Actually its called "Real Wood".

-Adam

I assumed your kit ran the 7000 series numbers. I was unable to verify the actual numbers on the badge. Your kit appears to have the darker of the two finishes.

9000 series was called Real Wood. The late 70s was also called Real Wood for both the 9000 and the 7000 series. But, by 1980 the 7000 was darkened and the lighter Real Wood finish was relegated to just the 9000 series and eventually the 8000 series. Your kit appears to be the darker version of the finish. Real Wood is a much lighter shade.

If I'm wrong, I apologize. This sure looks darker to my eyes.

No problem man! Just letting you know. Sorry if it sounded like I was being a know it all. Its actually an 8000 series. 1983. Two letter serial...made in mid-late 1983.

Adam

Very neat kit.

Honestly, I should have just noted that the lugs were not pyramid, and I would have known it was an 8000. Just wasn't paying attention. Those have gotten much darker over the years. That's interesting. They must be the Real Wood finish. Have you seen pics of how light they started life? Pretty wild difference.

I really like those shell builds from that period of Yamaha manufacturing. Excellent drums.

Congratulations.

An update: the 13 is actually 11 inches deep, which makes the 16/10/13 really work for a "bop" kit. Sounds great as a floor tom! The standard 22/10/12/16 is a great all around kit, and if you REALLY wanna rock you can throw the 13 up top and the 16 down low...or just go nuts and put up the whole pile!

-Adam

Nice kit! I have the ´83 catalog. This finish was called NW - Natural Wood.

There you go! Proves what I know!

-Adam

I've got some cats that also call the 7000 and 8000 and both variations of the 9000 series Real Wood and the 7000 series Dark Wood. It depends decidedly on the year and the cat. I've got a Japanese cat that calls it Real Wood and another US cat that only lists the finish choices under the Model Number breakdown with no series distinction. Confusing?

I would imagine that it really doesn't matter, so long as you like the natural wood finish ... which I most certainly do.

Me too. This kit is something special. It really has me jazzed on yamaha quality.

Its definitely a modern style kit, but it feels vintage...if you know what I mean. 30 years old but still new feeling because of the shells/edges and mounts. I really dig it. It sounds AMAZING too...which is the main thing.

-Adam

Do the model numbers start with 9? i.e BD922, TT912,FT916? If so, those are the 9000 pre-recording custom drums. they were the top of the line Yamaha's. I have a kit exactly like that from 1980-81. Yamaha used the split lug on them before switching back to the single lug design. All birch shells. Yamaha had factories in Japan and Taiwan that both made the kit with no difference between them. Absolutely beautiful kit!