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Recording custom catalogue

Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

So I finally got a copy of the catalogue (more of a flyer really) of the recording custom line from 1990 (I think) which shows the cobalt blue as a color option. It also has the "force" version (deeper toms). I've been looking for a while and found older and newer ones but this is the one I picked my sizes from in 1993 or so. They discontinued the cobalt blue right after I bought my kit and never reissued the color.

Anyway, I thought there was a download section for this sort of stuff. This one got wet in the rain unfortunately but I opened it up and dried it out. It is a bit wrinkly unfortunately.

It was cool to look through it again.

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 7 years ago
#1
Posts: 5356 Threads: 87

Nice find on the catalog Jim. Hope you can get some pics up of it. Would be cool to see.

Glenn.

Not a guru just havin fun with some old dusty drums.
Posted on 7 years ago
#2
Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

Yeah I guess some pics would be good. Maybe later tonight if I get a chance.

It seems to have fared well after being soaked in the rain. Just a bit wrinkly is all.

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 7 years ago
#3
Posts: 6363 Threads: 223

Try this website for catalogs... http://drumarchive.com/ A wealth of catalogs, but I didn't see any Yamaha catalogs from the 90's. Still an excellent resource, though!

-Mark

Posted on 7 years ago
#4
Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

Great resource!

But those are all older catalogues. The cobalt blue was only offered in the tour line then.

The odd thing is, the dates on my drums are 1980-1989, even though I purchased them (new) in about 1993. I should still have my receipt but too many other things going on lately...

The flyer I just got shows the cobalt blue available for the RC line.

Maybe an earlier catalogue (1980?) would show the cobalt blue for the RC line...

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 7 years ago
#5
Posts: 164 Threads: 7

The first appearance in my extensive library of catalogs mentioning the Cobalt Blue is from 88.

The 86 catalog shows a slightly different color named Fine Blue and was only offered at the Tour Custom.

I also have catalog from 81 which shows the name YD-9000 with the word Recording as extra, which makes 81 pre- Recording Custom.

www.musiqoundsproductions.com
Posted on 7 years ago
#6
Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

Yeah I know it is strange my drums are serialized as early as 1980 yet the color was not available then. Maybe the shell and tag are stored and then they get finished as needed? I don't really see that happening either...

I did see the "fine blue" color in the catalogues but never in person- Possibly even more rare than the cobalt blue!

Finally there is the "Recording Standard" (RS on the tag) and "Recording Custom" (RC on the tag). Standards were the same drum with a wrap rather than a lacquer finish. More durable finish better suited to the road. That didn't last long however.

Then there is the RF ("Force" series, deeper depth) and the "power" series, which I assume has RP on the tag and these are what I call "square" toms- depth is at or near the diameter. Really ugly.

Power and Force were popular in 93 (or so) when I got mine and there were not a lot of options for "standard depth" drums. Yamaha was pretty much it, and as I recall, the ONLY option for all birch shells in standard depth at the time.

Another bit of useless trivia: my 12" tom had to come direct from Japan as it was not in stock in California. I also had one bass hoop that was trashed in shipping, but that was replaced with a new one.

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 7 years ago
#7
Posts: 164 Threads: 7

And don't forget the GA series (natural and wrapped) made in Taiwan between 77-80. Exactly the same drums but just made in Taiwan had a few of those in my kits too.

www.musiqoundsproductions.com
Posted on 7 years ago
#8
Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

That's a nw one on me too.

I've never see the GA series... They marketed them as Recording Customs?

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 7 years ago
#9
Posts: 164 Threads: 7

From J!m

That's a nw one on me too.I've never see the GA series... They marketed them as Recording Customs?

Yamaha endorsee Joihjohll has a view on this.

http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1003159&postcount=4

Although it is documented that the Taiwanese sets were made between 1977 and 1980 (my bad I thought it was 79):

In 1977 Yamaha expanded into overseas drum production, opening a facility in Taiwan.A different version of the 9000 was built called the YD9000D and it lacked the full-length braced lugs. Yamaha’s tight budget at the time could not stretch to investing in moulds for the Taiwan factory.Instead it had the earlier ‘YD’ shaped single lug, minus the internal spring. Despite rather missing the point, it must be said this was a good looking kit and has a scarcity value today.Steve Gadd was involved in the design details and his Black Piano Lacquered kit would become the most desired and copied in the drum world during the 1980s.The Taiwan operation lasted for three years after which the extra production load was taken on by Sakae back in Japan.Meanwhile, in 1978, the series had moved onto the Japanese-crafted YD9000R. This was when Yamaha’s experience and expertise with piano lacquering/painting techniques were adapted to the drums, causing a genuine sensation in the drum world. Steve Gadd was involved in the design details and his Black Piano Lacquered kit would become the most desired and copied in the drum world during the 1980s.Recording Custom at lastIn 1982 Yamaha invested in new moulds for the hi-tension lugs, making them springless and thus silent. Soon everyone wanted a 9000 kit and the belief that they were the ultimate modern recording drums gained universal acceptance.The ‘R’ on the YD9000R title led drummers to refer to the ‘Recording’ series, although this was not officially sanctioned by Yamaha until 1985. Ever since, drummers refer to these kits loosely as ‘9000’ or ‘Recording Custom’ kits. Perhaps the most outrageously brilliant marketing pitch regarding the Recording Custom was the way we were persuaded that birch was the ‘recording’ wood. Ironic since all those great American and UK records we worshipped had been recorded on largely mahogany (Ludwig and Slingerland) or maple (Gretsch and Rogers) tubs.Birch, it was now pointed out, had a slightly more focused and punchy timbre than maple, which was seen as bright, and mahogany which was seen as dark. Drummers, certainly in the UK, had previously not really been aware of what woods were used in manufacture, and the RC was massively influential in bringing about this awareness.

http://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/the-complete-history-of-yamaha-drums-640489

Funny detail. The article says the Taiwan factory never got the high tension lugs, but I know for a fact that several high tension lugged 9000 kits left that factory (I owned three and my friend has a NOS for sale as we speak)

www.musiqoundsproductions.com
Posted on 7 years ago
#10
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