Can I see your Pearl GLX Kits?

[nova]

After seeing the refurb on ES's GLX kit I'm very curious about them. I don't know anything about them (like wood type, number of plies etc). Would sure love to know more! TY

[3pearlkits]

Hey Nova,
I don't have pics to show you, I don't own one.
IIRC the GLX were/are the top of the line all Maple 7 ply 7.5mm thick series from around the mid 80's (They are certainly in an '87 catalogue with the MLX/BLX series and their wrapped brothers). Plenty of us here believe that is/was a magical period for Pearl's shells. They came in standard and "power tom" depths, and had a lacquer finish. The shells had "super gripper" lugs on them. The snare that came with them was a choice of free floater or you could choose a snare with the "super gripper" lugs.

I roadied/teched for my drum teacher at the time and that's what he was using. Awesome sounding drums!
By '86 he had installed barcus berry triggers to run electronics as well.

Hope this helps as a primer...

[nova]

Thanks 3PK's! 7 plies with the same width that comes on the MCX and MRX or MRP; 7.5mm only 6 plies. I wonder what was different then that made them better. Did they use the SST in those days? (Superior Shell Technology combining heat and pressure in a shell machine? Or maybe the Maple they used then was better?

[3pearlkits]

They certainly used heat and compression to form the shells. IIRC the presses were 20 ton, which is pretty hefty. It's in the back of my head that it became known as SST a bit later.

What made them better? It's hard to say. The Taiwanese plant and the Japanese plant were both producing side by side from 1982 I think it was. Fulltime production moved to Taiwan in about '86. I ordered a 14" DX in either late 85 or early 86 and it was made in Japan.
While the Japanese made shells are much coveted, it doesn't explain the quality of the top end series (ie GLX BLX MLX/MX) produced in Taiwan, other than them being Pearl.
There was also a period where kits sold were made from Keller shells as Pearl couldn't keep up with demand.

Way back Gene O had a timeline. It went (kinda):
DLX/DX
World series beside the DLX/DX until the DLX/DX was discontinued, then on to the Sessions series, which were attributed as fore runners to the Masters series.

Obviously not to be confused with Masterworks, but the Masters series weren't a product of the Top end kits.

It could have been source material, the choices for combinations of ply's for the hybrid shells (like the DX and sessions) and what not. I'm sure someone will chime in with their thoughts...

[3pearlkits]

Here's a good un:
http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/sh...post1853969213

There's a few guys with nice GLX's, they'll pop in for sure...

[nova]

The GLX Eric had at home got a wrap put on and was sent to South America so KISS could finish that tour after the truck wrecked. Pearl would have given him anything he wanted and he chose his GLX to be wrapped and sent. That means they must be the best of the best! Thanks for the history lesson and if others chime in I would enjoy! I bet there are some awesome GLX's owned by a Vintage Pearl Drummer!

[3pearlkits]

Always a pleasure nova

For Eric I guess it was going with what you know! He wouldn't have taken any time at all to settle into the kit and it's nuances, he would have known them already...

[marknu1]

As far as I know, they are the same shells as the MLX/MX series (pre-long lug, that is). The only difference I know of is that they had the Super Gripper lugs. They came with the insides of the shells lacquered in the same color as the exterior, and perhaps that was a selling point, too. I do know that the MLX series had the same internal/external lacquer starting at some point, but I'm not sure exactly when that began; it's not that way in the '84 catalog. I don't remember exactly what the price difference was between the MLX and GLX. I do recall that from when I bought my DLX, that the MLX was a tad out of my price range, but the GLX was way out of it. I wonder how they did as far as sales. I'm thinking it was a tough sell to get people to buy the GLX over the MLX series, if the only real difference was in the lugs.

[nova]

As far as I know, they are the same shells as the MLX/MX series (pre-long lug, that is). The only difference I know of is that they had the Super Gripper lugs. They came with the insides of the shells lacquered in the same color as the exterior, and perhaps that was a selling point, too. I do know that the MLX series had the same internal/external lacquer starting at some point, but I'm not sure exactly when that began; it's not that way in the '84 catalog. I don't remember exactly what the price difference was between the MLX and GLX. I do recall that from when I bought my DLX, that the MLX was a tad out of my price range, but the GLX was way out of it. I wonder how they did as far as sales. I'm thinking it was a tough sell to get people to buy the GLX over the MLX series, if the only real difference was in the lugs.

Those lugs must have "been the rage" in those years. Now it's swivel tube lugs. I can never underestimate the value of good hardware; and Pearl makes the best! I had a Champaigne Sparkle Ludwig in those years and got my first Pearl kit in 88. It blew me away and I played that Export for 18 years! On the MCX I discovered how good Master Cast die cast Hoops sound and I'm sure that super hoops sound as good; only a little more open. Those are the sonic differences; Maple and Hoops plus heads and tuning. The lugs are why I'll never buy another Tama drum. I had to replace 3 lugs at 3 different times on a Tama chrome snare I had back in the day. They broke. I used to break heads and haven't for; Knock on wood! LOL!

You added some drums to one of your kits Mark?

[StixNSkins]

A couple of shots of my GLX. The original 6 piece was purchased in the summer of 1985. As you can see, I've added to it over the years... I have several more GLX pieces that are being used in other kits, or are sitting the bench right now. I'd love to set them ALL up together, but I just don't have the room. Plus, I need those other kits for other things.

Anyway, these are 100% original GLX with the exception of the 4 Quarter Toms and the 8" tom, which is an MRX fitted with GLX badge and hardware. I would give up the counterfeit in a heartbeat if I could ever find an original 8x8 GLX. Also, I did upgrade to Optimounts which made HUGE difference in the sound. Configuration is: 8x8, 8x10, 8x12, 12x14, 16x16, 16x18, 11x13 to the left of the HH, 6x...12,15,18,21 QT's, 24 and 22 inch bass drums, and chrome wrapped all maple Super Gripper snare.

[StixNSkins]

A couple shots of my little "jellybean" be-bop kit with GLX 18" FT converted to kick, and a 13" GLX suspended tom in the FT position.

GLX pieces NOT shown in any of these pics:
22" kick
24"kick
12" tom (10" deep)
16" floor tom
Brass Super Gripper Snare (currently being refurbished)

All are maple shells in Piano Black lacquer. And for those who may be wondering, on the little "jellybean" kit, the rack toms are an 8x8 MMX and an 8x10 Export. This little kit is one SWEET player! It is probably my favorite to just sit and jam on. So much fun!

[nova]

Thanks so much StixnSkins! What a beautiful Black GLX and your little kit is so cute as well! The whole kit could be the finest drum set in all the land as well as being a classic! This speaks volumes about Pearl drums and how painstakingly perfect you kept them! I bet these drums are almost impossible to come by! Beautiful Kit! I also love the Gong bass drum! Rep!

[DLX100#]

My GLX kit:
http://www.pearldrummersforum.com/sh...905-My-GLX-kit!

Awesome kit but a bit difficult to tune. The DLX kit i have had since 86 is much easier to tune.

[Kiwi]

These GLX's are great! Nice work OP.

[marknu1]

You added some drums to one of your kits Mark?

I did, indeed! I added 8", 12" and 14" toms to my Sequoia Red BLX. I allows for a pretty cool configuration with 8,10 and 12 up, and 14 and 16 down. I play some old prog stuff (Rush, Yes, etc.) with a couple of friends from time to time, and this will work out nicely. I'm digging the 22" bass drum, too; it allows me to lower my toms much more than I was ever able to with my 24" DLX.