Yamaha Rydeen Series Kit
92
GEAR REVIEW
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R
ydeen is apparently the name of
the Japanese God of Thunder. It
was also the name of Yamaha’s
starter kit before the Gigmaker
replaced it 10 years ago. Now Rydeen is back,
ousting Gigmaker. The kit is offered in a choice
of 20" or 22" fi ve-piece shell packs with a
cracking set of stands and pedals. An optional
deal on a Paiste 101 cymbal set is also in
the offi ng.
Build
Gone is the Philippines mahogany of old,
replaced by more sustainable white wood
poplar. Shells are 6-ply and 7.2mm thick.
The butt join is vertical (not Yamaha’s
Air-Seal angled seam), but they are well
fi nished with a horizontally-laid inner ply
and accurately cut 45° bearing edges.
Our review kit is 22"x16" (actually 17"
by my measurement), 10"x7", 12"x8",
16"x15", with matching wood 14"x5½"
snare. There’s an alternative confi guration
with 20"x16" bass and 14"x13" fl oor tom.
Pictured is the Black Glitter fi nish and there
are two other glitter wraps – Silver and
Burgundy, plus three solid colours: Mellow
Yellow, Hot Red and Fine Blue. These wraps
are smart rather than spectacular, but the
colour choice is good.
Lugs are a familiar Yamaha small button
low-mass design, 16 on the bass drum, 12
on each tom and 16 on the nicely matching
snare drum. They are spring-less to prevent
rattling/humming.
Bass drum hoops are steel, inlaid with
matching coloured wrap. This is a classic
budget feature, but there are arguments
in favour. We know here at
Rhythm
that
with review kits, if anything is going to crack
during the sometimes clumsy transit back
and forth, it’s a wood bass drum hoop,
especially those of cheaper kits. Since the
wood on budget kits is softer than on
top-end kits, the much stronger metal
hoops make sense.
From £550 Yamaha’s newly rejuvenated kit is
up there with the best new budget-starter sets
YAMAHA
RYDEEN
SERIES KIT
WORDS: GEOFF NICHOLLS
Hands On
Where the drums are good (three stars) the
accompanying 600 series hardware is
excellent (four stars). Of professional quality
in design and fi nish, it will survive all but the
heaviest of prolonged use.
There are two boom cymbal stands which
rise generously to 6ft fully extended, with
their three section housings (not two, which is
often seen with budget hardware). The snare
THE LUGS AND SYSTEM HARDWARE
GIVES THE RYDEEN THAT CLASSY
YAMAHA AESTHETIC, EVEN THOUGH
THIS IS A MODEST KIT
BLACK GLITTER
The Black Glitter covering of
the review kit is chosen from
one of three glitters and three
monochrome wraps
drum stand likewise extends high enough so
that you could play it standing up if the need
arose. The basket is secured as usual by a big
nylon black wheel, but Yamaha has made this
much easier to grip with fi nger-friendly
‘starfi sh’ arms.
The basket angle adjustment is continuous,
not geared, which is also preferable, and the
three support arms are super-strong.
Everywhere you fi nd Yamaha’s familiar
1
NATAL ARCADIA
We say: “With premium
features from Natal’s
high-end lines, adapted
for the working
drummer, the Arcadia
series sets a stunning
new standard for
entry-to-mid-range
drum kits. ”
2
PEARL MIDTOWN
We say: “ Poplar shells
again and this time on
a scaled-down kit. Ideal
for a younger player,
beginner, or for
rehearsals and for
smaller gigs. ”
| JUNE 2017 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
RHY268.gear_yamaha.indd 92 4/20/17 12:53 PM