The use of our original Air Seal System is, in part, responsible for the superior quality found in Yamaha drum shells. Select woods are cut into plies, positioned with staggered diagonal seams, and sealed together with evenly distributed air pressure. The resulting shells are perfectly round and of uniform thickness delivering superior tone quality and exceptional durability.

In production for over 25 years, our world famous Recording Custom series has given our craftsmen a deep understanding of the characteristics of birch. It is with that knowledge that we have been able to extract a richer sound from these new drums. The shells are manufactured using our exclusive Air Seal System. This technique, while enhancing the characteristics of the wood, also ensures that every drum shell is perfectly round, of uniform thickness, and creates a stronger, more durable shell. Producing clear mid-and low-tones with sharp, solid highs, the Absolute Birch is sure to create a new standard for birch shell sound.

The Vintage finish is a special synthetic resin finish that is applied by hand on high-quality wind instruments. While enhancing the tone of the birch shell, the Vintage finish also provides a durable, waterproof finish that virtually eliminates the influence of weather and humidity on the drum. Over the course of time, the color of the shell will change to a deeper hue that you will surely love.

Height adjustment on the pedal side of the 18" bass drum is possible with the pipe post stabilizer. Use of this system ensures that the beater makes contact at the center of the head. The stabilizer fits into a pipe clamp on the underside of the drum that allows quick and easy adjustment of the height. The post is equipped with a memory clamp that ensures subsequent settings will be quick and precise every time, while a pair of supports provides added stability.

The unique chrome body lug casings found on the Absolute series are fixed to the drum shell with only a single bolt allowing the drum to vibrate freely. A special nylon insert prevents tension rods from becoming loose during play.

The aluminum die cast hoops give these drums the benefit of accurate tuning that die cast hoops are known for but are much lighter weight than zinc so they do not choke the drum like zinc die cast hoops do. They allow the drum to open up much like a triple-flanged hoop.

A sturdy hexagonal design and fixed angle position allow our spurs to withstand bass drum kicks. For the Absolute Birch we made the spurs heavier and even stronger. Height adjustment and the releasing and retracting of the pointed spur are made easily with a drum key.

All new Absolute bass drums come with die cast claws that are lined with plastic so they won't scratch the hoop or rattle if they are loose. The claw has a nylon insert that keeps the claw and tension rod from separating so you don't have loose parts getting lost when changing heads.

Long found on our high-end drum kits our original YESS (Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System) mounting system is on all Absolute Birch toms and floor toms. This rod clamp system allows attachment of the drum to the tom holder without the need of a hole in the drum shell for the rod to pass through. The YESS clamp is attached to the shell at the nodal point with two bolts so as to allow the shell to vibrate freely without degrading the shell's dynamic range and sustain. The nodal point is the location on a shell with the least amount of vibration allowing for the mount to have minimal affect to the resonance of the shell.

This round ball clamp has long been a fundamental part of Yamaha System Drums. Made of super-hard resin, the ball is held firmly in place with a steel plate and large wing bolt. While providing ease of operation, this system also delivers total freedom in setting and superior stability.

The triple tom holder accommodates two toms as well as a cymbal holder to provide a wide variety of set up possibilities.