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View Full Version : Pearl "Maple Shell" series??

cidboechat
11-18-2005, 05:31 AM
Hi.

Recently i recorded with a Pearl "Maple Shell" kit. I was told it was from the 70īs. I never heard about these "Maple Shell" series. But now i find a pretty cool Maple shell snare made in Japan on Ebay. Please can you guys tell me everything you guys know about these drums, are they really vintage? thanks.

http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/img?s=MLB&f=34532553_3651.jpg&v=O
cidboechat
11-18-2005, 08:17 AM
anyone?
Butnutz
11-18-2005, 08:41 AM
try PMing gene

edit:
Whoa!, when did we get a vintage drum section? :confused:
cidboechat
11-18-2005, 09:26 AM
uh, who is gene?
Thrush
11-18-2005, 09:42 AM
Not a lot to go on looking at that pic - I would need to see the lugs to date it properly...

What I can tell you tho is that the MX series - 6ply, 7.5mm All Maple Shell, with a wrap finish. The MLX, which used the same shells, had a hi gloss lacquer finish. Decap1tator, a user on here has a beautiful example of an MLX.

If you have more pics of it, showing the lugs, then I can help you date it a bit more precisely(sp), but your looking at mid-late 70's for an early one, in the mid 80's (85/86) they were facelifted with single piece long lugs untill they were discontinued in 1993ish to makeway for the Masters Custom series. The MLX basically became the MRX, and the MX's closest comparrison would be the MSX - as a wrapped 6ply maple shell.
cidboechat
11-18-2005, 11:18 PM
Thanks Thrush, yes I have pics of the lugs:

http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/img?s=MLB&f=34532553_3435.jpg&v=O

http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/img?s=MLB&f=34532553_1647.jpg&v=O

hope you can help me out!
Thrush
11-19-2005, 06:47 AM
Those are the early lugs, so they are gonna put it at around mid to late 70's :)

For a bit more info, it would be worth sending a PM to Gene Okomoto - a PDF user here, who also works for Pearl and has a VAST wealth of knowledge of all things Pearl!

It would also be worth sending a PM to Carl Peterson, also a PDF member and also works at Pearl, and has a huge ammount of knowledge of all things vintage!

We also have a Vintage section to the forum - might be worth sticking a post up in there also!
cidboechat
11-19-2005, 11:55 AM
Thanks man but i AM posting in the vintage section! :)
fledgehog
11-19-2005, 11:01 PM
They have a bunch of "Maple Shell" drums in the back of my Orchestra room, and I was wondering about them myself.

I also saw a snare drum which was labeled "Pearl Export Pro". It looked chrome-ish, and like it was appx. 14x6.5. Any info?
Thrush
11-20-2005, 05:40 AM
Thanks man but i AM posting in the vintage section! :)

Good point :D

They have a bunch of "Maple Shell" drums in the back of my Orchestra room, and I was wondering about them myself.

I also saw a snare drum which was labeled "Pearl Export Pro". It looked chrome-ish, and like it was appx. 14x6.5. Any info?

There was (in the late80's, early 90's IIRC), an Export range calles the Export Pro, but I don't have any info on it so can't tell you what the differences were from the stock Exports.
baiof versognai
11-28-2005, 08:10 AM
MX or MLX....all maple shell series from late 80s... very good sounding drums...top of the line...I own a DLX (birch shells) jazz kit with an all maple shell snare drum...it sounds fantastic...very versatile...
AL PERCIVAL
11-28-2005, 08:23 AM
Your second pic in post #6, actually looks like it was a converted Tom into a snare. What size is it? Those lugs do look like late 70's.
funkymcstain
12-04-2005, 11:51 AM
if it is an mlx then it is the series prior to my early 90s mlx. 90s mlx badge says all maple shell as opposed to just maple shell. like this.....
t.huval
12-22-2005, 06:07 PM
my 1985 pearl dlx drums have those same sytle lugs on them.
mpthomson
12-24-2005, 04:48 AM
It's an MX or earlier equivalent. The MLX appeared 1984-85 with the hi-ten lugs, though I think the shells are otherwise identical
t.huval
12-24-2005, 09:18 AM
It's an MX or earlier equivalent. The MLX appeared 1984-85 with the hi-ten lugs, though I think the shells are otherwise identical
NO those hi-tention lugs came out in 1987.......
Ron "The Sledge"
01-04-2006, 10:21 AM
NO those hi-tention lugs came out in 1987.......If I remember correctly what Gene Okamoto told me the 6 ply maple MLX was intoduced in 1985 with a split lug casing design. In 1988 they went to the long lug casing but the series retained the MLX moniker until it was replaced with the 4 ply MMX series. "Prestige Touring" was also retired in favor of the "Masters Series".
I know the fashion in drums now is "low mass lugs" for more resonance but I'll put my kit up against any low mass lug kit. I think the resonance issue has more to do with the mounting and suspension of a drum.

*Somehow this post didn't quote properly and is laid out wackily as well for some unknown (to me) reason. :confused:
dannyboy
01-10-2006, 06:00 PM
i have a pearl maple shell 12 inch tom, with the old school lugs
t.huval
01-11-2006, 04:23 PM
MX or MLX....all maple shell series from late 80s... very good sounding drums...top of the line...I own a DLX (birch shells) jazz kit with an all maple shell snare drum...it sounds fantastic...very versatile...
I also own a 1985 dlx 7 pc. kit in natural birch , great drums!!! what sizes are yours? :)