Vintage Pearl Drums

[Blkonyx]

Saw these in a thrift store for pretty cheap today, but looks like just a older pearl export? Shells have grey vertical wood. Any thoughts on model and worth?

 

[Tama CW]

Probably an export as you said. A higher line wouldn't have the grey vertical grain. They started Zola coating (Pearl called it something different) in the mid to later 70's as my later 70's Exports had that coating. The badges on your drums were used starting in the later 70's. Probably decently made drums that should clean up ok. I look at vintage exports from 70's and 80's at around $40-50/drum. But so many are out there for sale for dirt cheap it might be tough to get $200. You're safe at $100 and that's all I'd want to pay as you have to find tom mounts and maybe replace some heads, clean them up, etc. For unusual finishes or mint condition they'd bring more. Plain old black and white is nothing special. Post an inner shell photo if you like.

I sometimes see early Pearl Export kits with hardware and cymbals in the $250-$375 range. Probably a better deal than just 4 drums. 1990's and later Pearl Exports with hardware and starter cymbals bring $275-$350. Most people don't want to pay any more for the earlier version, even if they might be better made.

 

[dharma bum]

Here is my set from about 1973 (ignore the Mapex bass head) - it was, I think, a top of the line wood set because they only made one line, at the time there that Pearl was offering wood, wood-fibreglass, and fibreglass alternatives. My set has 10 lugs on the bass drum, and different claws and rods. The shell interiors are painted light grey.


The set you are looking at has 8 lugs on the bass, same tom mounts, so it may indeed be a "lower" line from the mid or late 70s. I doubt there's a great market for these drums so you should be able to get them cheap, but my drums are still going strong 45 years later...

 

[franke]

These are from the mid-1970's - before there was any model line delineation based on shell material or types of finishes. The give-away are the tom mounts, which were a copy of the Rogers Swivo-Matic (Pearl would later switch to the 7/8" pipe and ratchet). Shells are luan (aka "Philippine mahogany" - which is to mahogany what mock crab meat is to crab), and the gray interiors is trunk paint (just like Tama Imperialstars). I've attached a 1976 Pearl catalog shot that shows this kit.

These typically aren't worth all that much, so if you're buying to flip, you're wasting your time. Sound-wise, they're actually not all that bad, as much can be accomplished with better heads and attention paid to the edges and overall tuning.

 

[rock roll]

Where are the tom.arms? Make sure they are included. The diameter is very small and I'm not sure how easy it is to find. Others here should know.

 

[Big Beat]

Early to mid-1970s. Before Export and such. Those tom arms are rare! If they're missing, you're in for a long search.

 

[rikkrebs]

I bought a similar kit about a year ago for $80 with some cymbals and a little hardware. I refinished them in some leopard print wrap I had laying around and flipped them for $170. If I would have had to buy the wrap, I would have lost money. That being said, they were decent drums.

 

[sksmith-1]

I bought a similar kit about a year ago for $80 with some cymbals and a little hardware. I refinished them in some leopard print wrap I had laying around and flipped them for $170. If I would have had to buy the wrap, I would have lost money. That being said, they were decent drums.

No offense, but leopard print wrap probably kept you from getting more. That's a niche market finish, probably hair metal cover bands only type thing.
But you are right, they aren't worth a whole hell of a lot. And a lot of folks that started playing in the 70's wanted Pearl's because of Peter Criss.
Steve

 

[rikkrebs]

Actually a few guys went crazy for the leopard print and one drove about 100 miles to get them. Go Figure.

They did kind of have that retro lounge lizard feel to them.

 

[sksmith-1]

Rik,
Looking at that mount & bass spurs, I'm think this is a Royce or CB700, or something of that nature.
Granted, these were probably built right along side the ones that Blkonyx & Franke posted.
I guess there's a finish for everyone!!
Steve

 

[drumminman2]

Here is my set from about 1973 (ignore the Mapex bass head) - it was, I think, a top of the line wood set because they only made one line, at the time there that Pearl was offering wood, wood-fibreglass, and fibreglass alternatives. My set has 10 lugs on the bass drum, and different claws and rods. The shell interiors are painted light grey.
View attachment 389819 View attachment 389815 View attachment 389816 View attachment 389817

The set you are looking at has 8 lugs on the bass, same tom mounts, so it may indeed be a "lower" line from the mid or late 70s. I doubt there's a great market for these drums so you should be able to get them cheap, but my drums are still going strong 45 years later...

The drums in the photos and the drums page from the catalogue are different ends of the scale and only have the builder, Pearl, in common. 9-ply wood shells with sealer were offered in the early 1970s, Timber was most likely Luan, or Philippine mahogany as it's sometimes described as