
13"x7" Yamaha ASD1370 Maple Custom Absolute Snare Drum - Vintage Natural
Over the years Yamaha has released only a relatively small batch of 13" snare drums in relation to their much larger 14” snare offering, many of which came only in shallow depths (5.5" and under). Let's take a look at Yamaha's lineup of 13" snares that were released in depths greater than 5.5", by order of rarity.
Full Model Name | Shell | Rarity |
13"x6.5" Yamaha NSD1365 Musashi Snare | 7-ply oak; 8 lugs | Common |
13"x6.5" Yamaha MSD1365SJ Steve Jordan Signature Snare | 4-ply maple shell with 6-ply maple reinforcement rings; 8 lugs; Offered only in matte natural wood finish |
Common Numbered; 5,901+ available |
13"x7" Yamaha WSD1370AJ Akira Jimbo Signature Snare | 8-ply beech; 6 six lugs; Offered only in White Sparkle finish |
Uncommon Numbered; 2,700+ available |
13"x6.5" Yamaha SD4365 Brass Nouveau Snare | 1.2mm brass; 8 lugs | Uncommon |
13"x6.5" Yamaha MSD1365 Sensitive "S Series" Snare | 6-ply maple; 8 lugs; Offered in all production finishes | Rare |
13"x7" Yamaha MSD1370AJ Akira Jimbo Signature Snare | 7-ply maple; 6 lugs; Offered only in White Sparkle finish | Very Rare |
13"x7" Yamaha ASD1370 Maple Custom Absolute Snare | 7-ply maple; 8 lugs | Unicorn |
13"x6.5" Yamaha SD4365PH Limited Edition 40th Anniversary Phoenix Snare | 1.5mm brass; hand-engraved; 8 lugs |
Phoenix Numbered; 40 released worldwide, 20 released in the United States |
As you can see, the only deep 13" snare that is more rare than the 13"x7" Yamaha ASD1370 Maple Custom Absolute Snare Drum is the 13"x6.5" Yamaha SD4365PH Limited Edition 40th Anniversary Phoenix Snare. You can also see that there are only two other 13” Yamaha snare offerings in a 7” depth, those being the 13"x7" Yamaha WSD1370AJ Akira Jimbo Signature Snare and the 13"x7" Yamaha MSD1370AJ Akira Jimbo Signature Snare. As is, the 13"x7" Yamaha ASD1370 Maple Custom Absolute Snare Drum is nearly impossible to find, and therefore commands the 2nd highest price tag of all 13" Yamaha snare drums.
The beauty of the aged Vintage Natural finish on this 13"x7" Yamaha ASD1370 Maple Custom Absolute Snare Drum pales in comparison to its sound. The 13" diameter coupled with the 7" depth offers a sound that is unmistakably warm and fat with tons of body without losing its higher pitch.
Since the 13"x7" Yamaha ASD1370 Maple Custom Absolute Snare Drum was a limited offering available only in the European market, it is highly unlikely that you will ever see another. In my ten+ years selling Yamaha drums, I have only seen two other specimens on the secondhand market (one of which I own), making this a true collector’s item but at a price point that is feasible for even the Yamaha enthusiast, and a must-have for drummers who prefer a deep 13" snare.
When you take this drum out of the box, you will be greeted with a fresh heads, clean hardware, and a gorgeously aged Vintage Natural finish.
This 13"x7" Yamaha ASD1370 Maple Custom Absolute Snare Drum was also made in Japan by the skilled craftsmen and craftswomen of the Sakae Rhythm Company which manufactured all high-end Yamaha drums for 30 years prior to 2013 when Yamaha moved their entire production capabilities to China. As most experienced drummers will tell you, this has a profound impact on the drums’ residual value.
Drum highlights:
Manufacturer: | Yamaha |
Model name: | Maple Custom Absolute (1st Generation, Gold Badge) |
Model numbers: | ASD1370 |
Sizes: | 13"x7" |
Color: | Vintage Natural |
Country of manufacture: | Japan |
Condition: | Used, Like new |
Heads: | Evans 300 hazy resonant; Evans Genera HD Dry batter |