WLX/WX vs DLX/DX shells

[marknu1]

Hey All,

This might have been answered previously (I seem to have problems when searching the forum...I don't know why). Anyway, from what I can tell, the World series shells are more or less the same as the DLX/DX shells. Birch, Mahogany, and something called "Super Lamin." I bring it up because I'm curious how well the WLX/WX drums would go with my DLX set. I think they'd be a pretty close match. I know that the World series was produced in Taiwan, not Japan. I don't know whether the shells were made there, or whether the parts were just assembled there. Nor do I know whether, if the shells were made in Taiwan, it would have any bearing on their quality, assuming they were made to the same specs. Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[DLX100#]

I have tried a WLX and a DLX kit on the same PA and there was a big difference in sound. The DLX kit was more open and had more tone. Both kits had the same heads. I think DLX is a better sounding Kit. If they have the same shells i dont know.

[DLX100#]

The DX/DLX shells sounds better than the MLX/GLX series..but that is with my ears

[barjack]

The shells would be quite complimentary. The World Series was designed to be the exact same formula tone and price-wise as the DX line, it ended up being an even better deal for Pearl because of the Taiwanese cost benefits. In terms of wood source, glue used, type of compression and type of paint, etc... both drums were built in the exact same way using the exact same wood from the exact same place only one line of drums was made by the Taiwanese.

My old WLX kit had two DLX toms intermixed- they both looked and sounded exactly the same. If you took the badges off my 16x16 WLX and 16x16 DLX toms and placed them side by side with the heads off, they would be 100% identical to the naked eye. If you then placed the same heads on each, in my opinion they would sound the same. My two toms certainly did.

Of course, my WLX was a first model year kit, before they even said "Made In Taiwan" on the badges. The late model WLXs and the wrapped WX's might be a slightly different story.

[HiFiBri]

These are the plies of an '85 or '86 WX. I had it the pic, so what the heck:

[marknu1]

Thanks for the information, guys! I was wondering because maybe some day I'll add a 22" bass, 18" floor or 8" tom, and it would be good know I had another option that would be close to the DLX, if it came to it.

So I have to ask. Bri, did you ever start your none up none down thread?

[3pearlkits]

Hi marknu1,
I can add a little more.
Pearl switched to full time production of kits in Taiwan in 1985. I bought my DX kit new in 85, but it was an 84 kit. I custom ordered a 14" tom in late 85/early 86, and because it was DX, it was made in Japan (so the Japanese plant had not been totally shut down by that stage).
As barjack said, the cost benefit of Taiwanese construction meant that while the DX/DLX series and the WX/WLX series were side by side for a time, the WX/WLX were cheaper. One of the differences was that the WX/WLX series did not come with superhoops.
Where it gets tricky is that the early Prestige Sessions were also called WLX, very similar badge (not the Session badges you might expect), but the shell construction was listed as 7 ply birch/mahogany (no "super lamin")
So if you're looking to match up drums, the the worlds and not the WLX Prestige session are the drums to find.
Good luck finding your 18 and 8's. While some find them, I have been searching for years to find an 8 available to me and have given up. I'm going to make one with a full birch shell.

[HiFiBri]

Thanks for the information, guys! I was wondering because maybe some day I'll add a 22" bass, 18" floor or 8" tom, and it would be good know I had another option that would be close to the DLX, if it came to it.

So I have to ask. Bri, did you ever start your none up none down thread?

Hahahaa. Nope. I just have a snare, some cymbals and hardware. There's drum sets at both places I play. The snare was a big step up for me this fall, lol.

[marknu1]

Thanks, 3pearlkits. I actually didn't realize there was a later series of Prestige Session called the WLX. I was thinking of the ones that say Pearl World Series on them. I'll be careful not to mistakenly add a Prestige Session, if I am lucky enough to find one of the elusive sizes in my search.

[DLX100#]

If DLX and WLX have the exact same shells, why did the DLX kit sound better?..and it should be the other way around because the WLX had brand new heads and the DLX kit didn`t!
Pic of DLX 8" tom:

[marknu1]

Good question. One for which I have no answer, without having experienced it myself.

But now I think you're just rubbing it in our faces that you have an 8" DLX tom! Ha ha! I am jealous, by the way

[robbie mcnaughton]

here's a little something i did sometime ago.............

The World series was introduced in 1985 as an upmarket alternative to the Export. It was available in 2 variants the covered World 6500 Series (WX) and the laquered Prestige World 6500 (WLX).

They both had the same shells as the Dlx Which were 7ply Birch ,Mahogany and Super Lamin. The main differences being that they did not come with Super Hoops, had a downgraded snare drum and the Th-80 tom-holders from the export.
It must also be stressed these were taiwanese and NOT the Fantastic Japanese quality of the Dlx. If you put the 2 side by side you CAN see the difference, trust me.
Now, once Pearl had tragically decided to phase out the DLX in '87 sob! the World Series remained but was revamped in '89 and emerged with a new snare, new lugs, again like the exports and with NEW shells.
This New shell was 7 ply Birch and Mahogany, the real stuff mind not any of your bollocks Luan crap like some people seem to imply! These shells were still excellent quality and sounded awesome especially the Bass drum so no surprise there eh?
Eventually in '91 after running side by side with the Slx (Pretige Session Elite)the World Series was renamed the Prestige (Wlx) and Performance(Wx) Session Series. These 2 models shared the exact same shells the differences being the Snare drum, 1 colour option and the SLX had the dodgy 3-piece mock High tension lugs which were eventually inherited by the Export. Then sadly in '92 the Wlx/Wx were discontinued. So there it is!

Robbie.

[DLX100#]

Good question. One for which I have no answer, without having experienced it myself.

But now I think you're just rubbing it in our faces that you have an 8" DLX tom! Ha ha! I am jealous, by the way

Sorry about that. It was the only pic i had on my pc of DLX bearing edges. If it make you feel better i had to buy a DLX kit to get that tom!

[DLX100#]

here's a little something i did sometime ago.............

The World series was introduced in 1985 as an upmarket alternative to the Export. It was available in 2 variants the covered World 6500 Series (WX) and the laquered Prestige World 6500 (WLX).

They both had the same shells as the Dlx Which were 7ply Birch ,Mahogany and Super Lamin. The main differences being that they did not come with Super Hoops, had a downgraded snare drum and the Th-80 tom-holders from the export.
It must also be stressed these were taiwanese and NOT the Fantastic Japanese quality of the Dlx. If you put the 2 side by side you CAN see the difference, trust me.
Now, once Pearl had tragically decided to phase out the DLX in '87 sob! the World Series remained but was revamped in '89 and emerged with a new snare, new lugs, again like the exports and with NEW shells.
This New shell was 7 ply Birch and Mahogany, the real stuff mind not any of your bollocks Luan crap like some people seem to imply! These shells were still excellent quality and sounded awesome especially the Bass drum so no surprise there eh?
Eventually in '91 after running side by side with the Slx (Pretige Session Elite)the World Series was renamed the Prestige (Wlx) and Performance(Wx) Session Series. These 2 models shared the exact same shells the differences being the Snare drum, 1 colour option and the SLX had the dodgy 3-piece mock High tension lugs which were eventually inherited by the Export. Then sadly in '92 the Wlx/Wx were discontinued. So there it is!

Robbie.

I think the difference in sound between DLX and WLX have to come from where they where produced. The sound engineer said it was a huge difference and that the DLX kit sounded awesome!

[robbie mcnaughton]

Here's a couple of my 1987 Dlx jazz studio. The last of the Jap kits ever produced and only available in Britain. Note the gaskets under the lugs and holder( BT2 ) and the Redness, the lovely Sequoia rednesssss! oooh.......