Yamaha Sd 493? HOLY GRAIL OF SNARES RARE BRASS? Beautiful
Yamaha SD-493 14″ x 3.5″ Seamless Brass Piccolo Snare Drum. Vintage Made in Japan – Serial 01-3477. For sale is a classic Yamaha SD-493 seamless brass piccolo snare drum. This is the highly sought-after 14″ x 3.5″ model produced in Japan from the late 1980s to mid-1990s. It is the exact same drum made famous by drumming legends such as Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta, David Garibaldi, and many others for its explosive crack, incredible sensitivity, and cutting projection. Key Features & Specs. Model: Yamaha SD-493. Shell: Seamless brass – bright, warm, and powerful. Size: 14″ diameter x 3.5″ depth (true piccolo). Serial Number: 01-3477 (early production example). Hardware: Original chrome Power Hoops, 10 lugs, original Yamaha throw-off and butt plate. Finish: Polished brass shell with chrome hardware. Heads: Remo Powerstroke-style batter head installed (resonant head not pictured but in place). The brass shell still shines beautifully with nice golden reflection. Chrome hardware shows typical player wear and some minor scuffs/oxidation consistent with a 35+ year-old drum (see photos). No dents, no cracks, and all hardware functions perfectly, one of the snare wires is missing but doesn’t affect the sound in a noticeable way. The drum is solid, tight, and ready to play or display. A quick polish would bring it very close to collector-grade. This is a true “holy grail” piccolo.
