Pearl Drums

[DavedrumsTX]

Why do Pearls not get any "love" around here? Around the middle of November I'm going to refurb a set of 70s wood-fiberglass Pearls. I had a couple of sets back in the day and really liked them. They are orphans that I got off ebay almost 20 years ago. I have nice Pearl hardware to put on them and am going to recover them in gold sparkle and that is going to be "my go to set". I'm going to be selling all my other drums, 23 sets, so when I pass, I'm no spring chicken, my wife can sell these and not take a bath in the transaction. Now, again, why do Pearls not get any love here?

I think it’s a generational thing for me personally. I am a boomer and Pearl as a Japanese import was not seen in the same light as the American Companies Ludwig, Slingerland, Rogers and Gretsch. I would only see country drummers playing Pearl until Kiss Alive came out.

Opening the Album, Pearl and Peter Criss were front and center. Slowly I started to see Pearl, Tama and Yamaha gaining acceptance.

Today they make some of the finest drums out there. Dennis Chambers, Todd Sucherman, Omar Hakim, Ray Luzier, Gary Husband, El Negro, the late great Jeff Porcarro, Nate Mortensen are just a sample of Pearl’s roster.

Do I play Pearl? No I do not, but I have tremendous respect for their drums

 

[Parcel]

Then I added 4 more toms to get this set up

around the kit

 

[Parcel]

Later on, I took out the ones marked with a cross.

 

[GretschMan61]

I have no issue with Pearl really , like someone said I find them somewhat vanilla as well. I don’t dislike them , there are just many other companies products I like more than Pearl .

 

[Furious Styles]

I play Pearl to spite all of you Gretsch, Ludwig, Rogers and Camco nerds.

 

[Parcel]

Apart from the Drum X I purchased in the 80s. I dont use Pearl anymore.

I use other makes now, for e-kits...

 

[Fingerz]

I have no Pearl kits but own 4 Pearl Snares. Sensitone 5.5 steel. Elite Brass and Elute Aluminum. The last is a Chad Smith Black Nickel. I love all these snares except for the CS which has a distinct and not too pleasant ring. Could be just got a funky one. First kit was a Pearl export. Great entry level kit.

 

[TorchmanRG]

I know that they lack desirability, but IMO their high-end offerings are pretty legit - at least in terms of sound. I had a Masters MRX kit briefly. I sold them when I got my Maple Customs, but honestly the Pearl's were pretty close in sound quality

 

[Hemant]

Had the good fortune to see Will Kennedy and The Yellowjackets play a packed house set over the weekend. I did not get a good look at the badge - but believe it was a maple/gum masterworks. Sounded phenomenal (although he could probably make a set of oatmeal containers and cardboard boxes sound amazing). I think he is one of their 30+ year endorsers.

 

[varatrodder]

As a kid in the 80's just starting in drums, I always saw the Japanese brands as far superior in quality and sound to the classic American drums of the time. Pearl, Tama and Yamaha really upped the game for precision in manufacturing, sturdiness of the hardware, and overall quality. By the 90's, Ludwig and Gretsch were playing catch up, Slingerland and Rogers were gone, and DW was just starting to take off.

Pearl makes great drums, but they kind of developed a reputation as being vanilla, generic sounding drums - but that's because EVERYONE was using them at the time. Now I feel the same way about DW.

 

[lucky23]

Ive never been a Pearl fan, but I would own these in a hot sec! I love the retro logo...

Pearl President Series Deluxe PSD943XP/C 3-piece Shell Pack - Ocean Ripple

3-piece Lauan Shell Pack with 13" Tom, 16" Floor Tom, and 24" Bass Drum - Ocean Ripple

www.sweetwater.com

 

[mattr]

Rearranged my Pearl Symphonic concert Tom kit this weekend… built a snare and cymbal rack.

Anyone remember this short lived offshoot Pearl brand “Afro”? Still got my 12” & 13” brass timbales I got in 1994. Anyone interested, PM me.

 

[flatwins]

As a kid in the 80's just starting in drums, I always saw the Japanese brands as far superior in quality and sound to the classic American drums of the time. Pearl, Tama and Yamaha really upped the game for precision in manufacturing, sturdiness of the hardware, and overall quality. By the 90's, Ludwig and Gretsch were playing catch up, Slingerland and Rogers were gone, and DW was just starting to take off.

Pearl makes great drums, but they kind of developed a reputation as being vanilla, generic sounding drums - but that's because EVERYONE was using them at the time. Now I feel the same way about DW.

Perfectly stated.

 

[DavedrumsTX]

I play Pearl to spite all of you Gretsch, Ludwig, Rogers and Camco nerds.

The world needs Pearl too

 

[DavedrumsTX]

Rearranged my Pearl Symphonic concert Tom kit this weekend… built a snare and cymbal rack.

View attachment 586041

View attachment 586038

Anyone remember this short lived offshoot Pearl brand “Afro”? Still got my 12” & 13” brass timbales I got in 1994. Anyone interested, PM me.

View attachment 586039

I bought and appreciated the Afro products

 

[Jazzhead]

Pearl is as good as any other drum brand in my opinion. Their vinatge stuff is really good and cool too.

 

[makemyown]

Why do Pearls not get any love around here?

You must have missed me spouting sonnets of love for my brass Sensitone every other week.

Pearl? Maybe one reason is they are sort of the DWs of the 1980’s.

Great drums, though. Bang them with pride

Why do Pearls not get any love around here?

You must have missed me spouting sonnets of love for my brass Sensitone every other week.

Pearl? Maybe one reason is they are sort of the DWs of the 1980’s.

Great drums, though. Bang them with pride.

Ups and downs of brand popularity in very competitive marketplace. Pearl build quality is excellent. Lots of drummers do not like the look of tube arm Tom mounts. But I’ve tried all major brands mounting systems concluding Pearl optimounts work very well. The only real issue I had with Pearl is over exhaustive series line up. Just too many series. However, one guy explained its due to company’s commitment to meeting musicians needs. It could hurt resale values but on the other hand I’ve blx kit since 1989 no way I’ll ever stop playing, let alone consider selling.

 

[JY Kelly]

Had some time with my Pearl’s yesterday. Decided to set up the “metal” version.

 

[ppfd]

Seems as if the once mighty Pearl drum forum has died went to the afterlife.
Was a member since 2003, screwed me out of my 20 year pin
It been on "scheduled maintenance" for months

 

[JY Kelly]

Seems as if the once mighty Pearl drum forum has died went to the afterlife.
Was a member since 2003, screwed me out of my 20 year pin
It been on "scheduled maintenance" for months

Yeah, it’s done. I wish they’d take down the “scheduled maintenance” page. It’s… unseemly. Not something becoming of a multinational corporation.