Aahh!

[amateur drummer]

so I went to L&M to pick up some 15" heads that weren't in stock before for this vintage ludwig kit im selling for my drum teacher, and well what do you know, a pearl reference is there!

It was rootbeer fade, in sizes 10 x 8, 12 x 9, 16 x 16 and a 22 x 18 bassdrum. I decided I would tap on it with my fingers and I was completely astonished at how good they sounded. Of course, they were stock heads on, and they still sounded twice as good to my ears as kits that costed MORE by other drum companys! I'm not sure if the stock heads are just really good, or if the drumset is just the 2nd best drumset in the world ever made (second only to masterworks ;D). The shell pack costed 2.5 grand without the snare, which costs about 700$. After taxes and hardware the whole set would cost about 3.5 grand. I don't know how happy other reference owners are about this (I dont have one, yet) but my heart went very fuzzy when I first tapped that 10" tom. Of course, the sizes I'd get would be different. 12 x 8" tomtom, 14 x 14 floor tom, but everything else would be the same with the 16" floortom and the 22 x 18" bassdrum. The finish would be scarlet fade as well.

just here to say kudos to pearl, excellent drumset.

[Stefan Ray]

I am glad you liked them. I wouldn't even say this kit was a second to a Masterworks being that I am a Masterworks owner 2 times over. The Masterworks are only better in the sense that you can pick and choose everything about them.

In the end my Diamond Sparkle Masterworks kit was done in Reference specs. Mine just says Masterworks and has a finish that you can not get in the Reference line. That's the only difference.

[Renalen]

Yeah, I'd say Reference's are just simply the best drums ever conceived to this day. Masterworks owners may tailor their drums to suit specific needs, but in the end (in my opinion) nothing beats the tone, resonance, and overall quality of the Reference series man. Definitely get one man...they are incredible drums.

[amateur drummer]

I am glad you liked them. I wouldn't even say this kit was a second to a Masterworks being that I am a Masterworks owner 2 times over. The Masterworks are only better in the sense that you can pick and choose everything about them.

In the end my Diamond Sparkle Masterworks kit was done in Reference specs. Mine just says Masterworks and has a finish that you can not get in the Reference line. That's the only difference.

Well I said it, didn't I? :P I'm teasing you. Yes the pearl reference is AMAZING, but once I sit down on a kit for a while and play everything long-term, I can pretty much garuntee you I'll be starting to think; "well this sound like perfect can't get better than the tomtom there", and "The 14" floor tom seems a bit low pitched to me... Maybe I should add 2 plies of maple or birch to it and take out 2 plies of african mahogany" "the bass drum is a bit too punchy maybe I should give it 2 more plies of african mahogany and make it a 10ply bassdrum"

y'know? Things can always be improved, it's like carlos santana said: "man, it takes a lifetime to find your sound!"

Yeah, I'd say Reference's are just simply the best drums ever conceived to this day. Masterworks owners may tailor their drums to suit specific needs, but in the end (in my opinion) nothing beats the tone, resonance, and overall quality of the Reference series man. Definitely get one man...they are incredible drums.

only one thing stands in my way... MONEY! But I shall fight. In fact, I'll probably find something else to get me enough money to buy a reference BECAUSE I WANT ONE!