eric Harland - Sakae , Ton Dijkman ( The Netherlands ) - Gretsch ,.... !
Larry Tate We think that the PHX and Absolute kits are both excellent drum sets. Some might say the PHX has a improved sound due to the hybrid shell construction, but that depends on your personal taste! What's your opinion?
Well I have the Yamaha absolute maple nouveau kit which I love. The phx I was considering in the future as my studio kit and then I would make my absolute nouveau maple kit my gig kit. I've never heard the phx in person yet though so it's hard to tell from videos only.
just heard the new Hybrids. Not digging them, shells sounded too boxy to me. Thuddy, if that's a word. Hopefully Yamaha keeps their birch sell going, and maple shells as well.
