Any Pearl drums enthusiasts? What’s your opinion on Pearl?

[premierplayer]

Love sum Pearls, I've had 3 kits, would not hesitate to buy another.
Best looking tom arms ever , they work great, you get used to them.

 

[AustinFitz]

Is that a Jupiter snare drum?

Yep! Late seventies 14×6.5" chrome over brass shell with the parallel strainer, and the original dual 10 strand wires. Been using a regular coated Ambassador on the batter side, and a hazy Ambassador snare-side on the bottom. She sounds absolutely lovely!

 

[michaelocalypse]

Whoa hold on here . Who supposedly makes shells for Pearl ? Pearl is one of the few manufacturers that makes shells in house . This is the first I have ever heard of Pearl farming out shell production . Who did you hear this from ?

The Taiwan factory that became Mapex made lower series shells for Pearl. I thought this was fairly common knowledge. Had it confirmed by people in the industry, can't remember the names anymore. One worked for Premier before Mapex. I'd dig up my notes, but that website is gone. Not sure if anyone from there with the info is here. I don't remember if the Pearl production ended once Mapex started, or if there were a couple overlap years, probably for contracts to run out. It's been like 15 years since I've looked at it. It's not that they farmed anything out. You can look at it as there was a factory they used for initial production, which made everything to their specs, but the factory didn't have a particular name painted on it.
It's not uncommon for competing manufacturers to work for/with each other, or share early production sources. That's for all industries, not jut drums. It's interesting stuff if you can dig into it and make some relationships. It's not a knock on any company. That's just how things are made. I ended up fixing a "non-Pearl" floor tom leg bracket with a Pearl replacement. Other than the name casting, they were identical. I've bought non-branded car parts the same way.

 

[Elvis]

...like how Sakae made drums for Yamaha for years?...

 

[hector48]

Currently I own a new Session Studio Select kit. To be completely honest, this kit sounds just as good as my Yamaha recording customs. Beautiful drums, exceptionally built, and completely road worthy.

Their sensitone snares are excellent. I've wanted a 402 for a while, but honestly with my sensitone aluminum, that want is pretty much gone.

The Masterworks Rosewood snare I just got is the best snare drum I've ever owned. And I've went through a ton!

Agreed! I have DW Performance, Tama Starclassic, Yamaha RCs, and Pearl Session Studio Select with Sensitone snare. My Pearls are equally as good as the others.

 

[aparker2005]

Still tempted to try one of the session studio select snares. I absolutely do not need it but they've got me curious with how good the drums are.

 

[NYFrank]

I have played Pearl for most of my drumming miles. Always thought they made great drums at great prices.

But, only recently, I am soured by them. In the past, when I had had to reach out for support, they had someone in North America who was stellar, responsive, and helpful. A week ago, I wrote for an assist on a cracked bass drum shell, and I got back a robo-reply for a ticket opened. Never heard from them again, and I have tried a couple of other times to see if there are any humans behind the curtain. Nothing but radio silence.

Will definitely make me look elsewhere the next time I buy gear.

Business 101: don't put a ticket system in place - if you don't actually have people reading and responding to the tickets. #unacceptablefail

 

[Elvis]

...or at least have human back-up to the ticket system available when the customer wants an update on what the heck they've been doing to rectify the problem.
I think anyone would have a problem with how your issue is being treated, Frank.
...btw, did you ever get that resolved, or is it still pending?

Elvis

 

[1990rookout]

I'll always have a soft spot for Pearl, going back to the kit I had in high school in the early 80's. Those tom mounts on the current kits don't do it for me, though. It's an aesthetic hang up, I know. I'm sure they are fine.

That being said, I've gigged a Sensitone brass for years. I love that drum.

 

[Tornado]

That being said, I've gigged a Sensitone brass for years. I love that drum.

Sensitone brass is just a great drum that is hard to beat at any price.

 

[NYFrank]

I have played Pearl for most of my drumming miles. Always thought they made great drums at great prices.

But, only recently, I am soured by them. In the past, when I had had to reach out for support, they had someone in North America who was stellar, responsive, and helpful. A week ago, I wrote for an assist on a cracked bass drum shell, and I got back a robo-reply for a ticket opened. Never heard from them again, and I have tried a couple of other times to see if there are any humans behind the curtain. Nothing but radio silence.

Will definitely make me look elsewhere the next time I buy gear.

Business 101: don't put a ticket system in place - if you don't actually have people reading and responding to the tickets. #unacceptablefail

Time for credit where credit is due:

They had problems with the ticket system. A very nice and helpful rep reached me by phone today. They are offering me warranty service on the bass drum. Their service rating is back to - stellar. Much gratitude.

 

[Redbeard77]

Still tempted to try one of the session studio select snares. I absolutely do not need it but they've got me curious with how good the drums are.

You need a 14x8 in your collection.

 

[Bri6366]

I saw on Facebook yesterday that Pearl revamped their website. Looks pretty snazzy. They also have a catalog section with scans going back to the 60s. Pearl and Tama are masters of the fades and sparkle lacquer finishes.

https://www.pearldrum.com/

 

[dsop]

Pearl makes excellent stuff. Right now I'm on the fence with non-domestic instruments though. That's purely a political/human-rights issue. But then again, the U.S. being a kleptocracy on its way to an autocracy, I may try to find some Canadian made instruments going forward.

 

[spelman]

I have played Pearl for most of my drumming miles. Always thought they made great drums at great prices.

But, only recently, I am soured by them. In the past, when I had had to reach out for support, they had someone in North America who was stellar, responsive, and helpful. A week ago, I wrote for an assist on a cracked bass drum shell, and I got back a robo-reply for a ticket opened. Never heard from them again, and I have tried a couple of other times to see if there are any humans behind the curtain. Nothing but radio silence.

Will definitely make me look elsewhere the next time I buy gear.

Business 101: don't put a ticket system in place - if you don't actually have people reading and responding to the tickets. #unacceptablefail

Well, that was unfortunate.

 

[Drumaniac]

Excellent snares, bass drum pedals and cymbal stands

 

[static0verdrive]

I'd borrowed a Pearl Piccolo snare for a summer and I still miss it.. it's on the wishlist.

 

[Bundschuh]

I have an 80s Pearl MX kit in white wrap I bought at LoDo drum guys that sounds great. It is missing the 13 inch tom so it is just 12”, 16” with 22” kick. It is freaking heavy though.

I also have a 60s kit I bought from a guy in CA that had the wrap removed so it needs a lot of work. I didn’t pay much for it so I am sure trying to repair the shells and re-wrap it will cost way more than they will be worth.

Those are the only Pearls I have owned but would have no issue buying another one.

 

[audiochurch]

This doesn’t qualify me as an enthusiast, but I use an old Export 13” power-tom-converted-floor tom for most gigs. It has the inner ply of birch and sounds fantastic. I took the inner “bar” out of the lugs and recovered it from scrap WMP wrap. The wrap is uneven, barely fit, has a little lift from the shell…….and sounds incredible!

This drum has stayed in my car all summer and no issues at all with warping, cracking, etc.

I COULD become a Pearl enthusiast with the right deal one day in the future based off of this experience with their “beginner/mid” line drums.

 

[Tasty808]

what’s up guys? I’ve been a huge Pearl fan for the past 7-8 years. My first (real) kit I had narrowed down to a Pearl Export or Yamaha Stage Custom. I went with the Yamaha. I had that for years before selling and buying a Tama Superstar Hyperdrive kit. Then moved to a ddrum Ash Pocket kit before buying my first Pearl kit when the Session Studio Classics were (re)introduced.

I love the look of Pearl kits and the fact that they are so easy to customize. I know someone mentioned they all have different lugs but the majority of them have the same lug-hole spacing making them interchangeable between series. I didn’t dig the sound of my Session Studio Classic but absolutely Fell in love with the Session Studio Select line they put out in 2017. So much so that I put together a shell bank and also a show off kit in a different finish/hardware combo. I also have about 12 Pearl snares that are all uniquely beautiful and sound killer.

I can’t believe it’s been four years since I posted in this thread. I’ve expanded my collection quite a bit but still play a little 1 up/1 down kit for the most part. Still have the Black Halo with satin hardware and I’ve recently added a custom Crystal Beat kit.

I’ve also expanded my shell bank to include
8x7
10x7
12x8 toms.
14x14
16x16
18x16 floor toms.
18x14
20x14
22x16
24x14 kick drums.
Along with a matching (but heavily modified) 14x8 snare and a 14x5 that I added coffin lugs and an internal muffler to make it look old school.

The Pearl snare collection is now upwards of 25+ and fluctuating as my tastes change.

Most recently I ordered some fully finished hoops for my 20” kick as that’s my “go to” and I think it’s finally finished… lol