Another identification thread

[Trev5554]

Hi guys and gals, I’m new to this amazing forum, even though I’ve been playing a Pearl Export kit in bands for about 5 years (it’s an oldie but I love it. One day I’ll upgrade …). Our guitarist asked me to put together an old Pearl kit he’s had sitting in the basement for a while, but I’m struggling to identify it and hope you can help. It doesn’t have any Pearl badges other than the logos you can see, there is a hole for a cymbal stand on the kick drum, some of the lugs say ‘Japan’ and most of the tension rods and other adjustments use a hex socket type rod. The concert toms don’t look like fibreglass, so maybe phenolic?, but I don’t know what that looks like. There appear to be extra holes inside the shell, so maybe the drums have been altered? I appreciate any suggestions.

[3pearlkits]

G’day Trev,
Welcome to the PDF from a fellow Aussie.
It’s not one kit. It has pieces in it from different eras.
I’ll get back to you with more in the morning...

[Andy H]

There are many folks here who can help identify unusual Pearl kits such as yours. Sadly, I'm not one of them! . Patience. Someone will be along shortly.

Welcome to the forum!

[Trev5554]

G’day Trev,
Welcome to the PDF from a fellow Aussie.
It’s not one kit. It has pieces in it from different eras.
I’ll get back to you with more in the morning...

Thanks

[Trev5554]

Thanks

[3pearlkits]

Righto,
If we take away the "concert" toms for a moment, the double headed 4 piece remaining looks to be Pearl from the very late 60's ('69) or early 70's.
The lugs, tom and cymbal mount on the bass drum (which would have been chromed originally), and the beaded middle ring of the snare, and it's "diamond cut" lugs, are all consistent with that.

The wrap is newer than the kit. It covers up some old holes, so it's not original.
The "badges" are not time period appropriate. They're not even badges. They are promo stickers.
The claws on the bass drum look to have been replaced, The bass drum would have had T rods originally, so what's there now is, I have no idea.
The shells will be 9 ply luan aka Philippine Mahogany.

The "concert" toms are, well, I'm not convinced they are Pearl. While the lugs look similar to later 80's RL style lugs they remind me of another companies product, just can't my finger on which one right now.
You can also see that the bottom lugs were not reapplied on the re ringed shells.

Sizes of the drums, and more pics of tom mounts etc would help...

[Healthie]

The concert tom lugs look like Tama superstar lugs that've been painted - I can't remember the name of that painting technique. Machine shops have done it for some guys who wanted painted hardware.

[Middleton92]

Powder coating?

[Trev5554]

Righto,
If we take away the "concert" toms for a moment, the double headed 4 piece remaining looks to be Pearl from the very late 60's ('69) or early 70's.
The lugs, tom and cymbal mount on the bass drum (which would have been chromed originally), and the beaded middle ring of the snare, and it's "diamond cut" lugs, are all consistent with that.

The wrap is newer than the kit. It covers up some old holes, so it's not original.
The "badges" are not time period appropriate. They're not even badges. They are promo stickers.
The claws on the bass drum look to have been replaced, The bass drum would have had T rods originally, so what's there now is, I have no idea.
The shells will be 9 ply luan aka Philippine Mahogany.

The "concert" toms are, well, I'm not convinced they are Pearl. While the lugs look similar to later 80's RL style lugs they remind me of another companies product, just can't my finger on which one right now.
You can also see that the bottom lugs were not reapplied on the re ringed shells.

Sizes of the drums, and more pics of tom mounts etc would help...

Thanks mate, that's really helpful. You really know your stuff! Thanks so much.

[3pearlkits]

No worries.
The kit will open up a lot more and sound better with lighter heads.
Think Ambassadors for reso's and black dots for batters, unless you're a Evans guy ...

[Healthie]

Yes!

[Drumming-4-Life]

I’m new to this amazing forum

Wh... wh... wh... what?