PDA

View Full Version : forum vs export


mikkeydee
01-19-2003, 03:11 AM
i guess they r the same shells with different hardwares.

right?

ian40uk
01-19-2003, 03:17 AM
if i remember ( from memory ) i believe that the tom toms have a superior mounting system on the exports, where as the forum have a tube mounting going directly into the drum itself, pretty much like a starter kit. but dont let that put you off !

my budget never stretched that far, so i bought a forum, all i will do at a later date is buy the ISS or optimounts and fit those onto the forum, then i'll just cover the hole.

sorted

:cool:

sk8drummer
01-19-2003, 11:41 AM
yo Ian40uk. dont add iss mounts or optimounts to ur set. i almost did that once and the guy. (good drummer hoo does no his ****). told me ISS makes a microscopic difference. its mostly just cosmetic change. forums r coolut they are not worthy of optimounts besides they r kinda expensive. wen u wanna make the change to another suspension system then ur lookin at $130.00 just for two toms. cuz u have to get the suspension system, the BT-3 bracket. the GK-watever to mask the hole the TH-88I tom arms to make it compatible wit either iss or optimount. take my advice and dont change. its not that much difference. and im speakin about iss. optimounts im not sure but optimounts on forums just dont seem to match. o well. hope ull save the money and buy urself more cymbals or more drums. c ya

ian40uk
01-19-2003, 11:50 AM
you're right there chum,

i know the sound difference is minimal, but i like the look of the ISS mounts, actually, my rods dont go into my drum, i have cut them short now , and filled the hole so i have a "more pleasing to look at" appearance of the drums.

i can buy the kit to transform the 2 mounted toms for £90 , which is not too bad, i'll have a think about it in the meantime. thanks for your reply :D i'll show u a close up of 10" tom from inside

IAN

criticdrummer
01-19-2003, 10:35 PM
lol forumns just suck :) grab an export :D

mikkeydee
01-20-2003, 01:40 AM
i wish pearl could have some big name drummer endorse the ex/elx line to convince their quality

Fredzs
01-20-2003, 04:35 AM
there would only be a minimal diff if u already have that hole in the shell, try playing an EXPORT tom and a FORUM tom side by side, same tuning, same heads, same everything.. the export will resonate more, cause the shell is whole, unlike the forum that looses a bit of resonance cause the shell couldnt vibrate as well cause there is MORE hardware attached to it . . and it wont vibrate that much cause there is more MASS in it, kinda like choking the cymbal, if u add pressure, the vibrating stops..

Mohadiib1
01-21-2003, 04:01 PM
Forums suck? Hmmm. I have Forums and I like them. And from what I have read, they are virtually the same damn thing as the Export, except for the tom mounts. The shells are the same, the rims are the same, the colours are the same. The hardware is the same. Do the Exports come with Sabian-made cymbals? Why pay all that extra money for virtually the same thing? And if Forums suck, then I guess Exports suck too. And if your posting in this thread, I assume you, too, have either a Forum set, or an Export set.I bought a Forum set, and I liked it enough to add onto it. I bought another bass, 2 more toms, 3 cymbals and stands, some concert toms and some bongo's. I now have a 12 piece Forum set. Sure, Masters would sound sooooo much better, but for the money I spent, I'm satisfied.And I've replaced the OE Pearl heads with Remo Pinstripes and Evans EQ3's. I'll put it up against any stock Export set. Got any 3's?:p

zilflight
01-21-2003, 08:04 PM
Originally posted by Mohadiib1
Forums suck? Hmmm. I have Forums and I like them. And from what I have read, they are virtually the same damn thing as the Export, except for the tom mounts. The shells are the same, the rims are the same, the colours are the same. The hardware is the same. Do the Exports come with Sabian-made cymbals? Why pay all that extra money for virtually the same thing? And if Forums suck, then I guess Exports suck too. And if your posting in this thread, I assume you, too, have either a Forum set, or an Export set.I bought a Forum set, and I liked it enough to add onto it. I bought another bass, 2 more toms, 3 cymbals and stands, some concert toms and some bongo's. I now have a 12 piece Forum set. Sure, Masters would sound sooooo much better, but for the money I spent, I'm satisfied.And I've replaced the OE Pearl heads with Remo Pinstripes and Evans EQ3's. I'll put it up against any stock Export set. Got any 3's?:p
Be forewarned... I am not trying to prove that forums suck... I am trying to prove that exports are not just different in the tom mounts... Im not quite sure where you have gotten this information, but it seems to me that the info I have found throughout this thread is false in many cases...

I am not quite sure what type wood the forum drums are made out of, as I checked the pearl website where they talk about forum drums, and there was no mention as to what type wood they use on forum drums. this lack of information leads me to believe that whatever wood they use on forums is not the same as the poplar found on 02 exports. If it were, then I believe they would have mentioned it, in a sentence something like "with the same material shells as our famous export series." If I am incorrect in saying that they do not tell what material the drums are, please correct me, and copy and paste the exact words and where you found it.

almost all the hardware on the forum series is not as good as the export hardware. the snare, cymbal, and hihat stands are all less sturdy (or as I would say, beefy) than those that come with exports. The tom arms are less sturdy and less adjustable. the mounting hardware where the tom arms connect to the actual drum are less sturdy. (I am not comparing ISS to the nonsuspension mount). I am comparing the clamp thing that holds the tom arm of the forums to the clamp thing attached to the ISS that holds the tom arm on export drums. Then of course you have ISS versus no ISS, and yes there is a big difference. it is not as noticable if you add ISS to a drum that already had a hole in it though.

There is one extra color (chrome) in the export line, and if you compare forum to export select, you also must concider that the elx has laquer finishes as apposed to wraps.

sk8drummer
01-21-2003, 08:47 PM
dude, i dont know where you guys got the info on '02 exports being made out of poplar. its not its 100% mahogany just like the forum. Differences are as follows: Exports have bigger lugs as where forums have smaller low-mass lugs, exports have iss (they didnt use to and it still sounded good), exports have the BT-3 tom bracket as where forums have some other bracket, exports have the BB-3 as where forums have another but ver similar that still says pearl. Exports have 800 series hardware and forum have 70 series. its not that different its just 800 series is power pro. The export tom arms are TH-88I. Forums used to have TH-88 but then exports arms went down to TH-88 from unilock so forums arms went down to TH-70's. As you can see they are very alike. The 2002 exports have the same tom arms that forums used to have. TH-88's and TH-70's are no that different the TH-88 just have that black cap covering each hole at the extreme of a tom arm. shells of both are exactly the same. it just forum has a hole in it (exports used to) and the iss difference is minimal i have heard many drummers on this forum and not on this forum that the difference is microscopic. i would have to say i didnt hear a differnece either wen i heard it. Anyone who says forum sucks (not directing to you zilflight) and has an export ur basically saying your kit sucks. cuz differences are minimal. it would have to be anyway Forums=$600 Exports=$700. MMMMMMM $100 not that much difference to 700 and 7000 masterworks huh.

sk8drummer
01-21-2003, 08:52 PM
Export 5-Piece Fusion Drumset
Product #448655


Show Larger Photo
AOL Larger Photo
Printable Version
Tell A Friend
Rate This Product
SAVE $399.01 (36%) When You Buy Today!
List: $1,099.00
Sale Price: $699.99
Platinum
Payments: As Low As $20/mo*

Availability: Click for availability on each option
Options: Charcoal Metallic ... $699.99 Deep Blue ... $699.99 Jet Black ... $699.99 Mirror Chrome ... $699.99 Pure White ... $699.99 Red Wine ... $699.99

Quantity:
(You can always remove it from your cart.)

Buy today and receive the following free item!
1 - Beato Drum Set Dust Cover




Recommended Accessories:
Click the checkboxes, then click "Buy Now"

Vic Firth American Sound Hickory Drumsticks Wood 5A $5.99
Zims Cymbal and Hardware Cleaner $9.99
Wuhan Splash/China Pack $39.99
ddrum Red Shot 5-Piece Trigger Pack $99.99

The world's best affordable kit just got better.

For quality, performance, sound, and price, you simply can't find a set that offers more. Shells are made of 100% mahogany with a super high-gloss finish. It features ISS tom mounts and low-mass lugs, a boom stand has been added, and the kick pedal upgraded to a P100. 22" x 18" bass; 10" x 8", 12" x 9", and 14" x 12" rack toms; and a 5-1/2" x 14" wood snare. Hardware includes a hi-hat stand, snare stand, straight and boom cymbal stands, tom holders, and a P100 bass pedal. Includes BC800W boom stand.

Features:

Offers an unmatchable mix of quality, performance, sound, and low price
100% mahogany shells with a super high-gloss finish
ISS tom mounts
Low-mass lugs
A boom stand has been added to hardware package
Kick pedal has been upgraded to a P100
Go ahead. Spend the money. Get a great kit.

sk8drummer
01-21-2003, 08:55 PM
Forum Mahogany Snare (read it mahogany)
Product #448223


Show Larger Photo
AOL Larger Photo
Printable Version
Tell A Friend
Rate This Product
This product is eligible for FREE SHIPPING! Click for details

SAVE $69.01 (36%) When You Buy Today!
List: $189.00
Sale Price: $119.99
Platinum
Payments: As Low As $15/mo*

Availability: Click for availability on each option
Options: Charcoal Metallic ... $119.99 Deep Blue ... $119.99 Jet Black ... $119.99 Pure White ... $119.99 Red Wine ... $119.99

Quantity:
(You can always remove it from your cart.)

Recommended Accessories:
Click the checkboxes, then click "Buy Now"

Hot Sticks Macrolus Strike Zone XL Black Optic Drumsticks Nylon 5B $7.19



Questions on this product? Email our Technical Support Department.



Save BIG when you buy today!

sk8drummer
01-21-2003, 09:00 PM
Pearl FX725C Forum Drum Set
The Forum Series includes everything you need to begin your drumming journey!

I Forum "Ready-Set-Go" Drumset
Drum Kit Configurations
FX725C...The best-selling Forum Drum setup includes a 22x16 bass drum, 12x10 and 13x11 rack toms, 16x16 floor tom, and 14x5.5 wood snare drum. FX705C includes 20x16 bass drum, 10x8 and 12x9 rack toms, 14x14 floor tom, and 14x5.5 wood snare. FX725HC includes 22x16 bass drum, 10x8, 12x9, and 14x12 rack toms, and a 14x5.5 wood snare. This is the "Fusion" style drumset.

Shell Construction
The Forum Drum Set features 100% mahogany shells using the same Heat Compression Process as our professional series drums. All Forum drum shells feature Pearl's exclusive scarf joint (gapless seam) construction heretofore available only on professional level lacquered drums. Gapless construction improves the strength of the shells and allows the drums to vibrate uniformly, unimpeded by air pockets, for warmth and richness found only in more expensive drums.

Hardware
The S-70W snare stand, C-70W cymbal stand, H-70W hi-hat stand feature sturdy double braced legs and outstanding Pearl quality! The P-100 pedal features a smooth chain drive action. The D-70W seat features double braced legs and adjustable height settings with stop-lock memory.

Features
The Forum is available in 5 piece configurations with your choice of 22" or 20" Bass drums. All include 14" hi-hat and 18" crash/ride cymbals, seat, drumsticks, and video for instant enjoyment of the great sound of Pearl drums. Forum standard features include low-mass lugs and mounts for optimum tonality and resonance. Heavy-duty spurs for stability and key style tension rods for precise tuning on bass drums. Three section height adjustment on C70W cymbal stands and smooth direct pull action on H70W hi-hat stands.

Finishes
Five durable covered finishes are available...Jet Black, Pure White, Red Wine, Deep Blue, and Charcoal Metallic. The perfect set of drums for the beginner or intermediate drum set player!


FX Forum Series Drum Set




website: http://www.123-music.net/pearlforumdrumset.html

AntiConformist
01-21-2003, 09:11 PM
The export is no longer made of "mahogany"... it is now made of poplar. If you use musiciansfriend as an end-all-be-all source for information, you may end up very misinformed. (as is the case this time)

Gene Okamoto
Pearl Product Manager

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: US Pearl Corporate Headquarters, Nashville, TN.
Posts: 801
The 2002 Export Select shells are 6 ply 100% poplar.


http://66.40.220.17/showthread.php?s=&postid=788&highlight=export+poplar#post788

ian40uk
01-22-2003, 10:17 AM
i have one, when i purchased it, i was given the kit as quoted in the brochure, but somewhere along the line, the guy who loaded it into my car, put a pearl double braced ( dunno the code ) straight cymbal stand priced at £52.99 into my car as well, so im not complaining :D :D :D

if any pearl employee reads this, the only complaint i have is that the front bass hoop is not perfectly round ( can i fix it? ), and the clamp to hold the small tom arm into the kick drum wont hold tight, so it swivels :mad:

apart from that, it rocks

IAN

zilflight
01-22-2003, 02:31 PM
yeh sk8drummer, no offence, but anti and I are correct. alot of the internet providers dont bother upgrading the info on the stuff they sell year to year. if you check the pearl site, or that link that anti sent, you will see that 02 exports are infact poplar (a relative to birch). Im not trying to attack you in anyway, Im just trying to make sure you are correctly informed. I made the same mistake myself a month or 2 ago...

criticdrummer
01-22-2003, 04:28 PM
ya i thought forumns have that cheap mohagony

sk8drummer
01-22-2003, 04:36 PM
forums have the same mahogany exports used to have.

criticdrummer
01-22-2003, 04:52 PM
well, exactly, USED to have ;)

sk8drummer
01-22-2003, 05:05 PM
yeah dude and exports were still the bestselling pearl drums wen they had the shells forums have now. So forums are good

criticdrummer
01-22-2003, 05:07 PM
lol..... so Exports are STILL the number one selling drumkit in the world... lol

Carpe Diem
01-22-2003, 06:23 PM
all these problems we have with shells n hardware>>>..:rolleyes:
y don't we juet get hook to answer wat forum and export shells r made of!!

AntiConformist
01-22-2003, 07:02 PM
I already posted, and linked to, what Gene said about them. Export shells are 100% poplar. Forum shells are still "mahogany", but I use quotes because it's definitely not the same mahogany you'd find in nice kits. I've also heard forum shells reffered to as luan, I'm not sure if it's a different wood or just a different name...

SKiezws
01-22-2003, 08:08 PM
Originally posted by AntiConformist
I already posted, and linked to, what Gene said about them. Export shells are 100% poplar. Forum shells are still "mahogany", but I use quotes because it's definitely not the same mahogany you'd find in nice kits. I've also heard forum shells reffered to as luan, I'm not sure if it's a different wood or just a different name...

Luan is a name for cheaper Mahogany...like what was on the Exports. The mahogany they use on Masters drums is better. I heard somewhere that the mahogany supply was getting low or it was getting expensive to come by, so they put poplar on exports...Im guessing Forums arent 100% mahogany, or if they are, they arent as good of mahogany as on the Exports. Maybe so, but it doesnt make sense to me.

sk8drummer
01-22-2003, 09:52 PM
Mahogany is almost gone out of this world. The forums are 100% mahogany. im tellin u exactly like the exports of before poplar. ok

Mohadiib1
01-23-2003, 08:30 AM
ok guys, let me clear a few things up for you. 1st--luan and mahogany are 2 completely different woods. If Pearl was using luan and mahogany in the shells, I gotta believe they would tell you. But they're not, since luan is more scarce than mahogany. Luan is a real thin, VERY expensive wood used to underlie flooring in new homes. period. Now the good wood vs. bad wood thing. Bull****. Yes there are different grades of wood in any category, but I seriously doubt that Pearl would purposely use substandard wood in making any of their drums. Now, hardwood vs. softwood. Luan is hardwood. Mahogany is hardwood. Birch is softwood. Poplar is softwood. I imagine it depends what kind of wood is used, as to how much sound is absorbed by the shell. I'm no engineer, but it makes sense to me. Top of the line Masters are made with??? Mahogany?? Second from the bottom of the line Exports are made from?? Poplar?? Forums are made from?? Mahogany?? Do you see the pattern here?? I thought you might. Anyway, I have Forums with Remo Pinstripes on them and they sound just fine. I used to have Ludwig Vista Light Acrylic shells. They sounded good too. And Critic--you obviously own Exports, you're not that far ahead of all those with Forums, and WAY behind those with Masters, so I wouldn't chop on the Forums too much if I was you. Especially if your set is pre-2002, in which case you too, have Mahogany shells.

zilflight
01-23-2003, 10:35 AM
Originally posted by Mohadiib1
ok guys, let me clear a few things up for you. 1st--luan and mahogany are 2 completely different woods. If Pearl was using luan and mahogany in the shells, I gotta believe they would tell you. But they're not, since luan is more scarce than mahogany. Luan is a real thin, VERY expensive wood used to underlie flooring in new homes. period. Now the good wood vs. bad wood thing. Bull****. Yes there are different grades of wood in any category, but I seriously doubt that Pearl would purposely use substandard wood in making any of their drums. Now, hardwood vs. softwood. Luan is hardwood. Mahogany is hardwood. Birch is softwood. Poplar is softwood. I imagine it depends what kind of wood is used, as to how much sound is absorbed by the shell. I'm no engineer, but it makes sense to me. Top of the line Masters are made with??? Mahogany?? Second from the bottom of the line Exports are made from?? Poplar?? Forums are made from?? Mahogany?? Do you see the pattern here?? I thought you might. Anyway, I have Forums with Remo Pinstripes on them and they sound just fine. I used to have Ludwig Vista Light Acrylic shells. They sounded good too. And Critic--you obviously own Exports, you're not that far ahead of all those with Forums, and WAY behind those with Masters, so I wouldn't chop on the Forums too much if I was you. Especially if your set is pre-2002, in which case you too, have Mahogany shells.

uhh yeh, first of all, not all masters series drums are mahogany. infact only 1/4 of all masters drums are. masters can also be 4 ply maple, 6 ply maple, birch, or mahogany.

and about pearl using lower grade wood for their forum drums... Tell me oh wise one, why people would pay 5 or 6 times as much money for a msaters or even masterworks mahogany drumset if they could get a forum set with the same quality shell material as the pricy stuff? I mean, there would still be a few bonuses of buying the more expensive drums (such as finish and hardware), but you could change both of these features easily. Of course pearl uses lower grade mahogany (on purpose) on their forum series drums. the mahogany they use doesnt suck, its just not as good as masters mahogany or masterworks mahogany. Now why would they do this??? Well I imagine lower grade mahogany would be cheaper, and also, like I said above, they need alot of differences between the different series of drums. if the forum drums are just barely worse than the masters drums, then why even make masters???

Also, I believe forum drums are 9 plys of mahogany. I get this info from the fact that you guys say that old export shells and forum shells are the same. I am pretty sure that old export shells are 9 plys of mahogany. Now if you care about resonance, that is another factor that makes new exports alittle better. the more plys a drum has, the less resonance it has. New exports have only 6 plys of poplar. granted, Im not quite sure how much of a difference this may make, but when you combine the thicker shells and no ISS and compare it to thinner shells with ISS, I think you will be able to notice a difference between the 2.

Again, I am not saying that forums suck, I am just once again trying to distinguish forum from ex, and mhx.

ian40uk
01-23-2003, 10:39 AM
here here MOHAD :D

my bro has played my kit during a rehearsal while i stood back, and believe me, i dont give a toss what timber they are made from, they sounded damn good from where i was standing. so lets cut out petty arguing about " mines better than yours", and get on !!!

the reason i have a forum is simple, i could'nt go the extra £100 to get either an Export, a TAMA rockstar, or a Yamaha YD/Stage custom. yes i could have got a Mapex for the same money, but i went for the pearl because of the after service and because they have been makin drums a lot longer than mapex ( although i am in no way criticising )

thank you :)

ian40uk
01-23-2003, 10:44 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by zilflight
[B]


and about pearl using lower grade wood for their forum drums... Tell me oh wise one, why people would pay 5 or 6 times as much money for a msaters or even masterworks mahogany drumset if they could get a forum set with the same quality shell material as the pricy stuff?


maybe hook or gene could answer that simply........................ " marketing" . this could go on and on,

SKiezws
01-23-2003, 11:31 AM
Originally posted by ian40uk
[QUOTE]Originally posted by zilflight
[B]


and about pearl using lower grade wood for their forum drums... Tell me oh wise one, why people would pay 5 or 6 times as much money for a msaters or even masterworks mahogany drumset if they could get a forum set with the same quality shell material as the pricy stuff?


maybe hook or gene could answer that simply........................ " marketing" . this could go on and on,

Hey...it isnt the same material.

Heres a bad analogy...but firewood is the same way. There are some good woods for making fires, and some bad woods. Some woods might smoke a lot, such as pine...but one pine log from one family of pine trees might smoke less than a another pine log from a different family of pine.

By you realizing this, you may also realize there are different kinds of mahogany, each with different properties in their wood.

So, oh wise one, the mahogany in the Forums is cheaper than in the Masters series. If they used the exact same wood, I would own a Forum instead of an Export.

AntiConformist
01-23-2003, 12:11 PM
forums, and old exports, used phillipine (cheap) mahogany. The MHX masters kits use african (not anything resembling cheap) mahogany. Two veeerry different woods.

Mohadiib1
01-23-2003, 12:34 PM
Anticonformist, I can see why you are "the friendless wonder". And apparently, YOU are the new "oh wise one", since you seem to know all about where Pearl imports their wood from. You have a degree in lumber, do ya? And by the way, both Forum AND Export were made with the exact same 7-ply mahogany, up until 2002. Also, I would think the Phillipean mahogany would be better quality than the African mahogany, simply because there are less chiggers and dung beetles chewing on it over there in the phillipines. Right? I just go by what I read on the Pearl website, and they claim that Forum shells are made with the exact same stringent process as their top of the line masters. So don't blast me. Take it up with Pearl and tell them that they are full of crap. See what it gets you.
I've only been coming to this forum for about 2 weeks and I can see some of the children from the Dream Theater drummers forum have made their way over here. I'm not gonna argue with you. Believe what you want. And like I said, unless Pearl is lying to everyone, Forum shells are as good as Export shells. The difference is in the hardware.
Do yourself some good and read, instead of flapping your lips.
:D

AntiConformist
01-23-2003, 01:12 PM
Originally posted by Mohadiib1
Anticonformist, I can see why you are "the friendless wonder". And apparently, YOU are the new "oh wise one", since you seem to know all about where Pearl imports their wood from. You have a degree in lumber, do ya? And by the way, both Forum AND Export were made with the exact same 7-ply mahogany, up until 2002. Also, I would think the Phillipean mahogany would be better quality than the African mahogany, simply because there are less chiggers and dung beetles chewing on it over there in the phillipines. Right? I just go by what I read on the Pearl website, and they claim that Forum shells are made with the exact same stringent process as their top of the line masters. So don't blast me. Take it up with Pearl and tell them that they are full of crap. See what it gets you.
I've only been coming to this forum for about 2 weeks and I can see some of the children from the Dream Theater drummers forum have made their way over here. I'm not gonna argue with you. Believe what you want. And like I said, unless Pearl is lying to everyone, Forum shells are as good as Export shells. The difference is in the hardware.
Do yourself some good and read, instead of flapping your lips.
:D

wait wait wait. I've never insulted forums. I simply stated that forum shells are and were made of different types of wood then masters. you're awfully defensive there, Mohadiib1. I never argued that exports were the end all be all of the drumming world, only that exports are made of poplar, and that masters kits and forum kits are COMPLETELY different. There's nothing wrong with liking what you have. I wouldn't mind having your forum. But to believe that forums and masters are made of the same material? rather odd. All pearl drums are made using their heat compression techniques, but that doesn't mean their all made of the same material, smart ***. I made not one negative remark, until you felt the need to make a personal bash on me.

jonnyfun
01-23-2003, 01:33 PM
I'm with Anitcomformatist,

Forums are made with cheap, phillipine mahogany,
understand this- They are BEGINNERS kits, they arnt the ultimate drums so why care if they are made out of a cheap wood? They sound fine.

African mahogany is WAY superior to the phillipine stuff, they are almost totally differant woods.

You forum users are beeing way to defensive about your kits- They are beginners kits, Exports are not- they are the next step up so everyone stop bashing each other, exports are better sounding and better made than forums but they are also more expensive- You get what you pay for.

If you like your forums- Shut up,
If you DON't like your forums-Shut up.



Who cares if your kit isnt as good as blah blah blah, if you like it then great- Enjoy it.

Jon

Lewismiles
01-23-2003, 02:21 PM
wise words

Mohadiib1
01-23-2003, 02:29 PM
Can't we all get along? I apologize, Anticonformist. Personal bashing is totally uncalled for here. I was just responding to the people that referred to me as "oh wise one". I don't claim to know it all, by any means. I do know a little something aboud wood, having spent 3 years working at a lumber yard. I still don't see where Exports are made of Poplar. And yes, Masters are made from Mahogany, Maple, Birch, or whatever you would want, I imagine. In several different ply thicknesses, too. And even though Forums are listed as a "beginners" set, that doesn't mean you have to be a beginner to own them and like them. I've been playing drums longer than some of you have been alive. I just don't happen to have $15,000.00 to spend on drums. Yet, at the same time, the Forums don't sound nearly as bad as some of you make them out to. And jonfun, up until 2002, the shells on Forums and Exports were exactly the same thing--same wood, same coatings, same everything--except the hardware, and the mounting system. A $100 difference. No more. Don't believe me?? Ask Pearl. I did.
So once again back to the business of drumming, OK?

David Johnson
01-23-2003, 02:36 PM
I dont think any pearl kit sucks at all. All the pearl kits Ive played have sounded great, but not just because of the kit, but because of the skins used and the tuning. I would never buy a masters kit unless it was given to me for free or I got an amazing discount. Yeah, I agree they look amazing, with all their fancy finishes, and the hardware is better and stronger, but I honestly think that I could get my Export to sound like a masters if I got the right skins and spent long enough tuning it. However, if I got a masters kit it would obviously sound better if I did the same thing.

Saying of the day is:
"Any Pearl Kit is a Good Kit."

232 thumper
01-23-2003, 03:00 PM
Originally posted by Mohadiib1
Anticonformist, I can see why you are "the friendless wonder". And apparently, YOU are the new "oh wise one", since you seem to know all about where Pearl imports their wood from. You have a degree in lumber, do ya? And by the way, both Forum AND Export were made with the exact same 7-ply mahogany, up until 2002. Also, I would think the Phillipean mahogany would be better quality than the African mahogany, simply because there are less chiggers and dung beetles chewing on it over there in the phillipines.
:D

Wow. I re-read this post several times to see why that lable/insult was justified. Still looking......

You having been on the forum for two weeks is made very clear in your post. A "degree in lumber" is not needed as many of these points you are discrediting have been addressed by Pearl directly - several times.
Did Pearl use Luan in the shells? You bet they did - as did Ludwig, and CB, Slingerland, Premier and many others. I have a set of older Exports where you can see the ply's.
There are many different grades of all woods - that is why you can get a maple Sessions for less money than an maple Masters.
The cheaper Mahogany has been around forever - it is also referred to as "basswood" or "select hard woods" by older Pearl catalogs as well as many other manufacturers. Do a search on some of these terms within the forum and you should get the answers you need.

Mohad - your profile says you have been a player for a long time. I would say the easiest way to understand the different quality levels would simply be to head over to the drum shop with some sticks and have some fun. Pearl has done a great job at differring price based on the quality of the instruments. None of them "suck" - ask a someone with a Dixon, Peace or CB kit if he would trade you for your Forum. But there is a difference. I play an 2002 ELX by choice - that choice being made for me as they dont make a birch Sessions. Before that I had a 2001 ELX. It was a great kit and served me well. I went to the shop to order a Sessions and sat down behind the 2002 poplar ELX while I was waiting. I could not believe the difference in tone - as close to birch as you could get.
The post about ISS not making any difference is off as well. A laquer finished ELX with ISS sounds much closer in tone to a Masters BRX that it does a Forum. The wrap, the holes, the hardwear - all make a very big difference. To say they all sound the same is incorrect.
Again I suggest playing them all at a shop - it will be obvious - unless you happen to be one of those who tunes with duct tape and pillows. Then yes, they will ALL sound the same...

sk8drummer
01-23-2003, 03:47 PM
dude, the iss not makin any difference is right. i mean sure it makes a difference but it is totally microscopic i no. i went to a drums shop and i saw a export and a forum stacked up. i asked if they could set it up and tune it for me. They said yea. These guys were good drummers most playin for like 10 years makin their livin on playin drums. they tuned with the same skins. (I guess they musta figured i wanted to differentiate them) o well, i tried em and i could a slight difference in shells. but the resonance took me a while. i could barely hear a resonance difference. They said its barely a difference. Then i went to another drum shop to buy ISS mounts (this was before the event i just said). I had to buy the TH-88I arms, the BT-3 and the iss mounts for two toms it woulda cost me $130.00. The guy hoo was an experienced drummer said that if it were him wit my set he wouldnt buy it because the difference was microscopic. He said it was mostly a cosmetic change. Now y would a drum shop worker refuse $130.00. Maybe cuz hes right and there is good service where they tell you the truth. ok, ill give in that the 6 ply poplar does not sound exactly the same as the forum mahogany. Its one hell of a little difference. $100 difference. only. each piece of hardware on the export is about $10 more than on the forum. that might equal o say. $100. Let me put it this. Export=5. Forum=4.9

AntiConformist
01-23-2003, 03:54 PM
get over it... exports ARE noticeably better. that doesn't mean forums are crap, or exports are awesome. It's still the drummer that makes the kit... maybe the iss doesn't make a huge difference on forum shells that already have the holes in them, but on brand spankin new exports, compared to forums, there is a very noticeable difference.

sk8drummer
01-23-2003, 04:01 PM
dude, im just tryin to point the facts. im not sayin forums suck im theyre better than exports. im simply sayin forums may be lower but theyre not much different from exports. exports are better. no doubt there. it just not extremely better. like forum to masters. k. lets stop this argument every1 just misinterprets and i wanna increase the peace. lets all just get along. lol. were all drummers here. were like family....we blood. lol. lets all be good drummers literally and morally. drummers arent *****es or babies all right.

232 thumper
01-23-2003, 04:19 PM
Originally posted by sk8drummer
These guys were good drummers most playin for like 10 years makin their livin on playin drums.

Ten whole years? Wow! Are you sure? I stand corrected...

Please, go to a real drum shop - or at least an ear doctor.

Your profile says you are a skater (excuse me... "sk8r"). Would you go to "Toys R Us" to buy a deck and have it set up?

Mohadiib1
01-23-2003, 05:16 PM
wow. well, apparently, I know less than I thought about drum construction.And after posting and reading in this thread for a couple days, I am convinced that I own crap.I'm selling my ****....if anyone will buy it. Is there any way to delete the picture from this forum?

sk8drummer
01-23-2003, 05:43 PM
firt of all thumper, ur ***. cuz im not a boarder. i used to blade. i bladed wen i registered. that was like the last month i bladed. thumper. ur really ****ed. get a new ****in name and stop dissin skaters. or take it up with all the skaters on this forum. and mohad. wat the **** r u talkin about. i no 16 year olds who have forums and have maybe been playin for like 4 or 6 years. i no this guy hoo goes to my future high school and a guy on this forum. i think it was calumc. somethin like that. dude dont go sellin ur set after u invested 2,000 dollars into it. if ur in middle scool (like me (8th)) or high scool. use that kit up until like ur sophmore college year. wen u could a afford a tight OCDP. im not implyin u cant now. i just think not most people cant afford awesome OCDP kits.

AntiConformist
01-23-2003, 07:09 PM
do they offer english classes in your middle school?

sk8drummer
01-23-2003, 07:39 PM
dude, first of all, its web talk and i was typin fast. Second of all, u guys and me used to say that to that ***** whor of a drumr. I don't like being said the same things to me as to him. He was really an ***, and dude do they teach you to be a ***** in your school, because thats what you are.

Mohadiib1
01-23-2003, 08:00 PM
Can you feel the love? OK, why does Barbie Doll have red ****?
Because G.I.Joe has kung fu grip. Now lighten up, all y'all. OK?
I started drumming when I was in 6th grade. I'm an old fart now, by some of your standards. But I was never ridiculed as a drummer along the way. Lets all chill out a bit. After all, we're all about drumming, remember? Not *****ing and whining.

232 thumper
01-24-2003, 09:05 AM
Originally posted by sk8drummer
firt of all thumper, ur ***. cuz im not a boarder. i used to blade. i bladed wen i registered. that was like the last month i bladed. thumper. ur really ****ed. get a new ****in name and stop dissin skaters. or take it up with all the skaters on this forum. and mohad. wat the **** r u talkin about. i no 16 year olds who have forums and have maybe been playin for like 4 or 6 years. i no this guy hoo goes to my future high school and a guy on this forum. i think it was calumc. somethin like that. dude dont go sellin ur set after u invested 2,000 dollars into it. if ur in middle scool (like me (8th)) or high scool. use that kit up until like ur sophmore college year. wen u could a afford a tight OCDP. im not implyin u cant now. i just think not most people cant afford awesome OCDP kits.

Hey Avril -
Mom says it's time to get washed up for dinner and start your homework...


Mohad - I was just trying to pass on ways for you to find the information you desire on the forum. So many of the mass meat market retailers preach so much garbage that the waters can be made extremely murky.
I was not insinuating that your Forums were crap in any way - in fact I beleive quite the opposite. Being that you and I have been on the planet and playing for a quite a while, I think you and I would agree that most name brand kits sold as entry level in todays market are as good as many high end kits were 10-15 years ago. My point is simply that there is a difference.

AntiConformist
01-24-2003, 09:37 AM
Originally posted by sk8drummer
dude, first of all, its web talk and i was typin fast. Second of all, u guys and me used to say that to that ***** whor of a drumr. I don't like being said the same things to me as to him. He was really an ***, and dude do they teach you to be a ***** in your school, because thats what you are.

Nice come backs kid. But would your mother like to hear you using that kind of language? Ehh, I've stooped to his level (with a few less gramatical errors), So with that, I'll be done with the insults.

Originally posted by sk8drummer
firt of all thumper, ur ***.

silly homophobe

Mohadiib1
01-24-2003, 09:48 AM
desired information has been found and archived. Thank you. most of it I knew already but I picked up a few pointers as to drum construction and the various materials used. weapons cache is now full. armed and dangerous. locked and loaded. got any 3's?:D

232 thumper
01-24-2003, 10:17 AM
Mohad -
I edited my last message, but just incase you didn't see it I will post it again.

I in no way meant to insinuate that your Forums were crap - in fact I believe 100% the opposite. If my posts came across that way it was unintentional and I apologize.
You and I both have been on the planet and playing for quite a while. I think we would both agree that the name brand entry level kits in todays market are better than many high end kits from 10-15 years ago. Infact to base it on a personsal experience, I dropped a pile of money on a birdseye maple DW kit back in 95. I sold it within months after hearing a "entry level" Pearl bass drum (the DW was awful). My only point in this whole thread is that there is a difference in sound. Whether one sound is better than the other is purely opinion.

Sorry - no 3's...;)

Mohadiib1
01-24-2003, 10:29 AM
Gotcha. And I agree. As I said in another post I used to have Ludwig Vista Light Acrylic shells--top of the line in their day--and the forums I have now sound as good as those Ludwigs ever did. I have heard others say, and I agree, that with good heads and proper tuning, almost any drum can be made to sound......shall we say, acceptable. Some guys here seem to be convinced that Forums are bottom of the barrel gutter trash and that's simply not the case. They may be Pearls 2nd from the bottom line, but they beat the crap out of lots of other "no name" brands of entry level sets. And you can't beat the price, with hardware and cymbal set included. I would bet there is more than a few bands on tour, whose drummer owns and uses a Forum set. Now, once I cut a CD or two, and the royalties start rolling in, I too, may upgrade. But for now, the Forum set I own serves my purpose just fine.
:D smiles, everyone, smiles!! :D

ian40uk
01-24-2003, 10:45 AM
you tell em mohab, forums are ok at their worst, amazing at their best !! i have had mine a month and still toying with the tuning on the toms as well as the bass, i'll know when i have the desired sound from them , but until then, i will enjoy playing around with the tuning key !!:cool:

my last kit was a £250 starter kit, i put aquarian heads on the batter sides of the whole kit, got em tuned properly and it sounded bloody better than its price, that i can promise you. lets cut out the slating each others kits, as i have said before, i played in shops on a lot of different kits, and i could'nt go the extra £100 for an export/tama rockstar/yamaha YD , so i HAPPILY settled for a forum (fusion) in charcoal.

who knows, when i decide to " upgrade " , i may even go retro and buy an old ludwig or premier 60's style kit , and even possibly do some rimshots.... its all down to personal taste and choice, keep drummin in harmony you guys

:) Ian

SKiezws
01-24-2003, 11:11 AM
Originally posted by ian40uk
i could'nt go the extra £100 for an export/tama rockstar/yamaha YD , so i HAPPILY settled for a forum (fusion) in charcoal.

Good choice with the charcoal metallic. I have that finish on my Ex and think its the best. I wish they woulda kept that finish for only EX tho...but I'm glad you got it! Nice choice by going with the fusion sizes, and good luck with the tuning!

calumc
01-24-2003, 01:46 PM
I've had a forum for 4 years and never had a problem with it - infact I only had to replace the original heads a month ago. The forum is a beginners kit, but every brand has to have a bottom-of-the-line model - with a big brand like Pearl even that is far above the standard of the other 'beginners' kits on the market, CB, 'Session Pro' etc. As for forum vs export, dont bother. The £100 difference reflects the difference between these drums - not a lot. Were not talking about the difference between and Export series (£500) and a Session series (£1200) - that would be a difference worth arguing about. As far as I'm concerned, a forum kit is exactly the same as an Export apart from the hardware, and since I dont have any of my original hardware (all new stands & a rack etc) my kit is now superior to an export in my opinion. The shells are made of different wood? I dont care. 'Different' doesn't necesseraly mean 'better'. I decide what a 'good' sounding drumkit is, so as far as I'm concerned my kit sounds just as good as a masterworks (and cost about the cost of a single masterworks tom to buy). The forum kits are excellent value and by far the best quality anywhere for the price, and can take a lot of abuse believe me (me, my 2 kid brothers, and practically every kid that turns up at the door with them - for the past 4 years) so don't knock them. If I really cared about these stupid differences, I'd sell my kit and buy an export.

sk8drummer
01-24-2003, 03:45 PM
yo calumc, i think ur right. and i love my forum. sry for the insults. i just got ticked off. sry. were all drummers, and drummers arent babies or *****es. k. lets let this thread die off cuz it only brings trouble. lets all just get along. lol. but seriously no more insults.

Bloody_ Sabbath
03-05-2003, 08:12 PM
I had a question I have a set of Forums from 1996 did they use a different type of wood or have they been the same till now?
thx in advance

Eliminator
03-11-2003, 12:29 PM
it's only export related

eliminator

rythym devil
03-12-2003, 11:54 PM
Ok, now that thats settled, I have to ask, can anyone elaborate on the poplar.

I'm using a 1976 Ludwig I bought in 1980, all maple, pro series....long story short, its well drummed, and I want to strip it and refinish the shells etc. So in the meantime, I looked far and wide and set my heart on Pearl.

Alot has changed, and as someone said, the low end stuff of today is much nicer than highend of a decade or two ago. I would agree with this 100%.

Now, I expected mohogany shells, my export in mirror chrome has shipped and is due Friday. My throat just dropped into my gut when I read poplar.

From what I understand, some drummers here have tried them and they sound good. But, poplar is very new in a drum. Im not sure what to think. To be honest my first thought was send them back.

Can anyone fill me in on how great polpar is?

Thanks

carl
03-13-2003, 08:12 AM
from what someone else said on this forum (i cant remember who) said that polpar is the closest thing to birch, i think its in the same family aswell, i got an pearl ex in mirror chrome just before christmas i think its sounds & looks awsome.

rythym devil
03-13-2003, 06:35 PM
Yeah, I remember hearing that. So it sounds like you LOVE your EXPORT.... cool..thats what Im looking for.

Anyone else? How are these Poplar kits?

Thanks Carl

treetrunk
03-15-2003, 09:50 PM
Let me just say that I own (or have owned) a
1992 forum and an ex select from 2001. As far as
the sound goes the 16x16 and 22x16 forum, they
sound very similiar. The forums are good drums, but
to me lose it in the 12 and 13 toms compared to the
elx's with the same heads on each tom. My 16x16
forum flr is excellent with a hydro on it. It sounded
just about the same as the select.
That being said, I'll say that the selects are just more
versatile sound wise (meaning better) than the forums.
The forums however are no slouch, its just a matter of
getting the right head for these particular drums or any
drums for that matter.

MIKEQ
03-24-2003, 09:19 AM
Nothing wrong with the forum at all. I love mine :)
(But who wouldn;t love there drum kit)

ian40uk
03-24-2003, 09:51 AM
Too right MIKEQ . i called in a shop today, he had an old export and an old CZX Studio birch, which i think is the predecessor to the masters... could be wrong, both kits had drilled shells for tom mounting and both sounded wonderful , but i think in todays market, the manufacturers are expected to fit " rim mounts " on their kits because thats what the buying public want, hence the forum getting a lot of bad press basically because it has a drilled shell !! so HEAR THIS . i defy anyone to play my 2002 forum and tell me it sounds crap, because i know it does'nt . its very nice . and worth saving over £100 against an EX .

IAN :)

led1234
03-25-2003, 12:58 AM
I really like my forum and im really excited about the idea of expanding it.

Tom Reyns
03-25-2003, 02:40 PM
I really like my forum and im really excited about the idea of expanding it.
I also like my forum. I already expanded it and I'm already making plans to buy a 14" tom and a second bass. If I play an ELX or EX at my local drum shop and a Forum I can't hear the difference. I think Forums are great kits. Although I only drum for 9 months, I think it was very good to begin on a Forum and expanding it. I hope/think it will last many many years, I take good care of it. But I think ELX has cooler colours.
My Forum:

Later,

led1234
03-25-2003, 03:40 PM
Nice set man!

Tom Reyns
03-30-2003, 12:58 PM
thanks!
Do you have a pic from your forum?

ian40uk
03-31-2003, 10:02 AM
NOTHING wrong with a forum you guys :D
this was taken on saturday night, the other band we were playing with did'nt have a drummer ( he was jetlagged from holiday ) so i stood in and did 40 minutes of an enjoyable mix of Eagles , dire straights and a few 12 bar numbers . what a great time i had. they have offered me 2 more small gigs in the summer, what a great outcome !


IAN

DrummerMom4571
04-17-2003, 03:14 PM
Forum kits are great

Mohadiib1
04-18-2003, 07:08 PM
Forums Rock. See: "Mohadiibs 12 pc. Forum" in the "Show us your kits" thread.

DaveDrummer
04-18-2003, 07:59 PM
Originally posted by Tom Reyns

I also like my forum. I already expanded it and I'm already making plans to buy a 14" tom and a second bass. If I play an ELX or EX at my local drum shop and a Forum I can't hear the difference. I think Forums are great kits. Although I only drum for 9 months, I think it was very good to begin on a Forum and expanding it. I hope/think it will last many many years, I take good care of it. But I think ELX has cooler colours.
My Forum:

Later,

nice set. Pearl Forums are excellent sets, and very similar to the export. The only thing that lacks are thoes CYMBALS that come with it. If I were you, id buy a real hihat next! Nice set though

Dave

Carpe Diem
04-19-2003, 05:10 PM
hi people i have a forum and it is 5 years old (my first set) i think it is pretty alrite. with my remo skins it sounds ok. i just think my hardware is **** AS **** because it is all single braced crap cause i got mine just at the time when that sort of hardeware was going out of pearls hardware line. i'm getting an ELX in amber mist soon i can't wait i think the ex sound better then the forums. but i also think the forums they are putting out now are pretty nice. I'm all for-um do we all get my little joke. lol no that was corny and *** i apologise 4 my sence of humor.
cheers:D