About Birch Custom Absolute Nouveau

The Birch Custom Absolute offers a modern interpretation of the birch sound made famous by the Recording Custom series. In production for over 25 years, the acclaimed RC has given Yamaha's craftsmen a deep understanding of the characteristics of birch. It is with that knowledge that they have been able to extract a richer sound from the Birch Custom Absolute. It retains the birch character but is slightly livelier, more rounded and deeper.

The new birch sound is due to a number of factors such as the nodally mounted small lugs. The bass drum also has four extra sound holes around the front end which allow air to escape smoothly, reducing backlash vibrations returning from the front head. The result is that the Birch Absolute has opened out slightly with an even crisper attack.

The shells are 6-ply tom-toms and 7-ply bass drums. Like all Yamaha shells they are manufactured by the Air-Seal System process which ensures that every drum is perfectly round and of uniform thickness. Both Birch and Maple Custom Absolute drums have the same number of plies and are available at the same price in the same finishes. This means you can combine birch and maple drums in the same kit if you wish. The thin shells and small lugs also ensure the Absolute series is relatively light in weight, making it a joy to transport. Yet at the same time, because of the Air-Seal construction, the drums are immensely strong.

The shells are finished on the outside with extremely tough polyurethane. The nine-step, seven day finishing process provides a deep, rich lustre, the culmination of over a century of acoustic instrument manufacturing. The Vintage Natural finish is a new hand-applied sealed coating which will mature beautifully with age.

All drums are fitted with Yamaha's Enhanced Sustain System (YESS) which provides minimum mount-to-shell contact to increase resonance and sustain. The lightweight yet rigid aluminum die-cast hoops rims provide pinpoint, stable tuning with cracking rim-shots. And the look is completed by the sleek, classically proportioned Custom Absolute chrome lug casings. Each lug is fixed to the drum shell by a single bolt, again allowing maximum shell vibration.

Bass drums now have die-cast claw hooks with tension rod inserts that make changing heads easier, and a new spur with a larger diameter leg for extra stability.

What Do I Get For My Money

Birch Custom Absolute drums are available in 3 shell pack configurations or as individual shells allowing you to build your perfect set of drums in the sizes you want to play.

The price of Birch Custom Absolute individual drums does not include any tom arms which need to be purchased separately.

If you would like a quote for a Birch Custom Absolute drum kit please contact us with a list of the shell sizes you would like (see below for available sizes)

It is worth bearing in mind that although there is normally a limited stock of Birch Custom Absolute drums available for immediate purchase, most kits would be Special Order, made exclusively for the customer and shipped from Japan, taking between 4 - 6 months.

Available Sizes

Shell Packs

Jazz Fusion - 20"x16" bass drum, 10"x09", 12"x10", 14"x12" rack toms (includes tom holders)

Fusion - 22" x16" bass drum, 10"x09", 12"x10", 14"x12" rack toms (includes tom holders)

Rock - 22"x16" bass drum, 12"x10" & 13"x11" rack toms, 16"x16" floor tom (includes tom holders)

Bass Drums

18"x14", 18"x16"
20"x16", 20"x18"
22"x16", 22"x18"
24"x16", 24"x18"

Floor Toms

13"x14"
14"x14"
15"x14"
16"x14", 16"x16",
18"x16"

Rack Toms

08"x07", 08"x08"
10"x7.5", 10"x08", 10"x09"
12"x08", 12"x09", 12"x10"
13"x09", 13"x10", 13"x11"
14"x10", 14"x12"
15"x13"
16"x14"

Colour Options

The Birch Custom Absolute series drum kit is available in 6 different standard UK finishes.

To view these available colours, click on the icons above.

Yamaha produce a total of 33 different colours in the Absolute range, many of which are only avalable on special order. These take between 14-16 weeks.

For more info on the complete list of colours please click here.