Yamaha PHX Drum Sets

Through extensive research and development Yamaha were able to develop an 11-ply hybrid shell that utilizes three different types of hard wood. Each wood plays a vital role in the overall performance of the drum.

• Jatoba (1-ply) - The Hardest material in the PHX Shell is positioned at the centre core and is responsible for the fundamental note of the drum
• Kapur (8-ply) - On either side of the jatoba is 4 plies of Kapur. This sustainably sourced wood is slightly softer than the core ply, yet still still really hard compared to most tone woods used in drum manufacture.
• Maple (2-ply) - Normally considered the perfect choice for drum shells due to its hardness, in the PHX it's actually the softest part of the shell, this allows the jatoba to ring clearly whilst providing the perfect canvas for the stunning finishes.

The bearing edge on PHX changes depending on the drum. All edges are cut to 30-degrees, however the radius differs to help maximise the acoustic performance.

• The rack toms have the most contact with the drum head which allows them to produce a richer, rounded tone.
• The floor toms have a slightly more rounded edge that helps to increase low resonance.
• The bearing edge on the bass drums is the most rounded with a radius of 1.5. This allows for a sharper, punchier sound.

Yamaha have developed a secret process to ensure that everyone of their bearing edges is finished to a perfect smoothness which guarantees a wide tuning range and makes the drums easy to tune and incredibly accurate.

The Hook Lug system that is used on the PHX range of drums is an evolution of the Nouveau lug that was originally developed for the Maple Absolute range. The concept was to allow for quick drum head changes without the need to completely remove the tension bolt.

The original system placed the hook lug at the nodal point - the part of the shell that had the least influence on the natural resonance of the drum. - The new system now places the hook at the area of the shell that produces slightly less desirable overtones, thus muting them and allowing the unobstructed, richer fundamental tone.

Yamaha use a 3mm aluminium die-cast hoop that offers the precise tuning and rigidity of a cast hoop but with far less weight than a standard zinc die-cast hoop. Standard cast hoops are heavy and can suppress head vibration. These light-weight hoops produce a rich, melodic tone with a moderate attack.

Vent holes play a vital part in influencing both the drum's timbre and the projection. Varying the amount of holes, particularly as the shell gets larger, can have a huge impact on the decay length, amount of mid-bass tone and the feel of the drum to play. Yamaha PHX drum have anywhere between one and ten vent holes depending on the size of the drum.

The Y.E.S.S. II mounting system has been redesigned specifically for the PHX kit. This super stable design comfortably supports the thick 11-ply, 10.3mm shell while still allowing the full natural resonance to ring out. The mounting plate uses the same maple as the outer and inner plies of the shell. It's attached at the nodal point using a unique rubber insert that allows the resonance to stay within the shell.

Yamaha use some of the most highly skilled craftspeople in the manufacture of the PHX drum sets and this is no more evident than in the stunning exterior finishes. The painting and sanding processes are all done by hand and repeated many times to achieve a beautiful finish while maintaining a high level of hardness. This meticulous process allows the layers of paint and lacquer to remain extremely thin so as not to disturb shell vibration.