I did end up buying the drums. I went to the store and when I saw them, I had reservations! There were two kits of Yamaha's. One was 10,12,13,14 toms with a 22 x 16 kick. The other was older, 12/13/16/22 x 14. The guy running the shop was selling them for a rehearsal studio which had closed down. These drums were hired out for 30 years. I could have chosen the other kick drum but decided not to break up the original set - turns out it was a made up set anyway, but what the heck the 22 x 14 was what I took home. I knocked the price down quite a bit so I did ok. These drums had been so used, there was a groove like a valley in the bass drum hoop, from a thousand drummers putting pedals onto it. The hoops are actually the worst part. I'm completely restoring them, may take a while. In the meantime I have my Pearl hoops on the drum. Lots of gashes in the kick - it's the worst. I have disguised them a lot. I was thinking of getting it sprayed - still might. But this has turned into a different sort of restoration for me. Sound Level was a place were nearly every professional in the music world in Sydney rehearsed at one time or another. It was a place for casual rehearsals too; but often a place for rehearsing for tours. Many fine drummers would have played this kit. Many of these drummers are friends or acquaintances of mine. I started to feel like I didn't want to just wipe out all that history - those were great days. I wanted the mojo - but not the dirt! I took off the heads (wrecked) and the rims; then cleaned the lugs while they were still on the drums. Then took off all the hardware for polishing. Cleaned the shells with sugar soap spray. Then used all my supply of Novus on them. Polished all the chrome with Blue Magic. Touched up all the bad gashes with furniture restorers coverup - basically wax with dye in it. Moved the worst lugs out of site. Everything works fine. The serials:

2x8 : TT 912RA IN - July 1982

13x9: TT 913RA IN - July 1982

16x16: FT 916RA KX - October 1984

22x14: ????C LN6165 - This bass drum has half a tag. I am contacting Yamaha about the date, but if anyone has any ideas, please post.

These are not the earliest RC's. As has been posted here, the earliest ones were natural wood finish. They are indeed rare.

How do they sound? Well, they sound great. But the bass drum and the floor tom sound the best - I believe because they have the double 45 edges. The two rack toms have what I would call a double round over - maybe there is the slightest apex, but not much. I am planning on having these toms re-edged if I keep them. I played them at one gig - loved the kick and snare; not so keen on the toms. I know it's a big decision with the edges, but I think the toms lack a bit of cut for live. Still thinking about it. All the rest - the gashes, scratches, the stickers, the half badge - the more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to leave them. I know the forum needs small pics to archive, but I'm late for work so I'll do that later. Here's a link to some pics. The shots in the garage are pre-restoration - I set them to see how they would fit together.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9532680@N04/sets/72157641550410123/

You made the right choice. Those sizes will be popular until the end of time. RCs are on my long term list of kits to get. Some day. Some year.. Congrats.

Nice drums troutstudio,

Regarding your kick drum, the model should be BD-922RC and the LN dates the drum to July '85. The floor indeed is '84 right around the time they switched to the natural 45 degree edges which they decided to keep for nearly 30 years in other words this is what Yamaha decided to settle for these drums. Maybe that explains your preference for the floor and kick. Those round edges on the RA toms give it a more warmer sound than the natural edge drums. You might also notice a thinner shell on those toms than on the kick and floor.

I have an '84 black 14x8 snare with the natural edges that sounds marvelous... Going back to your drums if you are not too keen about the rack toms and plan to let 'em go you got a buyer for that 12'' rack tom here. I have an RA kit and all I'm missing from completing it is a 12 inch,... Let me know if that's something you want to think about.

Killer drums, enjoy!

I just picked up a set of RC's off of craigslist. Serials put them at 1982. Paid $250 for 4 RC drums plus a mismatched snare (a Yamaha from another series). I sold the snare for $200, and bought a couple parts (tom arm, new bass spur bracket), so I have $100 into these. Sizes are 22x14, 12x10 (yeah, I know everybody loves to hate on the power toms), and 16x16. I have the matching 13x12 tom, but I don't dig the two-up tom setup. Drums sound great! Have spent very little time tuning and dialing them in, but they already sound great. Gonna keep this one and use it for gigs. Can't beat a solid gigging kit for $100...

Here's a quick pic in bad light. I'll post better pics later, and perhaps a soundfile too.

You nailed that deal, bigtime. Enjoy.

I have a set of RC's that I have been playing for 25 years. I can't find a reason to change. FYI, Since Yamaha no longer has a relationship with Sakae, who actually built the line, and RC's are a thing of the past makes them a true entry into the vintage field. ( I am curious to try a set of Sakae drums though.)

Just stumbled on a very sweet and very complete Solid Black RA series set. 22x14, 10x8, 12x8, 13x9, 14x10, 16x16, 22x14, and matching 7x14 snare. All stands ... even the SB-910 Bass Support! I love the kit. Actually had ordered a new (last of the shells) RC in Antique Sunburst, but pulled it when this kit presented itself. These complete RA kits are HARD to come by.

The RA series has a much thinner shell with a rounded bearing edge and a warm woody colored paint inside. I've owned RC's over the years, but these first gen RA series are quite a bit different.

You did very well to purchase the RA kit. Hang on to those. They will net you more if you ever lose your mind and sell them ;).

Great thread, by the way. I've been contemplating starting a Yamaha Recording Custom History thread. Glad you put this up.

Just wanted to thank everyone for the posts and info (esp the serial info joao3208) I have handed the mounted toms to an excellent drumsmith. There's something not quite right about the 12", that's for sure. I did play them on a gig though, and really enjoyed it. If I can sort the toms out, it will be a killer gigging kit. My mate Dave even loaned me his 12 and 13 RC's for tonight. When I get my kit back together, I will do some sound files too. Thanks again. pk

The edges on the two racks were indeed, all over the shop. I understand how the rounded edges may appeal to some, but not to me. The kit was fairly trashed, so my decision to have the edges set to double 45 was fairly easy. The drums sound better. In fact, the singer mentioned that they sounded "almost as good as the Pearls" (I know - but it's a compliment, believe me) Here's the thing though. I've discovered I prefer maple to birch in a live kit. So I will be selling these after all. On to whatever . . .