Here we have another stunning Pre-Loved Yamaha find! Offered for sale here is a beautiful Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute drum kit in Blue Ice Sparkle. This kit was one of the last made at the Yamaha Japan Facility and features the (sakae constructed) thin Maple Shells and the revolutionary design Y.E.S.S. 2-m mounting system which in later years formed the basis for the current re-designed versions now found on the PHX and Hybrid series.
In the last year of production Yamaha introduced the Y.E.S.S. 2-m mount, a new vent hole philosophy and some new colours, Blue Ice Sparkle was one of the newly introduced colours making this Absolute a fairly rare colour and spec.
Y.E.S.S. II was an improved version of Yamaha’s original tom mount, known as the Y.E.S.S. (Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System). Its unique design, which minimizes interference with the shell’s natural response was adopted for the PHX Series and was quickly praised by pro players worldwide. The Y.E.S.S. II-m model, which uses a metal plate instead of the wood plate found in the Y.E.S.S., was adopted for the Absolute Series, producing even longer sustain. In the Y.E.S.S. II-m mount system, the number of supported points (rubber spacers) is adjusted according to the size of the tom. For example, the number of supported points is minimal for a lightweight tom. For a heavyweight tom, rubber spacers, ranging in diameter from small to large, are carefully selected and distributed in order to modulate the rumbling caused by the weight of the drum. This resulted in clear response and well-balanced rumble from one drum to the next.
Yamaha also changed the Vent Hole positions and amount of vents on the final run of the Absolute’s. The vent hole plays an important role in performance, since it affects not only the sensation of hitting the drum (the impact) but also the initial sound, sustain and tone.
Through an exhaustive series of prototypes, Yamaha discovered the optimal number and vent hole position depending on the air capacity of each shell. Particularly, vent holes contribute to the enhancement of tone colors in midrange to low-frequency sounds, as well as the control of sustain. These designs have continued to the Absolute Hybrid and PHX.
The Absolute is an absolutely awesome drum kit, it took over from the Maple Custom series, it features 6mm 6 ply 100% Maple Toms and Floor Toms and 7 Ply, 7mm Bass Drums, the sound produced is great for the studio or live, great projection yet full and warm tone. Production of the kit came to a close when the Japanese factory (run by Sakae) ceased to produce for Yamaha. The new Chinese factory owned by Yamaha now produces the Absolute Hybrid which is the latest version of this series.
Other notable features on this kit are the famous Yamaha Air Seal System which refers to Yamaha's unique shell building philosophy and the Aluminium DieCast hoops on the Toms and Floor Toms.
- Ice Blue Sparkle Lacquer Finish
- 20 x 16 Drilled Bass Drum
- 10 x 7 & 12 x 8 Toms with Y.E.S.S. II-m Mounts
- 14 x 13 & 16 x 15 Floor Toms with Y.E.S.S. Brackets
- 100% Maple Shells, 6mm Toms, 7mm Bass Drum
- Absolute Lugs
- Re-Designed Vent Hole Positions
- Aluminium DieCast Hoops on all the toms
- One of the last ever face lifted kits Made In Japan
- Includes Double Tom Holder & 6 floor tom legs
- Fitted with brand new Evans G2 batter heads, Genera Reso heads and an EMAD bass drum batter
- PreLoved 9/10 Condition - A couple of pit marks on 16" floor tom batter hoop and the usual bass drum pedal rash on the bottom of the back bass drum hoop.