Full blown set used with a few stands, cymbals, and some e-drums stuff for $2200. Had to ship from Ohio to West Coast to get it. They say these are the most recorded drums in history & I know why. Before I bought them, I hit a local Guitar Center & tried the current selection of DW's, etc. While I was there I sat on Yamaha's latest top-of-the-line birch set. It felt like home right away. While I was there, a guy came hrough who had been playing for so 40+ years. He tried everything in the store. I got up from the birch kit & told him to give them a try. He didn't want to get off either. They say drums "age" into their tone as the wood grows older. So I elected the predecessors of the current Yamaha birch setup & have no regrets. Sidebar: I ran into David Garabaldi at a drum clinic after watching him play a set of RC's with TOP. Asked him why he was not playing the newer set. His response )paraphrased) was: I have a lot of different Yamaha kits. To make this gig I had to pull these out of storage. I forgot how good they are. In fact, these may be my favorite drums, even better than my new ones. Drums seem to age, and these have aged well. His set was an anniversary set of RC's. Nuff' said. nothing. seriously. great construction, great tone, superb upper end hardware. Ten on a ten scale. Really, when you get to this level, how can you go wrong. I would HIGHLY recommend a set of Yamaha Recording Customs to anyone. Yeah, I know, they do not have all the "coolness" of the current DW's, and certainly their classic cherry wine & black colors seem boring compared to what DW & Pearl put out (of even some of Yamahas new stuff). Then again, you get the most recorded drums in history, top quality, and a nice looking set. Steve Gadd played these for years, along with Dave Weckl, Garibaldi, and many others. I don't usually buy into endorsements, but having owned a set, I also know they didnt just do it for the money. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
