Through a strange turn of events I've become the owner of a new Yamaha Stage Custom Advantage snare.
I had been wanting a more sensitive snare for some concert work and perhaps jazz drumset work but had been looking higher up the "food chain" so to speak. Now I have this inexpensive snare, but since the work I have in mind will be limited I may keep it rather than drop a bundle on a more expensive snare. Initial tuning was poor (I dont like the Yamaha batter head), but I believe the drum has potential. Good bearing edges, shell is Mahogany, with Falkata inner ply and birch outer ply. Inner ply is vertical grain (Falkata is purported to be similar to mahogany so I don't know the reasoning for it over the birch/mahogany ply that is on Custom Standards.) Hardware is the Recording Custom high tension lugs, a standard strainer and triple flange hoops(I think 1.6 mm so I may replace top with 2.3mm). Any way, the little I've read about this drum indicates it's a pretty good choice for middle of the road. Any comments, anyone with experience with this drum? I can still take it back, but am tempted to keep it and extinguish that yearning for the $500 model I had been looking at