My YAMAHA LIMITED EDITION CARBON CUSTOM SD-518 SNARE DRUM has arrived also.

[tama-drums-90]

This is another one of the drums I've just acquired: A YAMAHA LIMITED EDITION 14" X 8" CARBON CUSTOM SNARE DRUM.

Officially made to commemorate Yamaha's 100th anniversary in 1987.

This limited edition snare drum is number 33 out of 50 made.

This was made with hand laid and hand woven dry weave carbon fiber.

Chrome plated aluminum die-cast hoops, dual-action strainer round out this ultra-sensitive snare drum.

Similar to the snare drum owned by Tommy Aldridge, and the piccolo snare drum recently sold on eBay for a king's ransom.

Quite possibly the rarest, most exclusive snare drum ever produced by Yamaha.

This drum is in near-mint condition and sounds amazing.

I believe that this drum is the only one in North America, although I've been wrong before....

[tama-drums-90]

Some more pictures...

Some more pictures...

[tama-drums-90]

Some more pictures...

Some more pictures...

For those of you who need a translation it says:

"YAMAHA 14 X 8 INCH SNARE CARBON SHELL 100 ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATE MODEL"

[louse]

Nice.........!!!!! did you get to lay into it this weekend? bet it sounds fantastic

[Healthie]

oh wow...

is carbon fiber similar to fiberglass? Also- Tommy Aldridge, totally unrated drummer. that man can wail.

[tama-drums-90]

Thank you to my neighbors for your comments!!

[musiqman]

There is something about this model.

It should come with gold hardware, quarts lugs and different badge according to my memory and the folder.

Still it looks awesome!

[Thrush]

That is gorgeous! I saw a piccolo version for sale, maybe it was thew same one you mention. Was indeed a hefty price!

What's with the blue around the top and bottom edges?

[tama-drums-90]

Hello everyone.

Thank you to Musiqman and Thrush for your comments and praise. I'm pleased that someone else is interested in my drums.

Healthie: I'm not really qualified to compare this drum with a "fiberglass" model... however my guess would be that the differences are in the bond/resin, and one is carbon-based, the other glass.
Musiqman: This drum is exactly as it should be: 100% original. (Well.. the skins are new....)
Thrush: You are correct in comparing it to the piccolo that sold on eBay a year ago.

In fact I've been trying to search for more information on this drum, to no avail..... There is very little information from the web.

Musiqman, if you have any pictures or info on this drum, please send me a picture/copy. it would be greatly appreciated.

Thrush: The blue plastic is a type of polymer strip, that is wrapped around the bearing edges. I believe that it is used to lubricate the head, and create a bearing edge. Also, if you look carefully at the pics, you can see that the piccolo badge is right next to my drum's badge. Of course one is SD-513 - indicating the size. Mine is SD-518, for the 8" shell. (BTW the piccolo sold for close to US$6000)

There were a few differences between the drums. The piccolo was specifically made for a Japanese artist, and was (apparently) a set of only 5 made. I have not been able to contact the artist to confirm this, but I'm pretty sure that this is correct regardless, as the seller and artist are acquaintances.

When it comes to my drum, I have confirmed from it's previous owner that it was offered to the public, albeit in a limited quantity of only 50 drums. I have seen a few pictures of it on some JP websites, so that would at least confirm that: There are a few of these drums. And, my drum "looks" exactly the same.

This would confirm that there aren't any modifications done to it.

Of course if you have some information on a similar drum, please share it with the rest of us.

I look forward to hearing from anyone who has information on this drum from 1987. The 100th anniversary of Yamaha Japan.

Until next time.

[musiqman]

Ok so here's more info.

The 100th anniversary (1887-1987) was celebrated by:

Kits:
Carbon (RCS-1000C)
Birds-eye Maple (RCS-100BE / RC101BE, had a custom artist/memphis drum shop snare of this myself)
Sapere (RCS-1000SP / RC101SP)
Ciricote (RCS-1000CG / RC101CG)

Snares:
Carbon (SD-0935RCS C, SD-965RCS C / 14x3,5 and 14x6,5)
Birds-eye Maple (SD-965RCS BE14x6,5)
Sapere (SD-965RCS SP 14x6,5)
Ciricote (SD-965RCS CG 14x6,5)

Black nickeled hardware and throne (CS-922B, WS-920B, CS-822B, HS-920B, SS-920B, SD-920B, DFP-750B, CH722B)
Gold hardware (TH-91WG)


And the TK-100 carbon/ebony drumkey with mother of pearl inlay dots (one of the most collectible and rarest of a Yamaha collectors item, I have the luck to own one)


Your snare looks like a more recent (albeit still 80's/90's) artist request snare (hence the word ''limited'' on the badge instead of ''anniversary'' and total different build) or a second run (because there is more then one made if I read your words right)

There were made at least 100 pieces of the snares and kits and send out over the globe (I know there is a seller at the moment who states 5 piccolo snares but this is wrong, not saying these are still very rare even with more of them produced)

There is also a carbon kit with different and more shells made for both Tommy Aldridge and one for Yamaha themselves.

-edit-

A few months a go I stumbled on this snare picture:

It also doesn't have the ''anniversary'' badge and this has number 051.

I have the feeling there were made 2 runs of carbon snare.

The first ''anniversary'' like pictured below with gold hardware, badges and so on.

And then there is the second SD-513/SD-518 runs with ''custom/limited'' badge and chrome hardware.

Since the first one was very expensive because of the carbon and gold plating hardware, I have the feeling they wanted to see if it could be done more affordable. Since they did it for a short time I think this was not the case at all haha.

[Kiwi]

Nice snare, and informative thread.

[tama-drums-90]

Nice snare, and informative thread.

Musiqman, thank you very much for helping to clear up the mystery.

I'm guessing that you are endorsed by Yamaha to have such information and gear? If you aren't, then you are a lot more than just lucky....

I am inclined to believe you, and your pictures back up what you are saying.... I myself have had more than enough questions about these drums, and spent a lot of time searching for pictures on Japanese sites.

It also confirms that the SD-513 and the SD-518 are 100% original, very rare and quite beautiful, although not as rare as the gold-plated versions.

In fact, the 1987 issue of "DRUMS & RHYTHM" (Japan) magazine has both the SD-513 and the SD-518 featured in it, so my guess is that they were released in the 1987 (or before). I am still trying to get a copy of that issue.

Also, where did you find the picture of the piccolo above? Since it is wrapped in plastic, it looks like it is located in Japan, where it is common practice to shrink-wrap used instruments.

Perhaps these drums were produced for the Japanese market only?

Anyway, thank you again, and you also have some beautiful gear.

[hitadrum]

Hello everyone.

Thank you to Musiqman and Thrush for your comments and praise. I'm pleased that someone else is interested in my drums.

Healthie: I'm not really qualified to compare this drum with a "fiberglass" model... however my guess would be that the differences are in the bond/resin, and one is carbon-based, the other glass.
Musiqman: This drum is exactly as it should be: 100% original. (Well.. the skins are new....)
Thrush: You are correct in comparing it to the piccolo that sold on eBay a year ago.

In fact I've been trying to search for more information on this drum, to no avail..... There is very little information from the web.

Musiqman, if you have any pictures or info on this drum, please send me a picture/copy. it would be greatly appreciated.

Thrush: The blue plastic is a type of polymer strip, that is wrapped around the bearing edges. I believe that it is used to lubricate the head, and create a bearing edge. Also, if you look carefully at the pics, you can see that the piccolo badge is right next to my drum's badge. Of course one is SD-513 - indicating the size. Mine is SD-518, for the 8" shell. (BTW the piccolo sold for close to US$6000)

There were a few differences between the drums. The piccolo was specifically made for a Japanese artist, and was (apparently) a set of only 5 made. I have not been able to contact the artist to confirm this, but I'm pretty sure that this is correct regardless, as the seller and artist are acquaintances.

When it comes to my drum, I have confirmed from it's previous owner that it was offered to the public, albeit in a limited quantity of only 50 drums. I have seen a few pictures of it on some JP websites, so that would at least confirm that: There are a few of these drums. And, my drum "looks" exactly the same.

This would confirm that there aren't any modifications done to it.

Of course if you have some information on a similar drum, please share it with the rest of us.

I look forward to hearing from anyone who has information on this drum from 1987. The 100th anniversary of Yamaha Japan.

Until next time.

I am lucky enough to own the piccolo with the supplied Carbon Custom case and 100th anniversary drum key.