Not sure when but it seemed for a while they were using all sorts of woods for a fairly short period- right before pulling the plug with Sake drums who was making them since 1967.

Maybe they wanted to see what "stuck" so they knew what to make in China on their own.

It seems the birch and oak stuck well. I guess beech wasn't as popular? I've never even seen a set in person...

And what happened to the PHX line?

As far as the Yammy Beech goes,I never saw a kit in in the three Yammy dealers in Atlanta,as I remember they came out before the Oak CustomsI did see the Oak Customs in those dealers.As I remember the Beech Customs cost less than the Maple ,Birch,and RC's,but a more than the Oak customs.

I only saw one Beech Custom,I got to play it and hear it from out front on a kit share,I thought they sounded and played very nicely.

I think Yamaha may have offered them to fill a void in the market, at that time the only major maker that had offered beech was Sonor,and at that time the less and more expensive Beech lines,Phonic and Signature respectively, had been discontinued.

The other thing that could have hurt the line was the limited amount of finishes,I think they started with 6,and I only liked two of them,the green and the purple.fairly soon after that Yammy released the Oak Customs,which were even less expensive,and that could have hurt the BC's also IMO.

As far as I know the PHX line is still available and is the only Yamaha line still Made in Japan.

Sounds reasonable.

I want to try the PHX drums at some point but I have my doubts they will be that much better than the RC... But I've been wrong before!

I still think Kansas drummer Phil Ehart plays Yamaha Beech. Seems his current kit is about 5 years old or so. I have no idea otherwise.

You can buy an older version of his actual kit here http://www.ebay.com/itm/PHIL-EHART-YAMAHA-BEECH-ABSOLUTE-WMP-KANSAS-2001-TOUR-SET-/322176485074?hash=item4b033706d2:g:6f0AAOSwEK9TyEev

Bear in mind that artists get wherever they want from Yamaha. They don't pay endorsers only supply them with gear. I learned that first hand from Dave Weckl at a clinic. He's been with Yamaha since the Regan administration... And they don't pay him, just give him gear.

I like it from a customer stand point because he truly loves the drums. I'm certain every other drum maker on earth has offered him cash to be an endorser. From a drummers perspective it sort of sucks in that you could make a lot more money playing another brand...

I'd settle for that sort of endorsement deal.

I take it seriously when I see that an artist has been with a company for a long time.

Al

I bought some stands a while back from a guy in CT who was endorsed by Yamaha and he said the same thing... Made me think twice about the drums he had for sale (since he probably paid zero for them)

I was told beech from Germany is sonically superior to other speices, that's why the Sonor sound is so special;. Admittingly, it takes time to grow on you, but when it hits, you,re a customer for life.Cool1

That's how most endorsements are now. They give you a kit, then give you a 1099 for the cost of the kit.