Which is better for small gigs and busking?

The Stage Custom Hip. Its 8-inch-deep bass drum and shallow toms pack small and set up fast, and the 13-inch floor tom can double as a snare.

The Stage Custom Birch 5-piece. The 20x17 bass drum and 14x13 floor tom move more air and give deeper low end than the Hip's shallow shells.

Is the Hip worth the savings?

It is only about $16 cheaper at current best prices, so buy it for the compact size, not the price. If space is not a problem, the 5-piece gives more kit for the money.

Do either include cymbals or hardware?

No. Both are shell packs. The 5-piece includes a double tom arm and the Hip includes a CL-940LB tom holder, but cymbals, stands and pedals are extra.

Both use birch shells and Yamaha hardware, so durability is similar. The 5-piece's Absolute Lugs have a locking mechanism that helps hold tuning over long use.

Can I tune the Hip low like a rock kit?

Only partly. The 20-inch bass drum is wide but just 8 inches deep, so it has punch but less boom. The 13-inch floor tom also sits higher in pitch than a 14-inch.

Yamaha Stage Custom Birch vs Yamaha Stage Custom Hip

Buy the Stage Custom Birch 5-piece if you want a full-size kit with a 14" snare and 14" floor tom for rock, pop or gigging. Buy the Stage Custom Hip if space is tight, you play small rooms or busk, and you want a shallow kit that still sounds like birch. Prices are close: $895.99 at Drum Supply for the 5-piece and $879.99 at Drum Supply for the Hip, both as of November 7, 2026.

Today the Yamaha Stage Custom Hip costs $16.00 less at its best price.

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