Pearl Reference Series - Pearl's Newest Innovation

[Hook]

Pearl Introduces Reference Series

Pearl introduces the Reference Series, a new line where each drum in the kit is engineered as an instrument unto itself. Using the knowledge gained from years of building Masterworks kits from of a variety of woods, Pearl has proven that certain woods and shells are better suited for some drums, and different shell types and woods perform better on others. The desired tonal characteristics of a 10" Tom, compared to a 22" Bass Drum, are completely different, so for the very best drums possible you must use more than one wood. Reference incorporates the very best of the best with blended Birch/Maple and African Mahogany/Maple shells combined with optimized shell thickness, and varying rounded bearing edges to perfectly engineer each and every drum.

To understand what makes Reference so unique you must first understand the individual characteristics of each shell. Different size Toms generate different tones, different woods, different bearing edges and different shell thicknesses all change a drum’s acoustic properties. Smaller Toms need cut and presence, medium Toms need warmth and smoothness, larger Toms need added volume, focus and depth, and Bass Drums need the ultimate in low-end punch, body, and above all, great bass. Over 2 years of exhaustive listening tests determined the optimal shell compositions.

Many kits are made from all Maple for its smooth, well balanced tone. For the tonal characteristics needed in a 12" Tom, there simply is no better choice than 6 ply Maple. And for this reason, all Reference Series 12" Toms are 6 ply, 100% Maple, with a rounded 45 degree bearing edge for added warmth and to accentuate its smooth tone. This is the only single wood shell in the Reference Series. As the drums get smaller in diameter from the 12", Birch is gradually added to the inside plies to boost cut and add the presence needed for smaller diameter drums. The smaller the drum, the more Birch is added. As the Toms get larger than 12", African Mahogany is gradually added to the Maple base to further add warmth, depth, and to increase low end. The bearing edge also changes to a full round-over starting at the 14" Tom to add additional smoothness and body. The shells also get thicker, increasing to 8 ply at 16", to add volume and increase efficiency in larger size Floor Toms. Reference Series Bass Drums are by far the best sounding you will ever hear. Four plies of African Mahogany and 2 plies of Maple can be found on 18" Reference Bass Drums, with all 20", 22" and 24" Bass Drums receiving 6 plies of Mahogany and 2 plies of Maple, all with full round-over edges.

The 20 ply Snare drum features 6 plies of Birch over 14 plies of Maple, making it one of the loudest wood Snare Drums available. The super thick shell resists vibration and focuses the energy into moving air. The inner plies of Birch provide the after burner of brighter sound making a Snare that can keep up with the rest of the kit.

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Reference Kits...

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more...

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Some of the artists from our studio session...you might recognize these guys.

[DrumRnick345]

They seem pretty good to me. I just dont like the color options. (My opinion of course)

[Chris309]

Omar is one cool kat. :)

[deathscent]

the silver sparkle and rootbeer don't seem to be too bad, they actually look pretty nice.

[MelodyMaster]

Wow. I've only had one kit my whole life, I did not plan on buying another until Reference series came in. If they literally sound as good as they say (or you said Hook) then I'll be sure to get one. Thank you.

PS: I wasn't always a big fan of Pearl. But now the tables have changed and so have I.

- Ariel -

[rsdrumz]

So does this mean that the next time I see Mr. Chambers on TV he'll be playing a Reference Series kit?

[MelodyMaster]

Omar is one cool kat. :) I love his signature Vic Virth Sticks, awsome :D . Because I haven't tried the Anti-Vibes ( let's see if they work as well as they say they do) I can't name em' my favorite sticks to date (the Homar Hakim's).

[AL PERCIVAL]

Excellent job HOOK. This is all anyone needs for a everything you wanted to know about the Reference Series kit . A great addition to the Pearl drum family.

[Hook]

Some more pics from the show...

[Hook]

Excellent job HOOK. This is all anyone needs for a everything you wanted to know about the Reference Series kit . A great addition to the Pearl drum family.

Thanks man, we will have alot of cool stuff hitting with Reference on the new site that I'm working on.

[AL PERCIVAL]

Thanks man, we will have alot of cool stuff hitting with Reference on the new site that I'm working on.

Wonderful - can't wait! Again, congratulations on the Reference series and Pearls spectacular unveiling at NAMM to rock everybody's world yet again.

[ADman2B]

The rootbeer fade drum looks great at the top of the pyramid. That's brighter than I've ever seen it look.

[Hook]

Digital camrea under the hot lights, plus a flash, so it's maybe a little skewed towards over saturation....the snare shot in the snare thread is the best example.

[ELX825DH]

jsut a question...from the pictures iv seen so far, the toms all appear to be mounted on tri pods. Will it be possible to order the bass drum with tom mounts / bb3's ( dont know what the higher end stuff is!) built on?
Sorry if its a jack *** question, but i dont know much about the highewr end kits...

[AL PERCIVAL]

just a question...from the pictures iv seen so far, the toms all appear to be mounted on tri pods. Will it be possible to order the bass drum with tom mounts / bb3's ( dont know what the higher end stuff is!) built on? Sorry if its a jack *** question, but i dont know much about the highewr end kits...

I imagine with the Bass drums being 6 plies of Mahogany and 2 plies of Maple
8-ply overall, you could order the BB3 mount. Its definitely strong enough to hold it (unlike the MMX thin plied shell kick). Ask your favorite authorized Pearl Dealer. I'm sure it can be ordered with the BB3 mount.

[malakite]

generally people request no bb3 as it changes the sound of the drum and deadens it but it can be installed, i personally wouldn't want one on a higher end kit

[archenemy56]

generally people request no bb3 as it changes the sound of the drum and deadens it but it can be installed, i personally wouldn't want one on a higher end kit
You are correct good sir

[ADman2B]

generally people request no bb3 as it changes the sound of the drum and deadens it but it can be installed, i personally wouldn't want one on a higher end kit

What does it muffle? The bass drum??

[Danny Cox]

Yup. If you think about it you're going to get a much nicer sound out of a complete drum than one with a huge hole in the top holding a huge hunk of metal hardware.

[humdrum]

Hook,

I have said it a few times on this Forum and I am going to say it again. The Pearl Corporation has blown me away with the new Reference Series drum. Just when you think there is no more you can do with acoustic drums here comes Pearl with the most innovative idea I have ever witnessed to date. In my opinion no one in the industry comes close to what Pearl does with aesthetics and quality. Nobody. Your company has got its act together.

I own a few Masters Custom kits and now you have gotten me totally hooked on this new series. I just know as sure as I am sitting here, I will eventually purchase a kit within a few years. Somehow some way I will own a set.

Pearl has brought this wonderful instrument to a whole new level. The new lugs and Optimounts are sleek to say the least. Yes you guys really have me. I know my wife does not thank you but I certainly do. Thanks again and keep up the good work.

[Genius Switch]

In addition to what humdrum said-
When it came time to upgrade from my Export Select to a high end drumset, I actually wanted anything but Pearl. As somebody else put it, Pearl has become the default brand. I wanted something different, and I went with DW. Long story short, I regret not getting a Masters series kit. But I kept my ICON rack just incase I ever bought another Pearl kit. Over the past year or so I've fallen in love with Pearl all over again. This new Reference Series seems incredible. Sure there's a ton of hype, which is both good and bad. The thing I'm impressed with the most is Pearl's ability to make a top notch quaility but still reasonably priced high-end drumset. I can't wait to hear one in person, and hopefully own a set in the near future.

[drummer111]

generally people request no bb3 as it changes the sound of the drum and deadens it but it can be installed, i personally wouldn't want one on a higher end kit


what he says is correct but also it does not play that much of difference but then again if youre paying that much money you better have a drum rack and not get a BB-3

[dougthedrummer]

any idea when these bad boys are gonna hit australia, and how much they will cost for the standard shell pack(no snare).
i like the purple/bluey fade, looks lovely!!!!

[malakite]

What does it muffle? The bass drum??
it doesn't muffle as such, just restricts the vibrations in the drum thus giving a slightly muffled and dead sound

[Lucky7Band]

any idea when these bad boys are gonna hit australia, and how much they will cost for the standard shell pack(no snare).
i like the purple/bluey fade, looks lovely!!!!

I'm glad i didnt bother ordering my masters.

[TopDog]

hopefully the price wont be too high here in Oz.

[drumming]

Omar is one cool kat. :)

Omar Hakim will be doing a clinic in Kuala Lumpur, West Malaysia on the 24th May 2005 . I was told by the organizer that they will be bringing down a Reference kit for his clinic. It will be awesome to see him and a good chance to get a feel of the sound. :p

[Fixxxer]

I was plannin for a MSX....but now, o damn, its all about the twilight fade

[mr matt]

Price list for the U.K. if you would be so kind...

[drumming]

I think you guys better check out the sound before any serious commitment.Yamaha and other companies have been making their models for years and has been a standard in the industry.Dont just take the word of the endorsers as they are paid to do that. Reference drum may be great but may not be the sound you are looking for.Forget the online sampling, listen or play on the real drum. The reference will be coming to my area soon and I will have a try out as I am looking for an 8" tom, if it sounds great I will buy it.But I will dread the color choice

[Tabla_Man]

I think you guys better check out the sound before any serious commitment.Yamaha and other companies have been making their models for years and has been a standard in the industry.Dont just take the word of the endorsers as they are paid to do that. Reference drum may be great but may not be the sound you are looking for.Forget the online sampling, listen or play on the real drum. The reference will be coming to my area soon and I will have a try out as I am looking for an 8" tom, if it sounds great I will buy it.But I will dread the color choice

Multiple wood drums are nothing new to professional grade drumkits. It's not just a thing that was used to make budget kit's with the popular Maple/mohogany/Maple sandwitch.

The vintage Ludwig superclassics were Maple with an inner ply of poplar. People kill for these drums on the vintage drum market because that stuff just isn't availible now a day (even from Ludwig), but it was a truely unique sound.

The rounded bearing edges are also something that's been around for years. Alot of professionals have their Yamaha/Tama or other kit's taken to ouside companies to get their bearing edges cut in this manner because they want that vintage sound.

[drummerz101]

Is this set out yet for purchase?

[AL PERCIVAL]

Is this set out yet for purchase?

They are available for purchase, with delivery sometime in May/June for specific shell pack options. Contact your local Authorized Pearl Dealership.
If you don't get any help from your local dealership, contact Andy at massmusic.net, or PM him at Andy@massmusic. He has 3-4 Reference shell pack options available for order now at the best prices available.

No I don't work for him, but I should huh? :D

[drummerz101]

They are available for purchase, with delivery sometime in May/June for specific shell pack options. Contact your local Authorized Pearl Dealership.
If you don't get any help from your local dealership, contact Andy at massmusic.net, or PM him at Andy@massmusic. He has 3-4 Reference shell pack options available for order now at the best prices available.

No I don't work for him, but I should huh? :D

You should work for him!! LOL ;) thanks for your help!

[sspercussion]

MY NEXT KIT ! Got my eye on these since Winter NAMM. Couldn't get away from the Pearl area for quite a while. Hurry up - someone buy my Masters shell kit so I can take the dive !! :D

[BLUDrummer]

00**

[LDB38]

Wow, if these drums dont sound inpressive, leave.