Yamaha Drums is a subsidiary of the Yamaha Corporation. Yamaha has been building drums since 1967, and builds their drums by hand in Japan. Yamaha drums are also made in Indonesia. The company currently manufactures acoustic and electronic drum kits, as well as other percussion instruments, marching band equipment, and drum hardware. Many professional drummers have endorsement deals with Yamaha Drums.

In 1987, Yamaha acquired the Premier Percussion factory in England, in an attempt to establish the Yamaha name in the tougher European market. Yamaha placed machinery and trained the Premier craftsmen in the "Yamaha-way" of making drums, resulting in Premier producing a large number of Yamaha drums "made in England". In 1992, Yamaha withdrew and sold their stock shares back to Premier.

Yamaha has made many innovations in drum hardware. They were the first to introduce:

• a hide-away cymbal boom stand (a hide-away bass drum mounted boom arm was introduced by Premier in the 1950s),
• locking hi-hat clutch,
• Yamaha Enhanced Sustain System (YESS).

Yamaha drums are manufactured at two different locations in Asia. Their Osaka Japan factory produces their high-end professional drums, as well as all marching percussion. The research and development of new products also takes place here. Marketing is managed from the Yamaha Corp. headquarters in Hamamatsu, a few hours away.

The factory in Indonesia produces the Tour Custom series drums. The Indonesian factory uses the same machinery and techniques in the making of a drum shell, and all craftsmen working there are trained by Japanese craftsmen from the Osaka site.

The only difference between these two plants is that the Osaka plant uses the more exclusive woods (maple, birch and oak); and a produces a larger range of options in sizes and finishes. In addition to the drum production; several smaller sites in Osaka also produce their classical percussion instruments, such as timpani, marimba, xylophone, vibraphone and glockenspiel.

Yamaha’s hardware manufacturing process was developed in the Yamaha motorcycle factory, but manufacturing has been moved to a factory in China. All manufacturing processes are the same, however. For these reasons Yamaha drum hardware has been the standard for backline and cartage companies all over the world for decades.

Acoustic drums

Beginner and Semi-professional Lines

• Yamaha Gigmaker — Entry-level kits, 5 piece kit with Paiste 101 14" hi-hats and 18" crash/ride.^{[citation needed]}
• Yamaha Tour Custom — Originally introduced in the early 80's, consisted of a mahogany/birch blend for a deeper fundamental tone. The line was re-introduced in 2006 as a new series of affordable pro/semi-pro drum kits featuring 100% Maple drum shells. They are finished in high-gloss lacquer with three translucent and one solid finish.
• Yamaha Stage Custom Series — A new line of Stage Custom drums debuted for summer 2008.
  • Yamaha Stage Custom Birch — This drum line features 100% birch shells and comes in eight lacquer finishes. It also features the Y.E.S.S. mounts. It replaces the Stage Custom Advantage series.

Professional Lines

• Phoenix "PHX" Series — The Phoenix series, or "PHX", are the new flagship of Yamaha acoustic drums. PHX features an eleven-ply hybrid shell crafted of jatoba, kapur, and maple (some finishes use a thin ply of burled ash as an outer ply). The PHX features the new hook lug and the improved YESS II mounting system. Artists that were invited to attend the final prototype testing of the PHX were told to bring their "best" Yamaha kit for a comparison. The artists unanimously picked the PHX for it's superior tone and musicality.

• Yamaha Recording Custom — The longest-running series Yamaha has made, in production for some 30 years now.^{[citation needed]} A professional series of drum kits featuring 100% Birch wood and YESS mounts. Birch is punchy with a low fundamental tone and short decay. Also features a large, high-mass lug that extends the length of the shell. The series features a small, rectangular badge with rounded corners.

• Yamaha Absolute Series — Available in either North American maple or Hokkaido birch (from Northern Japan), the Absolute series received a facelift for 2009. The Absolute series is available with the original Absolute lug, or the hook lug that was introduced on the PHX series in 2008. The Absolute series also features the new YESS II mount which isolates the mount using rubber grommets that "shock mount" the shell and eliminates any vibration from traveling through the mount to the stand. This new mount adds sustain and fullness to the tone. Absolute series drums are available in 24 finishes, including the new Luminous White Sparkle that glows in the dark.

• Yamaha Oak Custom — Yamaha has not only recently experimented with Beech wood, but Oak as well. The Oak custom line is not considered to be part of the Absolute series, and offers seven finish options, and a narrower selection of shell sizes. Crafted from 100% Oak wood and equipped with YESS mounts. The low fundamental and projection of oak makes it a favourite with rock drummers; but the wide tuning and dynamic range make it a top choice for jazz drummers, too. They are less expensive than the Absolute series counterparts, but are more costly than either the Tour Custom or Stage Custom lines.

Signature Drum Lines

• Yamaha Hipgig Portable Drumsets — A series of compact portable drum kits with a variety of different configurations and finishes.
  • Rick Marotta Signature Hipgig — The original series of compact portable drum kits which comes in a Cherry Wood lacquered finish and a White Marine Pearl wrap finish. They feature Birch, and Philippine Mahogany wood shells.
  • Al Foster Signature Hipgig — A larger version of the original Hipgig drum kit which features a special "Jaguar" finish as well as White Marine Pearl and Gold Marine Pearl wrap finishes. They feature Birch, and Philippine Mahogany wood shells.
  • Manu Katche Signature Junior Hipgig — A smaller version of the original Hipgig drum kit featuring new Black and Silver lacquer finishes. The feature 3% Philippine Mahogany wood shells.
  • Steve Jordan Cocktail Hipgig — A cocktail drum kit which features a standard cocktail snare, a secondary 8" snare drum

as an option, a tom drum as an option and the choice of two sparkle finishes. They feature Birch, and Philippine Mahogany wood shells.

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