The drum is, of course, the oldest musical instrument. According to some sources, there is evidence of drums as early as 6000 B.C. Hollowed tree stumps with animal skin stretched tightly over the top were likely the earliest versions of what we think of the drum today.

So, after 8007 years, we are still placing skin on top of hollow portion of wood and calling a drum. Of course, now the animal skin is a high tech Mylar or similar material made to fit tightly on the drum. Drum heads are made using vacuum processing so they can be very thin, without air spots, and durable.

And the drums? Yes they’ve changed too. For example, the Yamaha Air Seal System. This system is, in part, responsible for the superior quality found in Yamaha drum shells. Select woods are cut into plies, positioned with staggered diagonal seams, and sealed together with evenly distributed air pressure. The resulting shells are perfectly round and of uniform thickness delivering superior tone quality and exceptional durability. We use this method to make every Yamaha drum shell, from entry level to professional series drums.

Which leads us to our recommendation...

The Yamaha Stage Custom Drum Set

$45/month rental!
Includes: 5-piece drum set, 6-ply mahogany shells, vinyl wrap finish, wood bass drum rims, matching wood snare drum, double-braced hardware, 4-piece Zildjian ZBT Cymbals (hi-hat, crash & ride), seat & sticks.

Air Seal System
The use of our original Air Seal System is, in part, responsible for the superior quality found in Yamaha drum shells. Select woods are cut into plies, positioned with staggered diagonal seams, and sealed together with evenly distributed air pressure. The resulting shells are perfectly round and of uniform thickness delivering superior tone quality and exceptional durability. We use this method to make every Yamaha drum shell, from entry level to professional series drums.

FRC Nouveau Lug
We took our revolutionary Nouveau lug and crafted it from a proprietary Fiber Reinforced Composite to create a drum that's lighter in weight and more resonant. The lug hooks onto a post that is mounted to the shell at the nodal point so there is no vibration of the shell dampened at the tuning points. The Nouveau lug also allows you to change heads in about half the time since the tension rods don't have to be removed to remove the head.

Mahogany/Falkata Shells with Birch or Oak Outer ply
Stage Custom Advantage Nouveau shells are constructed of an outer ply of Birch (gloss finishes) or Oak (matte finishes), six plies of Philippine Mahogany, and an inner ply of Falkata. The shells produce a warm tone with a low fundamental with a good balance of attack and sustain.

Mounted Toms and Floor Toms Equipped with YESS Mounts
Long found on our high-end drum kits our original YESS (Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System) mounting system is on all Stage Custom Advantage Nouveau toms and floor toms. This rod clamp system allows attachment of the drum to the tom holder without the need of a hole in the drum shell for the rod to pass through. The YESS clamp is attached to the shell at the nodal point with two bolts so as to allow the shell to vibrate freely without degrading the shell's dynamic range and sustain. The nodal point is the location on a shell with the least amount of vibration allowing for the mount to have minimal affect to the resonance of the shell.

Universal size toms
Mounted toms in 10", 12", and 13" are "Universal" size, one inch shallower than power toms that are used in the Stage Custom Advantage series. These shallower depth toms are more resonant and give you even great flexibility in how you set up. This is especially advantageous for younger players that need to set their toms up in a lower position.

Bass Drum Spurs
Sturdy, yet simple in design, the spurs hold the bass drum in place under even heavy playing. They are height adjustable with a drum key and for more stability there are spikes that can be exposed. The spurs fold up and out of the way for transport, but are marked with angle indicators so that you can set them at the same angle every time.

Ball Clamp & Triple Tom Holder
This round ball clamp has long been a fundamental part of Yamaha System Drums. Made of super-hard resin, the ball is held firmly in place with a steel plate and large wing bolt. While providing ease of operation, this system also delivers total freedom in setting and superior stability. The triple tom holder accommodates two toms as well as a cymbal holder to provide a wide variety of set up possibilities.

Matching Wood Snare Drums
To complete the high-end look of the kits, the SCAN series kits include a matching 14x5½" snare drum. This size is the most versatile, allowing you to fit into any musical situation. You can tune it up high and it will cut thru loud music, or tune it down for a wet, funky sound.

Four Gloss and One Matte finish available
Four Gloss and One Matte finish available:
Honey Yellow (HY)
Cranberry Red (CR)
Fade Raven Black (FBL)
Fade Brown Amber (FBA)

Matte finish available with an Oak outer ply:
Matte Sienna(MSN)

$35/month rental!
Includes: 5-piece drum set, 6-ply mahogany shells, vinyl wrap finish, wood bass drum rims, matching wood snare drum, double-braced hardware, 4-piece Zildjian ZBT Cymbals (hi-hat, crash & ride), seat & sticks.

Call for Purchase Price.

*On approved credit. Some restrictions apply. See store for details.

When learning to play the drums, beginning students will typically start on a single drum and advance to a kit which contains four or five types of drums and cymbals. We have both percussion kits and snare starter kits available for you.

When considering a drum or kit purchase, there are several things to look for:

Quality hardware

The hardware on a drum or kit usually includes the metal parts of a drum and all stands and mounting. Because drums take an enormous amount of abuse when being played, quality hardware is a must.

Look for larger diameter tubes on stands and booms.

They are more stable, resist bending, and can support the additional weight of bells, blocks, and other additional accessories. Avoid inexpensive hardware made of pot metals which are weaker and tend not to hold up at stress points such as tilters (“elbow” joints which allow positioning of accessories on stands and booms).

Memory locks

Not essential to the performance of the drum kit, memory locks are a convenience feature which retains the correct setting for your kit when disassembling it for transport or for a performance.

Drum body construction

Inexpensive drums use compressed particle boards to form the body. Better drums use ply, and professional level drums are often made of solid woods. At the pro level, finishes not only contribute to the beauty of the instrument, but also contribute to the overall sound.

Summerhays Music carries an excellent selection of kits and accessories for the aspiring drummer. Our staff can help you to select the kit that is right for you, and set you up correctly with the necessary accessories.

Rent or Buy?

Not sure if the drums are your thing? Take advantage of our rental program. If you decide to continue, you will have built up a credit during your rental period! So hurry in to Summerhays Music today! Whether you rent or purchase, we’re certain you’ll find something that meets your needs.