First in UK Yamaha Recording Custom Finishes!

New Yamaha Recording Custom Finishes: Polar White and Red Autumn

Two new Yamaha Recording Custom finishes have arrived at Graham Russell Drums. We are the first drum shop in the UK to have Polar White and Red Autumn in store.

Although the finishes are new, the kits retain the established Recording Custom construction. The 6-ply, 6mm North American birch shells have 30-degree bearing edges, while Yamaha's weighted high-tension lugs and YESS tom mounting system are designed to maintain a clear, controlled shell response.

Recording Custom in Polar White

The Yamaha Recording Custom Drum Kit in Polar White is a four-piece shell pack comprising a 10" x 7.5" rack tom, 12" x 8" rack tom, 16" x 15" floor tom and 22" x 18" bass drum.

Polar White gives the Recording Custom a clean and contemporary appearance. It is a straightforward, versatile configuration with two rack toms, one floor tom and a full-depth 22" bass drum.

Recording Custom in Red Autumn

The Yamaha Recording Custom Drum Kit in Red Autumn is a five-piece shell pack comprising a 10" x 7.5" rack tom, 12" x 8" rack tom, 14" x 13" floor tom, 16" x 15" floor tom and 22" x 14" bass drum.

This configuration adds a second floor tom and uses a shallower 14"-deep bass drum. Red Autumn has a warmer, more traditional appearance, with the beautiful wood grain remaining visible beneath the finish.

The Recording Custom Story

The current Recording Custom has a direct connection to the classic Yamaha 9000 series introduced in 1975. Those birch kits became a familiar sight in recording studios and were closely associated with Steve Gadd, who worked with Yamaha on both the original drums and the redesigned Recording Custom introduced in 2016.

The Red Autumn configuration is particularly reminiscent of Gadd's familiar 10", 12", 14" and 16" tom setup with a 22" bass drum. You can read more about the development of the range in our Yamaha 9000 Recording Custom history and buyer's guide.

Completing and Protecting Your Kit

These kits are supplied as shell packs without a snare drum. Our selection of Yamaha snare drums includes several suitable options for completing the setup.

Players intending to transport either kit can also consult our Protection Racket drum case buyer's guide. The two configurations require different bass drum cases, so it is important to check both the diameter and depth when choosing a case set.

Both new Recording Custom finishes are available to view at Graham Russell Drums.

Written by Joel for Graham Russell Drums