Our thoughts: This little guy once belonged to a Stage Custom Mark II kit, however, it carries it's own weight away from the kit. The Mark II is the iteration Yamaha landed on in their '95-present evolution of the Stage Custom series after numerous adjustments to shell construction and hardware to hone the build, borrowing from their higher end models. The shell construction sees rounded bearing edges for more shell resonance as well as slightly thicker 1.1mm plies for more projection, mimicking the Oak Custom.

We're pretty familiar with these kits and would argue that they're some of the best you can nab for their price point. This snare continues that trend, packing projection, snap and thick tonalities into a neat little package. It handles tunings well from near-loose to cranked and conveys those messages as you'd expect. The natural ring and resonance is pleasant in all zones. It's a great cheap snare option!

Manufacturer: Yamaha Drums
Series: Stage Custom
Model: Mark II
Made: China, November 2017 (HNY)
Dimensions: 14" Diameter / 6.5" Depth
Weight: 2995g
Shell: 6 ply 1.1mm birch
Current Setup:
Remo Coated Emperor (Top)
Evans Level 360 Snare Side 300 (Bottom)
Generic 20 Strand Snare Wires with Cloth Straps

Additional Notes: The throw is smooth and doesn't get stuck. The snare wires and heads are in good condition. There is near no damage, only a few minor scratches and dimples on the lacquer and a few small dings on the hardware. Overall: excellent condition (9/10)