Hi all, looking for some information on this Yamaha Steel Shell snare. I think it is early 70s or late 60s? Serial number 4204. Looks like it will be a nice, bright beast I'll need to tame somewhat, but looks all original, intact and pretty decent. Will clean up very nicely. Anything you cats can tell me is as always appreciated.
Cheers - John
Here is another shot of the butt end. It's adjustable. And the badge.
Hi John!
This is indeed a very nice snare - two years ago or so I shot almost the same instrument on fleabay, and was surprised how great it sounds. Put new heads and snares on - WOW!
Mine didn´t have the original strainer though and is missing the internal muffler as well, the badge looks like yours but without a serial number. Strange. All other specs are the same - they could be twins!
Sorry I can´t give you an answer according the year of make - did you try the "Yamaha-dating-page" already? Don´t know the exact address at the moment, but it´s out there somewhere in the web!
I´d confirm your suspicion of late 60s/early 70s so far.
Great snare - have fun!
Greets Jurgen
Late 60s/early 70s is about right. I had one (also missing the original throw) that came with my D20 kit. Very nice steel snare.
I had one with the original throw, which was earlier than the one on your drum. If I remember, it was a 3 digit serial number, and was from the early 70's. I think the model was an SDM5. It sounded fantastic! Sold it to the drummer for Charlie Pride's band who loved it so much he took it on tour with him. It only brought like $200, which I was disappointed in, because I think these will be collectible someday. It was a stunning example and I should have kept it!:(
Here are a few pics:
Thank you all for the replies! Appreciate all the details. I am going to clean her up!
That has the identical muffler as the Oval badged Yamaha made Rogers R-360s/380s - made in the same period. Interesting - never knew Yammys had the same muffler.
Both the snares in this thread a beauties! Certainly worth keeping an eye out for.
Yamaha did not get into drum manufacturing until 1967or68, many years after other MIJ companies got into the game. It is speculated that (among other factors) they were late to the party because they were sitting back and watching the others (Pearl, Star, Hoshino) so as to learn from other companies' mistakes and experiences. If there is truth to this theory, it is evident in the quality of their drums dating even back to their first productions. Today, they all make good gear. The historical view is that perhaps more than any other MIJ, they have the reputation as never making any junk at all, regardless of which model.
Lovely snare.
I can a get a NOS of that version. Maybe ill snatch it when I'm back at my vintage Yamaha mojo.
