Yamaha experts on holiday? :)

Not holiday- just out to lunch.

Ok. The 8's were the same across lines (custom, force and power) so they all have the same badge. Why the Y? I don't know why the Y. Probably for Yamaha.

I bought my blue kit new in 93 but the dates are from 1980-up. I can't remember the date of the newest one but I think it was 90. The color didn't exist in 1980 ( at least not in any catalogue). A theory I have is the shells and badges are paired when made and then the finish is applied later??? No idea. Since mine was a custom order and not a "standard" configuration, most of the drums came out of the California warehouse but the 12 (I think) came direct from Japan. I also had one trashed hoop but it was replaced shortly after receiving the kit. It was originally a double bass kit but I sold one a few years ago and replaced it with a RF 20" kick.

The salesman tried to turn me on to the cherry wood finish, but I wanted that blue since I saw a kit in 89 or so at Sam Ash across From Berklee in Boston.

Edit- your kit is in really nice shape! Congrats!

Thank you J!m for your nice reply. Although it doesn't solve my question, it was interesting hearing about your blue drums :)

Thanks yeah, the kit is in good shape after 25 years of usage and gigs. However, cosmetically not so great. Take a look at the scratches on them in my videos below. I didn't look after them as well as I could have, which is a pity really. I don't know by how much this would/might devalue the price if I ever wanted to sell.

8" 10", 12", 15" toms.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql_KAKHyQ2M"]Toms - YouTube[/ame]

20" bass drum

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3wJKsZl8YA"]Yamaha 9000 RC Bass drum - YouTube[/ame]

Near the start of the bass drum video, I point to a scratch line on the hoop. That is actually the point where the hoop had completely broken along that line. This was many years ago and was repaired with epoxy glue and hasn't been a problem since. The split on the outer side is covered by the lug bracket. I don't remember what caused it to split. I think the drum, while inside it's case, must have taken a fall while unloading from a van at a gig.

Hi Merlin,

Your drums are early 90's, PF sizes were not available in the early 80's until 84'. The Y on the TT-908Y denotes the YESS version (93' and up), before then they were labeled TT-908-RC... The badges are another giveaway, the pre-YESS drums have that air vent hole in the middle of the badge while the YESS version had the air vent hole moved underneath the tom mount.

Hope this helps.

I didn't see the YESS mount last night. I didn't open the first picture.

But I think my 8 is the same way and is not a YESS mount. But all the 8's are 8x8 so used in all "lines" and that question about why it has a different badge compared to the others has come up.

Anyway, the dating is accurate per Yamaha, but not based on reality. As pointed out, the deeper For e drums were not available in the supposed year of manufacturing. Similarly my drums which I am remembering as 80-89 date codes but purchased new by me in 93, and the cobalt blue didn't exist in 1980! The sizes did exist. Mine are standard depth even though that wasn't "cool" in the early 90's. I'm glad now I didn't compromise on that but I never bought into the whole idea of deeper drums.

OK!

I found the file with all my serial numbers.

And I can confirm my 8 has the RC suffix, not the Y, so Joao was right- the "Y" apparently designates the YESS mount.

Anyway, here are mine, edited for security (I have an insurance policy)

8 X 8 TT908RC HI-3xxx 1981 / February

10 X 8 TT910RC Q Y5xxx 1980 / November

12 X 8 TT912RC IM-1xxx 1982 / June

13 X 9 TT913RC QK-0xxx 1980 / April

15 X 12 TT915RC PM-4xxx 1989 / June

16 X 16 FT916RC QP-4xxx 1980 / September

18 X 16 FT918RC PK-2xxx 1989 / April

22 X 14 BD922RC PH-3xxx 1989 / January

22 X 14 BD922RC PH-3xxx 1989 / January

Still looking for my original receipt (I do still have most of the original boxes) but I'm fairly certain it was 1993 that I got them.

Here's a question for you guys: My 20" kick has a model number of BD920RF (so it's a 16" deep "force" series drum) but the serial is PY 4xxx. It's a 1989 drum, but what month? This is the data I have:

1980-1989: Drums are coded with two-letter prefix on the serial numbers. The first letter in the serial number indicates the year of manufacture; the second letter is the month.

*Indicates prototype of first run in production.

I don't see a "Y" on the list...

Anyway, a few photos from when it was last set up:

Thanks for the info Joao3208. I still don't understand then why the serial numbers, according to the Yamaha dating page are giving dates before 1984.

J!m, beautiful blue drums! And yeah, that does seem odd that there's no letter Y.

Thanks man. I tore them all down a few years ago and cleaned and waxed them.

There's a nasty snare scar on on of the toms but otherwise they are very clean. That was supposed to be my last drum kit but I ended up with two more anyway!

These seems to be incorrect:

15" tom: model TT915RF England

(serial QP - 0181) Sept 1980?

10" tom: model TT910RF England

(serial IM - 2074) June, 1982?

Because the Recording Custom was also made in the UK between 1987 and 1992:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_Drums#Acquisition_of_Premier

This to serve the European market better with the high demand of the RC.