Anyone else rockin' a Yamaha Junior Kit?

**Qoncussion** · 02-09-2017, 10:58 PM

I've had my Yamaha Manu Katché 6 piece Junior Kit (I added two tubs to the stock 4pc. kit) for over six years now, and hadn't seen anyone out here really talking about junior kits. Just wanted to know if anyone else plays them? This little thing is a monster. Made of Phillipine Mahogany with Evans G2 coated heads, it is my traveling kit, which I lug around in Stagg cases. I've played everything from jazz shows to hard Rock shows on this thing and it does not disappoint.

Am I the only one? Can't be...

**SpazApproved** · 02-10-2017, 07:19 AM

I'm rocking a Ludwig junior drumset... turned it into a 10 piece
Not a Yamaha but a junior kit none the less

**OldeEnglishD** · 02-10-2017, 07:35 AM

My youngest son has a Gammons junior kit. He loves it and it actually has some decent volume to it.

**Ricardo** · 02-10-2017, 07:58 AM

I play a set of Yammy RYDEEN shells at the practice studio (owned by one of the guitarists).
They don't sound too great and I would never play them anywhere else, but I will confess I am so happy to have them there so I don't ever need to worry about carting my drums anywhere but to the gigs.

**Qoncussion** · 02-10-2017, 12:47 PM

Right on! Nice to see the little kits getting some love out there. I had mine in an LA studio on Hollywood Blvd. a few years back. After three 12 hour days of recording, the studio engineer wouldn't let me break it down until he got samples of the entire kit so the studio could use my drums for future sessions - MIDI, I'm sure. I'm pretty good at tuning a kit, and apparently they noticed.

Originally Posted by Ricardo

I play a set of Yammy RYDEEN shells at the practice studio (owned by one of the guitarists).
They don't sound too great and I would never play them anywhere else, but I will confess I am so happy to have them there so I don't ever need to worry about carting my drums anywhere but to the gigs.

Ricardo - I would imagine that little kit might have a reasonably decent sound with new heads. I found that the G2 coated heads fixed the almost intolerable sound of the single-layer stock heads which came with mine.

**Ricardo** · 02-10-2017, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by Qoncussion

Ricardo - I would imagine that little kit might have a reasonably decent sound with new heads. I found that the G2 coated heads fixed the almost intolerable sound of the single-layer stock heads which came with mine.

Funny you say that...................after hearing the kit a few times and inspection of the awful heads, I replaced all of his batters with coated Emps.........it does help the toms........I put an SK2 batter on the bass............much better...............however that snare is beyond help !
I also bought him a new DW throne (to save my own butt).

**N2Bluz** · 02-10-2017, 05:56 PM

My jungle kit uses an 8in "up" tom from a Ludwig Jr. kit. It sounds good with a coated Ambassador batter. A little "bongo-ish", but that's to be expected from a 8" 4-lug tom. It's actually a nice contrast to the 13" floor tom.

**bdonley** · 02-22-2017, 12:55 AM

I've used my Manu Katche a bunch. Was Bozo blue, stripped, stained and Minwaxed. Much better.I've got a couple bands that request I bring them. Versatile, compact, light to move. They even will fit in my early Miata! Picked them up used at Pro Drum in Hollywood. Had a lot of bigger, flashier sets come and go while they stay here. Saw Matt Wilson playing a set the Monterey Jazz Fest. Said they were back line, but he was buying a set as soon as he got home. Check out this clip of Peter Erskine rocking one with Dianne Krall..........<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0NdJFmyLmMo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>101_0143.jpg https://youtu.be/0NdJFmyLmMo
https://youtu.be/0NdJFmyLmMo