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Well here she is, just about 5 months from the date the order was made official! Thought I would start a new thread with setup pics/reviews/specs/discussion/etc. Not sure where to even start... I guess in a nutshell, I'm still speechless. Everything about this kit is 100% perfect and flawless. I really do have to give it up to Pearl on this one. I know there have been some recent errors on MW orders as of late, however I can safely say that this kit arrived as ordered - period. Everything from the bearing edges, to the sizes, to the hardware, to the finish is EXACTLY the way I ordered it and the way I had originally dreamed it up. I could not be happier with how it turned out, both looks and sound. I know the finish is what will catch everyone's attention, but the sound is unlike any other kit I've ever played. The goal with the shell specs was to achieve that fat, low end warmth and they do just that and more. The thin shell composition paired with the mahogany/maple produces such a nice tone and a big sound. I cannot even begin to describe the amount of low end this kit produces, especially with having 3 floor toms and a gong drum. I have to say hands down, best sounding kit I've played to date. Have I played every kit there is to be offered out there? No, however this kit gives me the exact sound I was after. Right out of the box, they sounded like gold with clear ambassadors on both the tops and bottoms. I swapped all the batters out for clear emperors since I've always preferred 2 ply heads, and they sound so sweet. Still fine tuning everything obviously, but so far I'm blown away. I will say, that the "underdog" of the whole kit or the X factor has got to be the snare. I was very surprised at how quickly I was able to tune it up, and it has easily become one of my new favorite snares. Yeah it's just a matching snare with nothing special about it (birch/maple), however it really sounds great. Perhaps it's the thin 8 ply configuration, but it just has so much sensitivity, body, and crack - really sounds awesome. It might even be my favorite drum on the whole kit!
The setup is sort of an expansion on what I've done in the past, with adding another floor tom this time. I had it my mind from the beginning that I wanted to do the triangle-configuration with the floors, and it's a lot of fun to play. In case you couldn't tell, the setup is somewhat Simon Phillips inspired. I always loved how he had his floors and gong drum setup. It makes coming down on fills a blast to play. And I know there will be comments regarding "you're hiding that beautiful finish with that ugly rack" or "why not go to a stealth setup". Well, let me put that fire out now, and say that this setup works for me, both for comfort and functionality. I don't see the rack as obstructing the view of the toms at all, and to be honest I just don't have the finances or resources to convert things to a "stealth" setup right now. Next step is acquiring the remaining mics I need to record this beast, along with a few other things. Bottom line is, I've always been fine with the way the rack looks across the front, even back when I had my BRX kit. It works for me and that's what matters.
Unfortunately for now, these are the best pictures I'm gunna get for a while. The lighting in the room is somewhat restricted, so I tried to make the best of it. Seeing as the warm weather is long gone for the year around here, these babies won't be going outdoors for pictures until next spring. The best pictures I've ever gotten was when I took my BRX outside and set them up on my drum risers, and I plan on doing the same thing with these once the weather cooperates. And as the old adage goes, pictures DO NOT do this finish any justice, not even the outdoor shots I took of the snare. There is something that is just truly mesmerizing about this finish. The halo flakes just add a whole other dimension to it.
One other little tidbit, all of the Zildjian cymbals are personally signed by Jeff Westhaver, head cymbal tester at the Zildjian factory in Norwell, Massachusetts. I met Jeff through a couple of Zildjian events that my local drum shop held, and became very close friends with him. I was fortunate to take a private tour of the factory with him, what an experience. If you ever get the opportunity, do it! Jeff is a class act and one of the greatest guys in the business. Of course I had him sign all of my cymbals, especially the ones he hand picked just for me!
Here are the specs!
Drums
Concert Toms: (updated pics in post #169)
8x5, 8x6 - thin 6 ply 5.4mm shells, 2 inner mahogany 4 outer maple, rounded 45 degree top edges, chrome Superhoop II hoops and STL100 lugs, clear Remo Ambassadors
Rack Toms:
8x7.25, 10x7.5, 12x8 - thin 6 ply 5.4mm shells, 4 inner mahogany 2 outer maple, rounded 45 degree edges, chrome Mastercast hoops and STL150 lugs, clear Remo Emperors over clear Remo Ambassadors
Floor Toms:
14x13, 16x15, 18x16 - thin 8 ply 7.2mm shells, 6 inner mahogany 2 outer maple, rounded 45 degree edges, chrome Mastercast hoops and STL150 lugs, clear Remo Emperors over clear Remo Ambassadors
Gong Drum:
20x15 - regular 6 ply 7.5mm shell, 4 inner mahogany 2 outer maple, rounded 45 degree top edge, chrome STL300 lugs, (2) BT3 mounts, clear Evans EQ3
Kick Drum:
22x18 - regular 6 ply 7.5mm shell, 4 inner mahogany 2 outer maple, rounded 45 degree edges, coated white Pearl logo reso head, chrome STL300 lugs, clear Evans EQ4
Snares:
14x6 - thin 8 ply 7.2mm shell, 2 inner birch 6 outer maple, sharp 45 degree edges, chrome Mastercast hoops and mini STL100 lugs, SR1000 strainer, S022N wires, Remo coated Controlled Sound over hazy Ambassador
12x5.5 - 4 ply maple with 4 ply maple re-rings, sharp 45 degree edges, chrome Mastercast hoops and mini STL100 lugs, SR1000 strainer, S031N wires, Remo coated Ambassador over hazy Ambassador
Cymbals
Zildjian:
8" A Flash Splash
10" A Flash Splash
15" K Prototype Fat Hats
15" K Sweet Hats
18" K Dark Thin Crash
19" K Dark Thin Crash
19" K Custom Dark Crash
19" K Custom Special Dry Trash Crash
19" K China
23" K Sweet Ride
23" A Sweet Ride
Hardware and Misc
Pearl Icon Rack
Pearl 1000 and 2000 Series Hardware
Pearl Eliminator Pedals
Tama Ergo Rider Drum Throne
LP Tambourine and Cowbell
Tunebot Gig
I've said it before, but I have to give shout outs once again to everyone involved with making this happen. Tom and Al at Pearl, Shane at Drum Center of Portsmouth, Jeff Wald and Mike Foreman, PDF members Silver (Will) and RemoNico (Jorge). Can't thank everyone enough for answering all my questions, giving me tons of advice, and for making the whole process as smooth as possible. I can safely say my Pearl Masterworks ordering experience was painless, and everything showed up just as I had ordered it. I couldn't be more thrilled with how everything played out, and with the stunning kit I can now call mine for a very long time to come. Feels right to be playing Pearl again!
The setup is sort of an expansion on what I've done in the past, with adding another floor tom this time. I had it my mind from the beginning that I wanted to do the triangle-configuration with the floors, and it's a lot of fun to play. In case you couldn't tell, the setup is somewhat Simon Phillips inspired. I always loved how he had his floors and gong drum setup. It makes coming down on fills a blast to play. And I know there will be comments regarding "you're hiding that beautiful finish with that ugly rack" or "why not go to a stealth setup". Well, let me put that fire out now, and say that this setup works for me, both for comfort and functionality. I don't see the rack as obstructing the view of the toms at all, and to be honest I just don't have the finances or resources to convert things to a "stealth" setup right now. Next step is acquiring the remaining mics I need to record this beast, along with a few other things. Bottom line is, I've always been fine with the way the rack looks across the front, even back when I had my BRX kit. It works for me and that's what matters.
Unfortunately for now, these are the best pictures I'm gunna get for a while. The lighting in the room is somewhat restricted, so I tried to make the best of it. Seeing as the warm weather is long gone for the year around here, these babies won't be going outdoors for pictures until next spring. The best pictures I've ever gotten was when I took my BRX outside and set them up on my drum risers, and I plan on doing the same thing with these once the weather cooperates. And as the old adage goes, pictures DO NOT do this finish any justice, not even the outdoor shots I took of the snare. There is something that is just truly mesmerizing about this finish. The halo flakes just add a whole other dimension to it.
One other little tidbit, all of the Zildjian cymbals are personally signed by Jeff Westhaver, head cymbal tester at the Zildjian factory in Norwell, Massachusetts. I met Jeff through a couple of Zildjian events that my local drum shop held, and became very close friends with him. I was fortunate to take a private tour of the factory with him, what an experience. If you ever get the opportunity, do it! Jeff is a class act and one of the greatest guys in the business. Of course I had him sign all of my cymbals, especially the ones he hand picked just for me!
Here are the specs!
Drums
Concert Toms: (updated pics in post #169)
8x5, 8x6 - thin 6 ply 5.4mm shells, 2 inner mahogany 4 outer maple, rounded 45 degree top edges, chrome Superhoop II hoops and STL100 lugs, clear Remo Ambassadors
Rack Toms:
8x7.25, 10x7.5, 12x8 - thin 6 ply 5.4mm shells, 4 inner mahogany 2 outer maple, rounded 45 degree edges, chrome Mastercast hoops and STL150 lugs, clear Remo Emperors over clear Remo Ambassadors
Floor Toms:
14x13, 16x15, 18x16 - thin 8 ply 7.2mm shells, 6 inner mahogany 2 outer maple, rounded 45 degree edges, chrome Mastercast hoops and STL150 lugs, clear Remo Emperors over clear Remo Ambassadors
Gong Drum:
20x15 - regular 6 ply 7.5mm shell, 4 inner mahogany 2 outer maple, rounded 45 degree top edge, chrome STL300 lugs, (2) BT3 mounts, clear Evans EQ3
Kick Drum:
22x18 - regular 6 ply 7.5mm shell, 4 inner mahogany 2 outer maple, rounded 45 degree edges, coated white Pearl logo reso head, chrome STL300 lugs, clear Evans EQ4
Snares:
14x6 - thin 8 ply 7.2mm shell, 2 inner birch 6 outer maple, sharp 45 degree edges, chrome Mastercast hoops and mini STL100 lugs, SR1000 strainer, S022N wires, Remo coated Controlled Sound over hazy Ambassador
12x5.5 - 4 ply maple with 4 ply maple re-rings, sharp 45 degree edges, chrome Mastercast hoops and mini STL100 lugs, SR1000 strainer, S031N wires, Remo coated Ambassador over hazy Ambassador
Cymbals
Zildjian:
8" A Flash Splash
10" A Flash Splash
15" K Prototype Fat Hats
15" K Sweet Hats
18" K Dark Thin Crash
19" K Dark Thin Crash
19" K Custom Dark Crash
19" K Custom Special Dry Trash Crash
19" K China
23" K Sweet Ride
23" A Sweet Ride
Hardware and Misc
Pearl Icon Rack
Pearl 1000 and 2000 Series Hardware
Pearl Eliminator Pedals
Tama Ergo Rider Drum Throne
LP Tambourine and Cowbell
Tunebot Gig
I've said it before, but I have to give shout outs once again to everyone involved with making this happen. Tom and Al at Pearl, Shane at Drum Center of Portsmouth, Jeff Wald and Mike Foreman, PDF members Silver (Will) and RemoNico (Jorge). Can't thank everyone enough for answering all my questions, giving me tons of advice, and for making the whole process as smooth as possible. I can safely say my Pearl Masterworks ordering experience was painless, and everything showed up just as I had ordered it. I couldn't be more thrilled with how everything played out, and with the stunning kit I can now call mine for a very long time to come. Feels right to be playing Pearl again!
Maybe I'll do that then.
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