Thinking about buying a cheaper bop kit (Yamaha Stage Customs) for portability/do not have to baby them. Anything I should know before I proceed?

felis · Mar 25, 2023

I've had a couple Stage Custom bop kits.
I didn't like the 6 lug bass drum/floor tom, thought the bass drum didn't have enough oomph, but liked the stock tom heads.

Currently, I have a 5 pc. Stage Custom with a 20" bass drum,
and after cutting the bass drum depth down to 14", I like everything about it.

mydadisjr · Mar 25, 2023

felis said:
I've had a couple Stage Custom bop kits.
I didn't like the 6 lug bass drum/floor tom, thought the bass drum didn't have enough oomph, but liked the stock tom heads.

Currently, I have a 5 pc. Stage Custom with a 20" bass drum,
and after cutting the bass drum depth down to 14", I like everything about it.

Yeah, I had the Yamaha SC 10-12-14-20 set and it was really great except that darn 17" deep kick. I should had it cut down, I even knew a good repair guy to help do it, but I just never got around to it and wound up selling the set. Shoulda cut it down!

Really a great finish (the gold-ish natural birch), good hardware, and the 6 lug 14" ft sounded really good in spite of the 6 (vs 8) lug design.

Still pretty tempted by that AQ2 Bop kit tho!

5 Style · Mar 26, 2023

mydadisjr said:
Yeah, I had the Yamaha SC 10-12-14-20 set and it was really great except that darn 17" deep kick. I should had it cut down, I even knew a good repair guy to help do it, but I just never got around to it and wound up selling the set. Shoulda cut it down!

Really a great finish (the gold-ish natural birch), good hardware, and the 6 lug 14" ft sounded really good in spite of the 6 (vs 8) lug design.

Still pretty tempted by that AQ2 Bop kit tho!

I get that… I bought a used Premier XPK kit just a couple of years ago and I feel that it’s better than it has the right to be for how little I paid for it. I hate the fact though that the 20” bass is so deep (maybe 18”, not sure) and even though the rack toms (I only use the 12” one) aren’t “square" ones (I wouldn’t have bought the thing if that were the case), they seem about an inch or so deeper than the standard traditional depths for those sizes… and though that part of it is a more subtle thing, it still kind of bugs me!

Plaid Sabbath · Mar 26, 2023

shuffle said:
Nothing wrong with Stage Customs,great bang for the buck View attachment 614438

I really like that. Been contemplating putting together an SC kit like this. Looks great in a one up/two down set up. Now you got me thinking…

Matched Gripper · Mar 26, 2023

Jazzhead said:
Because they raised the price on Gretsch Catalinas, I would say stage customs but Sonor will put all of them in the back pocket. SONOR makes the BEST affordable kits, the quality and sound are way above its price point.

The AQ2 price point ain’t what it used to be.

mydadisjr · Mar 26, 2023

True that...

current prices for 4 piece (18" kick) bop sets (Sweetwater)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

YAMAHA SC $499

SONOR AQ2 $779 WHITE MARINE finish only

SONOR AQ2 $999 Titanium sparkle or Aqua burst

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Is it worth $280 to get 8 lug kick and FT plus all maple shells?

*I sure do not like the look of the 6 lug bass on the Yamaha.... BUT....

*I think Birch can sound just as good as Maple

*Really prefer the Yamaha tom mount and bass legs (the Sonor mount is BIG and clunky)

*Sonor bass legs are not expandable, so using a lift (which I like to do on an 18") takes some adapting on the Sonor

*not a big fan of wraps on modern drums

I think I would go YAMAHA if I had to buy one today.

Matched Gripper · Mar 26, 2023

mydadisjr said:
True that...

current prices for 4 piece (18" kick) bop sets...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

YAMAHA SC $499

SONOR AQ2 $779 WHITE MARINE finish only

SONOR AQ2 $999 standard finishes

Looks like the lacquer finish is $1,139 at most dealers like DCP.

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moneydog59 · Mar 26, 2023

mydadisjr said:
True that...

current prices for 4 piece (18" kick) bop sets (Sweetwater)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

YAMAHA SC $499

SONOR AQ2 $779 WHITE MARINE finish only

SONOR AQ2 $999 Titanium sparkle or Aqua burst

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Is it worth $280 to get 8 lug kick and FT plus all maple shells?

*I sure do not like the look of the 6 lug bass on the Yamaha.... BUT....

*I think Birch can sound just as good as Maple

*Really prefer the Yamaha tom mount and bass legs (the Sonor mount is BIG and clunky)

*Sonor bass legs are not expandable, so using a lift (which I like to do on an 18") takes some adapting on the Sonor

*not a big fan of wraps on modern drums

I think I would go YAMAHA if I had to buy one today.

2 things, one, I had the 18" kick AQ2's and found out that, although they sounded really good and the 18" kick, for it's size, was close to a cannon, they were heavy. So if weight is an issue, I would keep that in mind. The other thing, I own both the Stage Customs and the Gretsch Catalina's and my opinion, the Stage Custom's overall quality is superior to the Catalina's. I'm gigging with the Stage Customs, 24 x 15 kick, 12, 14, 16 in toms...I like it alot. I've also got the 20 in kick that I had cut down, so it's 20 x 14.

shuffle · Mar 26, 2023

Plaid Sabbath said:
I really like that. Been contemplating putting together an SC kit like this. Looks great in a one up/two down set up. Now you got me thinking…

Bought the 20,10,12,14 then added the 16,Az Drum Shop

Skyrm · Mar 26, 2023

shuffle said:
Bought the 20,10,12,14 then added the 16,Az Drum Shop

Did the same, though DCP. My local shop, Stebal’s, had like a 5 month delivery wait. Love the kit.

mydadisjr · Mar 26, 2023

moneydog59 said:
2 things, one, I had the 18" kick AQ2's and found out that, although they sounded really good and the 18" kick, for it's size, was close to a cannon, they were heavy. So if weight is an issue, I would keep that in mind. The other thing, I own both the Stage Customs and the Gretsch Catalina's and my opinion, the Stage Custom's overall quality is superior to the Catalina's. I'm gigging with the Stage Customs, 24 x 15 kick, 12, 14, 16 in toms...I like it alot. I've also got the 20 in kick that I had cut down, so it's 20 x 14.

When I had my SC kit I went thru it with a fine tooth comb... took all heads off, lubricated things, waxed the edges etc. I swear I could not find ONE FLAW on that set. Everything... finish, chrome, edges, drilling, hardware... was close to perfect. Yamaha has really got the QC thing under control.

OTOH, I have owned two SONOR sets, both had QC/construction issues.

Plaid Sabbath · Mar 26, 2023

shuffle said:
Bought the 20,10,12,14 then added the 16,Az Drum Shop

Very cool. Thinking about grabbing the 18/12/14 bop kit and adding a 22” kick and a 16” FT for a small shell bank.

Seems lie a no-brainer for a good knock-around kit. Pretty impressed with the SC lineup.

mydadisjr · Mar 26, 2023

To further muddy the waters, I have always been impressed with the newer SUPERSTAR CLASSIC...

Here is a nice Tama SSC set I just found online, $500 used, all maple (AFAIK), free shipping WITH snare drum and 14"x18" kick, very nice tom mount, Tama QC and quality.

shuffle · Mar 26, 2023

Plaid Sabbath said:
Very cool. Thinking about grabbing the 18/12/14 bop kit and adding a 22” kick and a 16” FT for a small shell bank.

Seems lie a no-brainer for a good knock-around kit. Pretty impressed with the SC lineup.

I did the same thing 2-3 yrs ago,bought a black 20" kit and added a 22 and a 16.
You won't be sorry.
18s aren't my cuppa so I don't mess w em.

Frank Godiva · Mar 26, 2023

This discussion highlights how different the Sonor corporate philosophy has changed over the decades. It was run by the Link family which did not like anything to suggest a lower tiered offering. Today it is owned by a music conglomerate with very different approach to the market. The old way of doing business would not have faired well today.

Being known for high quality at a budget price price really was not what the Links had in mind. From the 85 MD interview

“We don't try to compete with the big manufacturers, like the Japanese, in terms of quantity; we compete with quality. We maintain a quality that is better and has a higher standard than anything else.

Our drums are expensive there's no doubt about that-but we have no intention of making compromises. We will never sacrifice quality for a cheaper price.

You might suggest that, if we brought the price down, we could sell more drums, but we can't bring the price down and maintain the quality. We would rather sell fewer drums than compromise in this way.

The idea of the Signature series was for us to come out with a drumkit that couldn't be made better. It should really be the best! Forget the price. Even if it was so expensive that nobody could afford it, we just wanted to build the best. We never intended it as a big seller, but as it turned out, it exceeded all our expectations.

For the home market, we sell more Phonic, Phonic Plus, and Performer kits, but in other countries where we are 'in the lions' den' and the competition is greater, like America and Japan, the Signature is the best-selling kit in our whole range. There is also the fact that we sell more kits in America than anywhere else, so you can see how successful it has become." H Link

mydadisjr · Mar 26, 2023

Frank Godiva said:
This discussion highlights how different the Sonor corporate philosophy has changed over the decades. It was run by the Link family which did not like anything to suggest a lower tiered offering. Today it is owned by a music conglomerate with very different approach to the market. The old way of doing business would not have faired well today.

Being known for high quality at a budget price price really was not what the Links had in mind. From the 85 MD interview

“We don't try to compete with the big manufacturers, like the Japanese, in terms of quantity; we compete with quality. We maintain a quality that is better and has a higher standard than anything else.

Our drums are expensive there's no doubt about that-but we have no intention of making compromises. We will never sacrifice quality for a cheaper price.

You might suggest that, if we brought the price down, we could sell more drums, but we can't bring the price down and maintain the quality. We would rather sell fewer drums than compromise in this way.

The idea of the Signature series was for us to come out with a drumkit that couldn't be made better. It should really be the best! Forget the price. Even if it was so expensive that nobody could afford it, we just wanted to build the best. We never intended it as a big seller, but as it turned out, it exceeded all our expectations.

For the home market, we sell more Phonic, Phonic Plus, and Performer kits, but in other countries where we are 'in the lions' den' and the competition is greater, like America and Japan, the Signature is the best-selling kit in our whole range. There is also the fact that we sell more kits in America than anywhere else, so you can see how successful it has become." H Link

Bought a Force 3007 kit brand new about ten years ago... QC, finish and engineering (legs, tom mount) was terrible, sent them back. They felt like just another "stencil" Chinese set.

Hope they are better now....

aarono2690 · Mar 29, 2023

Was talking with Rhyma and I think I have my beater bop kits narrowed down to Tama Superstar Classic or the Sonor AQ2.

Anyone got an opinion on these two kits specifically and how they compare against each other? As I stated in my OP, all my kits are Tama currently so it MIGHT be nice to mix it up and try another company out to learn what I like/dislike.

mtarrani · Mar 29, 2023

aarono2690 said:
Was talking with Rhyma and I think I have my beater bop kits narrowed down to Tama Superstar Classic or the Sonor AQ2.

Anyone got an opinion on these two kits specifically and how they compare against each other? As I stated in my OP, all my kits are Tama currently so it MIGHT be nice to mix it up and try another company out to learn what I like/dislike.

You cannot go wrong with either.

DanRH · Mar 29, 2023

I cut my 20” and never looked back. Here’s my video on my SC.

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Drum Set - Circa 2020

Plaid Sabbath · Mar 29, 2023

DanRH said:
I cut my 20” and never looked back. Here’s my video on my SC.

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch Drum Set - Circa 2020

Thanks for that post. Finally got around to subscribing to your YT page.

Kit sounds pretty good. Nice to hear it with the 2002s as well (my preferred cymbals).

Cheers. :occasion5:

Thinking about buying a cheaper bop kit (Yamaha Stage Customs) for portability/do not have to baby them. Anything I should know before I proceed?

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“We don't try to compete with the big manufacturers, like the Japanese, in terms of quantity; we compete with quality. We maintain a quality that is better and has a higher standard than anything else.​

Our drums are expensive there's no doubt about that-but we have no intention of making compromises. We will never sacrifice quality for a cheaper price.​

​

You might suggest that, if we brought the price down, we could sell more drums, but we can't bring the price down and maintain the quality. We would rather sell fewer drums than compromise in this way.​

​

​

DFO Veteran

“We don't try to compete with the big manufacturers, like the Japanese, in terms of quantity; we compete with quality. We maintain a quality that is better and has a higher standard than anything else.​

Our drums are expensive there's no doubt about that-but we have no intention of making compromises. We will never sacrifice quality for a cheaper price.​

​

You might suggest that, if we brought the price down, we could sell more drums, but we can't bring the price down and maintain the quality. We would rather sell fewer drums than compromise in this way.​

​

​

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“We don't try to compete with the big manufacturers, like the Japanese, in terms of quantity; we compete with quality. We maintain a quality that is better and has a higher standard than anything else.

Our drums are expensive there's no doubt about that-but we have no intention of making compromises. We will never sacrifice quality for a cheaper price.

You might suggest that, if we brought the price down, we could sell more drums, but we can't bring the price down and maintain the quality. We would rather sell fewer drums than compromise in this way.

“We don't try to compete with the big manufacturers, like the Japanese, in terms of quantity; we compete with quality. We maintain a quality that is better and has a higher standard than anything else.

Our drums are expensive there's no doubt about that-but we have no intention of making compromises. We will never sacrifice quality for a cheaper price.

You might suggest that, if we brought the price down, we could sell more drums, but we can't bring the price down and maintain the quality. We would rather sell fewer drums than compromise in this way.