Field Corps Marching Hardware by Yamaha: Wear Your Drums Well

Rigorously tested by elite drumlines, these new marching carriers and stands offer unsurpassed comfort and durability.  

Yamaha percussion instruments have earned their stellar reputation among players and educators through a number of qualities, including their superior acoustics, rock-solid craftsmanship and dependability. But one attribute that’s never really been addressed in the past is their wearability. That presented a challenge as the company launched its new line of Field Corps Marching Hardware.

“Sound has always been the priority for us,” says Joel Tetzlaff, Product Marketing Manager for Percussion at Yamaha. “Yamaha has never really created something wearable besides our logo jacket and shirts. In developing these carriers and stands, we wanted to make sure that you’re getting the Yamaha experience whether you’re playing our product or wearing it.”

To achieve that goal, the Yamaha development team boiled their approach down to one basic formula: simplicity + durability = reliability. They drew on more than half a century of experience making renowned drum hardware, along with more than four decades spent in the field with performing groups in the marching arts. The result is lightweight, easily adjustable hardware that can stand up to the rigors of marching, performance and travel.

On the Field

For more than 40 years, Yamaha has supplied stellar instruments to award-winning Drum Corps International (DCI) and Winter Guard International (WGI) performing groups. So when it came time to test the hardware that would carry those instruments, it made sense to turn to those same elite groups. The company put the new Field Corps hardware line through its paces with the help of the California-based youth organization Pulse Percussion, six-time WGI World Champions, and Illinois’ Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, seven-time DCI World Champions.

Very few marching bands are going to place the same amount of stress on Yamaha carriers and stands as these first-tier ensembles, which Tetzlaff refers to as the “Formula One” of the marching arts. But trying the new products out on these demanding customers assured the company that they could stand up equally well in the hands of students and bands at a wide variety of skill levels.

“Our drum corps might spend six to eight hours daily on the field,” Tetzlaff points out. “After our testing, we felt very confident that this was a great combination of comfort and durability.”

The unifying idea was to offer carriers and stands that are both easy to use at any experience level and can stand up to any amount of use—or abuse. “Kids can find a way to destroy anything,” Tetzlaff laughs. “But these products are a big investment for bands at the high school or collegiate level. We don’t make things with a lot of bells and whistles, but that means there isn’t much that can break. Our philosophy is that when you get out on the road, these are going to work.”

Road Ready

Of course, the Yamaha brand is known for more than just musical instruments, and sometimes that diversity comes in handy. The research and development that the company’s motor-sports division has conducted into metallurgy and plating techniques has benefitted the design of lightweight yet sturdy drum hardware. The connection is subtly acknowledged by the Yamaha racing-blue accent that graces each carrier and stand.

The new Yamaha MS-8200 Series Marching Stands borrow their Hexrack Core from the company’s road-tested drum-set rack systems. “It’s kind of unnerving how light the Hexrack is when you pick it up,” Tetzlaff marvels. “Then you set it down and start building the kit, and it seems to be rock solid. It almost feels like it’s defying physics.”

Like the marching carriers, the Yamaha marching stands are easily adjustable. The angle of snares and toms can be modified quickly with a single-bolt leveling adjustment, while the Quick Lock Mounting System allows hefty snare and tenor drums to be secured without the hassle of more intricate systems.

One Beat, Different Drummers

Realizing that one size would not fit all performers, Yamaha prioritized the adaptability and ease of adjustment in their marching hardware. “There are a variety of body shapes and body styles in the marching arts today,” Tetzlaff says. “For instance, there are more women in the industry now than there have ever been. We wanted to create comfort for everybody.”

The Yamaha approach was to balance that flexibility with the company’s trademark simplicity, crafting the MC-9600 Series Marching Carriers with just four basic but essential adjustments: The shoulder bars can be moved in and out using a single bolt; three bolts at chest level contour the carrier for different body types; torso height is customizable; and the J-rods can be adjusted with a standard drum key, even while the carrier is being worn.

“We felt that was enough but not too much,” Tetzlaff says. “When you have too many moving parts and pieces, adjusting the carrier to fit a player can become a challenge.”

No Sweat

Much like the sports teams they often accompany, marching-arts performers can work up a healthy sweat on the field. The padding on the 9600 Series marching carriers was designed with that fact in mind. It is manufactured from a moisture-wicking fabric that facilitates airflow, keeping both temperatures and odors at a minimum. The padding is removable for easy washing and is quick drying, eliminating the feeling of marching in a damp T-shirt. The breathable fabric also prevents the uncomfortable sensation of rubber pads on the player’s skin.

Know Your Customer

Much of the time, the Yamaha customer is a band director who always needs to keep one eye on the budget. Durability and reliability are key in that market, where directors are looking to keep instruments in play for several seasons or years, with a minimum of maintenance and a shallow learning curve.

Ultimately, though, the instruments are going into the hands—and onto the shoulders and backs—of students and players. Tetzlaff insists that the company never loses sight of these end users as it crafts its products.

“In the end, we’re helping people make music,” he says. “For young students, their first experience with Yamaha might be their first experience with music. We want that first impression to be a positive one. We’re not just competing with other vendors in the industry; we’re also competing for people’s time, whether it be video games or sports or whatever other interests they might pursue. So we want people to have fun with music, and we want to create more music makers.”