PRODUCT REVIEW : YAMAHA OAK CUSTOM

While we’ve all become accustomed to seeing and hearing drum kits made from maple, beech, mahogany and birch, the noble oak has never been widely used as a raw material in the drum industry. Although its reputation for toughness and solidity might imply a definite suitability for shells, the timber has never enjoyed a high profile where kits are concerned. Until now.

The arrival of Yamaha’s new Oak Custom range looks set to shine the spotlight on the wood, with drummers around the world keen to discover just how it performs. Will its hardness make for a powerful, charismatic voice or just one that grates after a while? Before we get to sonic properties though, a few words about the specifics of the Oak Custom series.

There are several key new features of interest – and the first relates to the physical dimensions of the drums themselves. All the Oak Custom bass drums (whether 18", 20", 22" or 24" in diameter) are 17" deep, the extra inch over ‘standard’ depth designed to give an extra kick down low. And where the toms are concerned, all popular sizes – 10", 12" and 13" mounted and 13", 15" and 16" floor – come in ‘universal’ sizes, placing them between standard and power-sized toms. This arrangement is perfect for those seeking a combination of fast attack, volume and roundness of tone.

The sheer choice of sizes in the Oak Custom range is to be welcomed too. In addition to the drums already mentioned there is a choice of snare depth (14" x 5 1/2" or 14" x 7") and 8", 14" and 16" mounted toms, plus 14" x 14", 16" x 16" and 18" x 16" floor toms. So the series allows enormous flexibility in putting together your ideal, no-compromise kit.

In typical Yamaha fashion not only is there a great choice of shells in the Oak Custom range, but construction quality is second-to-none throughout. The newly-designed lugs are very attractive and disturb the shells as little as possible for maximum tone. The use of elegant YESS mounts means resonance is promoted with the minimum of fuss and general finishing is superb.

But of course, what you really want to know is how these drums sound. And there’s no disappointment here. The extra depth of the bass drums means that even the modestly-sized 20" kick has a beautifully round, powerful bottom end that provides a perfect foundation for stomping funk or dance tunes. And the snares (which feature a clever batter-side fan of snare wire that the player can adjust in or out of the equation for extra fullness) are poky but tastily sweet.

With such a wide choice of toms from which to select your perfect kit there really is something for everyone, and their general characteristics reflect that of the Oak Custom drums as a whole. There’s a good solidity to the mid-range without quite the aggressive focus of beech and a lovely warm low end that approaches the fatness of maple. And they’re loud. Plenty loud.

The Oak Custom is a very confident, assertive-sounding range of drums, but there’s no hint of that nasty honkiness that sometimes afflicts kits with a strong mid-range. In short, the series is a must-check-out for those needing a commanding, strong-toned set-up for situations where acoustic volume is also high on the list of requirements. Which probably includes quite a lot of us…