Are Pearl drums good? Are they durable? Do they sound great? If you are interested in buying any Pearl drum kits, but you do not have any idea about them, you are in the right place. We are going to help you with your queries about the Pearl drums.
Pearl Drums was established in 1946 by Katsumi Yanagisawa in Sumida-Ku, Tokyo. As the demand for manufacturing instruments exploded, the company decided to open a manufacturing facility in Chiba, Japan, in 1968. As of today, all of their entry-level and intermediate-level drum kits are manufactured in Taichung, Taiwan, where the company’s facility is located.
All of their professional-level and custom drum kits are made in Nashville, Tennessee. Aside from making drum kits, the company also produces their own hardware, which is pretty durable. They also manufacture compact-sized drum kits for kids.
Many renowned drummers use Pearl drum kits in all their recording or live performances, just like Ray Luzier of Korn, Eric Singer of the Kiss, Mike Mangini of Dream Theater, and many more.
What Are The Pearl Drum Models That I Can Choose With?
Pearl drum kits have established a reputation for being solid and reliable drums with great sound. The company offers different product lines, from entry-level to professional drum kits, and let’s take a look at all of them.
Pearl Roadshow
The Pearl Roadshow is one of the best entry-level drum kits in the business and maybe the best-selling, as they are really great drum kits for beginners. Its shells are made of 7mm 6-ply Asian White Poplar, and its hoops are all triple-flanged steel. It also uses a 45-degree design for its bearing edges.
The Pearl Roadshow is available in four different configurations: a 4-piece compact-sized setup, a 5-piece Jazz setup, a 5-piece Fusion setup, and a 5-piece Rock setup. All configurations come with a cymbal pack and stands. Its hardware is durable and expected to last for a long time, which you always expect from a Pearl drum kit.
If you are looking for an affordable entry-level drum kit that can be traveled with no issues and used for live gigs, the Pearl Roadshow is an excellent option. They are great sounding drums, but an upgrade on the drumheads will significantly improve the totality of the sound.
Pearl Export
If you are looking for an intermediate-level drum kit at an affordable price, then you should look into the Pearl Export Series. The Pearl Export is available in two versions: the EXX and the EXL. The shells of the more expensive Export EXL are made of 6-ply Poplar/Asian Mahogany with Birch outer veneer. The shells of Export EXX are made of 6-ply Poplar/Asian Mahogany.
Both Export EXL and EXX have six different configurations you can choose. All the shells of EXL and EXX have a 45-degree design bearing edge for improved resonance and sustain. All Export drum kits come up with the Pearl 830 Series Hardware Pack with a P930 bass drum pedal. If you do not have any cymbals yet, there is also an optional Zildjian I cymbal pack.
Overall, the Pearl Export Series is an excellent option for intermediate-level drummers who have tight budgets. All of its drumheads are made by Remo China, so it would be better if you upgraded it to improve the drum kit’s sound significantly.
Pearl Decade Maple
For all drummers looking for an affordable maple drum kit, the Pearl Decade Maple is one of the best options that are available in the market. All of its shells are made of EvenPly Six Maple, so you can really expect for resonant highs and lows. It still uses the 45-degree bearing edge design as it gives a smooth sustain to the sound.
The Pearl Decade Maple is available in three different configurations: a 4-piece setup, a 5-piece setup and a 7-piece setup. All configurations do not come with any cymbal packs and stands. The shell hardware is really durable, so you can expect it to last for a very long time.
All of its shells are equipped with 1.5mm triple-flanged hoops, while all of the drumheads are made by Remo’s Chinese factory. An upgrade with its drum heads will significantly improve the drum kit’s sound. It also comes with a free mini-bass drum muffler, which is great and will help dampen the bass drum.
Overall, the Pearl Decade Maple is one of the best affordable Maple drum kits available on the market. This drum kit is highly recommended for intermediate-level drummers who are into recording and playing in gigs.
Pearl Crystal Beat
If you want to have your own cool acrylic drum kit, then you should get a Pearl Crystal Beat drum kit. All of its shells are made of 7mm. Seamless Molded Acrylic and are all equipped with chrome-finished triple-flange hoops. It still uses a 45-degree bearing edge design for better control and punch.
The Pearl Crystal Beat is available in three different configurations: a 3-piece, a 4-piece, and a 5-piece setup. All of the configurations do not come with any snare drums, so you should buy your own to enjoy fully using the drum kit. It does not also come with a cymbal pack and stands.
Overall, the Pearl Crystal Beat has a very punchy sound which is excellent for the rock genre. The hardware is pretty dependable for this product line. It is one of the best acrylic drum kits available today.
Pearl Session Studio Select
If you want to have a mid-tier drum kit that is built using flagship technology, the Pearl Session Studio Select is an excellent option you should look into. All of its shells are made of EvenPly Six Birch/African Mahogany, and all of it is equipped with 2.3mm triple-flanged Superhoops. The Session Studio Select uses an outer 60-degree bearing edge design as it increases the volume without experiencing harsh overtones.
The Pearl Session Studio Select is available in two different configurations: a 4-piece and a 5-piece setup. All of the configurations do not come with a snare drum, so you should use your own or buy your favorite snare drum if you don’t have one yet. It also does not come with a cymbal pack and stands, so you should buy one to enjoy your drum kit completely.
The Pearl Session Studio Select comes with Remo UT drum heads which are manufactured in Remo’s Chinese Factory. An upgrade with the drumheads will help improve the sound of the drum, not that it does not sound good. It also comes with a mini bass drum muffler to dampen its sound.
Overall, the Pearl Session Studio Select produces a crisp attack and focused midrange that balances its thumpy low-end. The drum kit is really great for recording purposes but can still do the job when used for live performances.
Pearl Masters
When it comes to professional drum kits that were made in the USA, Pearl has produced iconic product lines through the years. A great example of it is the Pearl Masters. The Pearl Masters is available in three versions: the Masters Maple Complete, the Masters Maple Reserve, and the Master Maple Gum.
For the Complete Version, its shells are made of EvenPly-6 North American Maple and come with triple-flanged Superhoops. It uses the industry-standard 45-degree bearing edge design, as it gives the perfect combination of attack, warmth and sustain.
The shells of the Reserve version are made of 4-ply Maple with 4-ply Maple Re-Rings. It also comes with Low Mass FatTone hoops for improved resonation. It also uses a 45-degree bearing edge design, which is pretty standard in the music industry.
The Master Maple Gum shells are made of 4-ply Maple in its outer part and a 2-ply Gumwood in its inner part. It comes with MasterCast Hoops, which improves the volume of the shells. It also uses an exterior 60-degree bearing edge design, as it results in increased power and bite for the drum kit.
The Complete and Reserve versions are available in 3-piece and 4-piece configurations, while the Gum version is only available in a 4-piece configuration. All configurations of the Pearl Masters do not come with snare drums, so you better have one or buy one that can match the greatness of these drum kits. It also does not come with any cymbal pack and stands.
All the hardware in the shells is top-notch, and you can expect it to last for a lifetime. Its finishes are great, which is expected from a drum kit that is made in the USA.
Overall, the Pearl Masters is one of the most versatile and best drum kits on the market. They are an excellent option for professional studio recording, especially the Gum version. These drum kits can also be used for live performances.
Pearl Reference
If you are looking for a legendary professional drum kit, then the Pearl Reference is an excellent option you should look into. The Pearl Reference is available in two versions: the Reference and the Reference Pure. The two versions are similar to each other except for the fact that the shells of the Reference Pure are thirty per cent thinner, resulting in a lighter mass, lower tones and improved resonance.
The shells of the Pearl Reference are made of Maple, Birch and Mahogany. The Reference Pure version uses FatTone Hoops, while the Reference version uses MasterDie-Cast Hoops. Both versions use the standard 45-degree bearing edge design as it gives balance to the overall sound of the drum kit.
The Pearl Reference and Reference Pure are available in two configurations: a 3-piece and a 4-piece setup. All of the configurations do not come with any snare drums, cymbals or stands, so you need to purchase these things to have the ultimate drumming experience.
Overall, the Pearl Reference is a great reference for top-level professional drum kits. The hardware is exceptionally built, so you should not worry as these kits can take a beating. These drum kits are pretty versatile, so whether you use them in your studio or on stage, it is pretty sure that you will be more than satisfied with their performance.
Pearl Masterworks
When it comes to flagship drum kits, the Pearl Masterworks is one of the renowned names that come to mind quickly for all professional drummers. The Pearl Masterworks is really a masterpiece for drum kits.
The shells of the Pearl Masterworks are available in different premium woods like Maple, Birch, Gum Mahogany or a hybrid combination.
The Pearl Masterworks is only available for two suggested configurations: a 3-piece and a 4-piece setup, with no snare drums, cymbals and stands for both configurations. The main idea of the Pearl Masterworks is for you to make a customized drum kit, as they will let you choose the wood, the shell size and thickness, and the bearing edges.
Sometimes, a customized Masterworks drum kit can be delivered between six months to a year, although I am sure the wait will be worth it.
Overall, Pearl Masterworks has already been an established flagship drum kit for many years, so you can trust that they will sound exceptional and can last for a long time. Whatever the purpose of this drum kit, recording or live performance, you can always be sure that it won’t let you down.
Conclusion On Pearl Drums
All in all, Pearl Drums is an outstanding drum manufacturer. They have always stayed at the top for many years, and I do not see any changes in that with the way they are developing new technologies to improve their drum kits greatly.
