Piano Black SSC double kick monster

[MW_Runpali]

I just realized I never posted any pics of my #103 Piano Black Session Studio Classics. I’ve been preparing the kit for some gigs later this month and couldn’t help taking a few photos. I’m in awe with her! The look, the sound… the whole package!

The setup in the pics is as follows:
10”x7” tom
13”x9” tom
16”x14” floor tom
18”x16” floor tom
20”x14” gong (Session Studio Select)
2 x 22”x16” kick

930-series stands, Eliminator Redline hi-hat stand, Demon Drive pedals, 3500BR throne and a customized ICON rack for the gong.

I have some black kick reso heads waiting to be put on. Today I installed a KellyShu Flatz with a Shure Beta 91 in the main kick. To make life easier for the sound guy I run a double pedal on a single kick, the other one is just for show

Cymbals from left to right, all Sabian.
17” AAXtreme Chinese
14” HHX Evolution Hats
18” AAXplosion Crash
8” AA China Splash
9” AAX Max Splash
18” AAXplosion Fast Crash
20” HH Power Bell Ride
18” AAXplosion Crash
14” Paragon Hats
19” Paragon Chinese

[PhilB1029]

A perfect setup with perfect cymbals. I love it!

[TMdrums]

I just realized I never posted any pics of my #103 Piano Black Session Studio Classics. I’ve been preparing the kit for some gigs later this month and couldn’t help taking a few photos. I’m in awe with her! The look, the sound… the whole package!

The setup in the pics is as follows:
10”x7” tom
13”x9” tom
16”x14” floor tom
18”x16” floor tom
20”x14” gong (Session Studio Select)
2 x 22”x16” kick

930-series stands, Eliminator Redline hi-hat stand, Demon Drive pedals, 3500BR throne and a customized ICON rack for the gong.

I have some black kick reso heads waiting to be put on. Today I installed a KellyShu Flatz with a Shure Beta 91 in the main kick. To make life easier for the sound guy I run a double pedal on a single kick, the other one is just for show

Cymbals from left to right, all Sabian.
17” AAXtreme Chinese
14” HHX Evolution Hats
18” AAXplosion Crash
8” AA China Splash
9” AAX Max Splash
18” AAXplosion Fast Crash
20” HH Power Bell Ride
18” AAXplosion Crash
14” Paragon Hats
19” Paragon Chinese

Beautiful kit MW and interesting spread among tom diameters!

[MW_Runpali]

A perfect setup with perfect cymbals. I love it!

Thank you, sir!

Beautiful kit MW and interesting spread among tom diameters!

Thanks! It was an interesting experiment. I really love the 10-13-16 intervals. Makes tuning so easy.

[HPD260]

Great kit! The Sessions really are great value for the money. I think they're the sweet spot for quality to cost in Pearl's line up.

[MW_Runpali]

Great kit! The Sessions really are great value for the money. I think they're the sweet spot for quality to cost in Pearl's line up.

Amen to that, I completely agree! I always keep telling people that same thing. I especially love these thicker shelled Classics.

[Alan12]

Beautiful kit and set up! Picked up a Reference in #103 Piano Black a few months back. Such a beautiful, timeless finish.

[MW_Runpali]

Beautiful kit and set up! Picked up a Reference in #103 Piano Black a few months back. Such a beautiful, timeless finish.

Thanks, man! You’ll never get bored of Piano Black! It suits every occasion and will never go out of style.

[keaton_86]

Well that's awesome. How are you liking the gong drum?

[MW_Runpali]

Well that's awesome. How are you liking the gong drum?

Thanks man! I absolutely love it! When the 18” floor tom isn’t enough, where do you go? To the gong!! It’s an epic piece of kit.

[Alan12]

Thanks, man! You’ll never get bored of Piano Black! It suits every occasion and will never go out of style.

No problem! And entirely agree! The only thing I might get tired of is having to dust it constantly but other than that, I’m sure I’ll love it forever. LOL. Still need to order an 18x16 (but I’m holding out hope of being able to get a great deal on one used) and also considering a 14x6.5 Reference Redline snare, even though my kit is just Piano Black with chrome hardware instead of black hardware. I do like my snares being a tad different. I’ve never had a matching snare for my Masters kit. Hahah.

[dale w miller]

I have some black kick reso heads waiting to be put on.

I love the off-white front heads. It gives your kit some class.

[MW_Runpali]

No problem! And entirely agree! The only thing I might get tired of is having to dust it constantly but other than that, I’m sure I’ll love it forever. LOL. Still need to order an 18x16 (but I’m holding out hope of being able to get a great deal on one used) and also considering a 14x6.5 Reference Redline snare, even though my kit is just Piano Black with chrome hardware instead of black hardware. I do like my snares being a tad different. I’ve never had a matching snare for my Masters kit. Hahah.

Yeah, the dusting really gets to me too sometimes!
Man you really should get an 18” floor tom! It’s the best IMO. In the past I always had 14”+16” floors but there’s no going back anymore, 16”+18” just works on a different level. You can feel the rumble!
I love the Redline with the red accenting gaskets. I’ve had two black on black kits and that combo looks so good. I totally agree on not having a matching snare. I used to be all for it, but honestly, I rarely used the matching stuff anywhere other than in the photos. Now I rock the Ian Paice signature and chrome goes nicely with anything!

I love the off-white front heads. It gives your kit some class.

Thanks! I kinda dig them too, but I’m still gonna try the blacked out look. My band mates think that’s the way to go

[Jacksoncollins]

Bravo!
This setup is so clean and comfy looking!
Fantastic sizes too!

[Alan12]

Yeah, the dusting really gets to me too sometimes!
Man you really should get an 18” floor tom! It’s the best IMO. In the past I always had 14”+16” floors but there’s no going back anymore, 16”+18” just works on a different level. You can feel the rumble!
I love the Redline with the red accenting gaskets. I’ve had two black on black kits and that combo looks so good. I totally agree on not having a matching snare. I used to be all for it, but honestly, I rarely used the matching stuff anywhere other than in the photos. Now I rock the Ian Paice signature and chrome goes nicely with anything!

Haha, I can imagine! I had picked up this Reference kit as b-stock for a pretty solid price and I already had a matching 22x18 that I snagged off eBay for an absurd steal of about $420 shipped a year earlier, however I still haven't set them up yet. At the time I bought them, I had literally just re-headed my Masters BSX so I wanted to give them a bit more love before they went into their cases for an indefinite amount of time and the Refs went up for the long haul. But yes, definitely getting an 18x16, just holding out hope if I can snag one at a great deal like I did the rest of the kit, LOL. I've had 14" & 16" the entire time I had the BSX so it's time for something new that can rattle the windows like an 18".

And same! I was lusting after those BoB Redlines when they had came out. I see the snares popping up here and there online and seeing them got me thinking that since I won't have a full BoB Redline, why not just get the snare? I'm use to the black on black with my Jordison snare, but later on down the line I may order a matching 12x5.5 Masterworks snare, but with gold hardware (I'm a sucker for black and gold, haha).

The Ian Paice is a very lovely snare as well! There's quite a few snares I've been drooling over including the Reference Brass and most recently, I've taken a liking to the discontinued Jimmy DeGrasso signature snare (hammered brass with gold hardware). So we'll see.