Yamaha PHX Series Drums...

[CopelandsSplash]

I saw and heard these things at NAMM.

I thought they sounded okay un-miked and AMAZING mik'd!!!

Anyone have any comments or thoughts about these SUPER HIGH END YAMMIES?

[Jax]

I wanna hearum.

[Jax]

The Yamaha drums web page doesn't have any information about the PHX series. 11 plies would be about 6-8 too many for me, but who knows until you play 'em.

Here's the only press info I could dig up. So far, there's nothing about the PHX series on Yamaha's drum site:

PHX Phoenix Kit Unleases a New Era for Yamaha Drums

— New Ultra High-End Drum Set Pushes Musical Boundaries —
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Not resting after celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Yamaha Drums will begin its push to further drumming innovation over the next 40 years when it introduces its ultra high-end PHX Phoenix Drum Set at Winter NAMM 2008.

In Yamaha's quest to continually expand the boundaries of musicality for drummers, the company used newfound Asian woods to create the PHX kit.

"These particular woods, jatoba and kapur, have never before been used to make drums, and when you put them together in a specific combination, they produce an amazing musical tone," says Dave Jewell, marketing manager, Yamaha Drums, Pro Audio & Combo Division. "We've discovered one of nature's secrets."

In addition to sounding great, the 11-ply shells are a sight to behold. The center ply, jatoba, is an extremely hard wood that provides the drum's core note. On either side are four plies of kapur, which is a softer wood than jatoba. The inner and outer plies of the shell are customized, using maple or a combination of a burled ash outer ply and a maple inner ply.

The concept behind the PHX Phoenix shell construction is to use the hardest wood in the middle surrounded by softer plies of wood; this produces a sonic "ripple effect" similar to the sound a pebble creates with waves when dropped in water.

"The trend today is thin shells, but frankly, these drums—made with this specific wood combination — do not sound 'thick,'" said Jim Haler, product manager, Yamaha Drums. "They go against every sonic standard of a thick shell."

Joe Testa, Yamaha Drums international artist relations manager, added that "We brought these drums into the studio with some of our top artists, and the difference is astounding. I describe it this way: when most drums are struck, the sound comes from them and hits you. With this kit's sound, it hugs you. Imagine your current Yamaha sound with a natural preamp on it. Generally, a kit's sound improves with age. On the PHX Phoenix, the aging process seems to be accelerated. Within just a week of playing it, the sound matured immensely. It really is beautiful."

Not only is the shell construction a new venture for Yamaha, the kit's new and improved mounting system is, too. Developed to make the fundamental tone of each drum clearer and better defined, the wooden tom mount, combined with shock-mountable rubber contact points, provides ultimate resonance. As with all Yamaha drums, the mounting points are positioned at the nodal points of the shell.

The newly designed detachable lugs are mounted where the overtones are the highest. The balance of the nodal point mount and the overtone point of the lugs help mute unwanted overtones, making the fundamental tone come alive with much more clarity.

"The PHX Phoenix was not made to replace our current high end drums, but rather to supply drummers with another musical voice in their arsenal," said Jewell. "Yamaha Drums will continue to create instruments that further a musician's capability to create better music. We pride ourselves in being the choice for those serious about their music."

Available with chrome or gold hardware and in nine impressive finishes (four maple, five in burled ash), the PHX Phoenix drumset is expected to ship in March 2008.

For more information, visit Yamaha at Winter NAMM 2008 in Booth 4578, Hall C in the Anaheim Convention Center; write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Drum Products, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; visit Drums by Yamaha, garnering high acclaim from world's top drummers.

[drumsunlimited]

Wow Jax you really did your homework, I just happen to visit my Drum Shop today and my buddy Jeff showed the Brochure on the new Series ,YIKES very High End, Beautuiful venears everything you said is dead on and thanks for sharing. Now heres a situation or opinion depending on your perspective in reading FORD DRUMS on their opinion on Shell definition and structure and talking to a drum manufacture,their opinions say that when you add or mend together 2 different wood types both have separate identities and voices and frequencies alone they vibrate at different vibrating sonic properies but together they clash one will usually cancel out another, also in cross laminating the plies, and glue its shell depth , size, many ,many things can alter the sound properties of an other wise shell thats made of already just one type of wood. Ford believes it is only the inner ply that makes the tone of that peticular drum and that sound does not penitrate to other plies to change that tone. Whew! am I boring you yet?Any way there,s got to be something to they other opinion since Gretsch adds a Gumwood to their shells and now they invest in proportionate shells depending on size and depth, Pearl with their reference series and so on , SO Jax or whoever can you share some of your wisdom on this subject, is it valid? Or is all this just more hype?

[Stixxs]

Looking like some high end DW Exotics...Very nice.


Yamaha PHX Phoneix Series - DRUMMERWORLD OFFICIAL DISCUSSION FORUM

[Ismael]

I can imagine how some of our drumming for fathers felt and talked about when drum companies put out the new drum kits. At that time I guess they would have called them "high end drums" and I suppose to them they were very expensive.

However that didn't change the responsibility of drum manufacturing companies to research and develop better drums (high end drums)
Thank God!

I can also imagine how these drummers felt when they first heard and played these "high end drums" Thank God!

We are in a very highly technical manufacturing age with robotic machinery and 3 d cad systems and the ability to make things smaller and with a "high end precision".

So I'm not surprised that Yamaha came out with a "high end kit" that's really high up on the technology to deliver the next generation drum kits.

We must realize that this process of research and development comes at a great deal of time and expense to bring it to us drummers.

Imagine if after the first Yamaha kit was made, the company said HMM good enough it sold and they like it DONE!

There would be no Recording custom kits, No Maple custom kits or the new hardware on rims that don't need to be removed now when changing the head.

No, I say this new PHX kit is a start of a new generation of kits that sound like no other drum before. Just like the drummers of the 50's thought before us.

I for one am going to buy this kit and hopefully in the future this new technology drum will get even better.
Below is a link where I found great pricing for these "high end drums"
When I consider I paid 5 Grand for my 6 piece Custom Maple kit, $6,500 out the door for the same kit in PHX series is not bad for all the new technology.

So let’s keep moving forward and hear what's next!!

Here’s the link if the forum will allow me to post it here.
www.westcoastdrums.com/yaphxphdr.html

Ismael

[Ismael]

IT seems to me that if the Yamaha Company, as they advertise, recorded these drums in a studio with top artists, that they should post those recordings on their web site.

I left a message with Mr. Crane, at Yamaha requesting that they do. Maybe this will be done. Soon I hope!

[Chaffee Music]

Yamaha just posted videos on their website showing a bunch of artists with the PHX drums in the studio. Tommy Aldridge, Ndugu Chancler, Russ Miller, Dave Weckyl, etc etc etc...

The videos are long, so I haven't gotten to watch all of them yet, but it seems pretty cool. Check it out: http://www.yamaha.com/thehub/home.ht...0&CTID=5042001

[dan_zero]

Originally Posted by Chaffee Music

Yamaha just posted videos on their website showing a bunch of artists with the PHX drums in the studio. Tommy Aldridge, Ndugu Chancler, Russ Miller, Dave Weckyl, etc etc etc...

The videos are long, so I haven't gotten to watch all of them yet, but it seems pretty cool. Check it out: http://www.yamaha.com/thehub/home.ht...0&CTID=5042001

amazing videos.


great drums, and such rich endorsements! i want them.....

[Nutmeg II.]

I can't see to much inovation in the PHX.
It's just another drumset.

Sit down behind one, bang on it and decide if you are touched by it's sound and expression or if you think it is just another drumset or even that it is crap.

[eugen3]

YouTube - Yamaha PHX Test
check this out, really sweet

[Kronos147]

Gary Novak has a set of the PHX drums at our studio. They are pretty killer. The only drums that compare are the old Gretsch.

[ninogg_93]

Hey guys.. can anyone tell where can I buy a PHX snare drum???

[Dog Boots]

Originally Posted by ninogg_93

Hey guys.. can anyone tell where can I buy a PHX snare drum???

No such thing exists, I'm afraid.

[Pawel]

Originally Posted by Dog Boots

No such thing exists, I'm afraid.

Hand-Engraved Phoenix Snare Drum Marks the 40th Anniversary of Yamaha Drums

[Dog Boots]

Originally Posted by Pawel

Hand-Engraved Phoenix Snare Drum Marks the 40th Anniversary of Yamaha Drums

Ok, technically there's something called the "Phoenix Snare drum" - but it hasn't got anything to do with the PHX-series. It's brass, not 11-ply wood.

[RubixGroove]

I've always been afraid of Yamaha... just don't trust buying drums from a company that makes EVERYTHING. I definitely can see how most people would enjoy their look, but those gold rims/lugs are a bit too much for me!


Can't wait to see the new generation of over-pampered kids, conning their parents into getting them this kit then not having ANY idea how to articulate it.

[Dog Boots]

Originally Posted by RubixGroove

I've always been afraid of Yamaha... just don't trust buying drums from a company that makes EVERYTHING.

It's not like it's the same worker who on mondays makes motorbikes, on tuesdays designs digital consoles, then on wednesday...<snip>

So you don't trust using drums from the company whose drums are the most recorded ones in history? Makes sense...

[drumzealot]

Originally Posted by RubixGroove

I've always been afraid of Yamaha... just don't trust buying drums from a company that makes EVERYTHING. I definitely can see how most people would enjoy their look, but those gold rims/lugs are a bit too much for me!


Can't wait to see the new generation of over-pampered kids, conning their parents into getting them this kit then not having ANY idea how to articulate it.

Yamaha makes some of the best mass-produced drums ever, IMHO. And I've worked with all the major brands.

[Dog Boots]

Originally Posted by eugen3

YouTube - Yamaha PHX Test
check this out, really sweet

Thanks!

That was from the beginning a temporary one - wasn't satisfied with it.

I now have two new ones up instead:



and with a different tuning: