Pearl Introduces Reference Series Drum KitsJan 20, 2005 
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New for NAMM, Pearl introduces the Reference Series, a new line where each drum in the kit is engineered as an instrument unto itself. Using the knowledge gained from years of building Masterworks kits from of a variety of woods, Pearl has proven that certain woods and shells are better suited for some drums, and different shell types and woods perform better on others. The desired tonal characteristics of a 10" Tom, compared to a 22" Bass Drum, are completely different, so for the very best drums possible you must use more than one wood. Reference incorporates the very best of the best with blended Birch/Maple and African Mahogany/Maple shells combined with optimized shell thickness, and varying rounded bearing edges to perfectly engineer each and every drum. To understand what makes Reference so unique you must first understand the individual characteristics of each shell. Different size Toms generate different tones, different woods, different bearing edges and different shell thicknesses all change a drum's acoustic properties. Smaller Toms need cut and presence, medium Toms need warmth and smoothness, larger Toms need added volume, focus and depth, and Bass Drums need the ultimate in low-end punch, body, and above all, great bass. Over 2 years of exhaustive listening tests determined the optimal shell compositions. Many kits are made from all Maple for its smooth, well balanced tone. For the tonal characteristics needed in a 12" Tom, there simply is no better choice than 6 ply Maple, according to Pearl. And for this reason, all Reference Series 12" Toms are 6 ply, 100% Maple, with a rounded 45 degree bearing edge for added warmth and to accentuate its smooth tone. This is the only single wood shell in the Reference Series. As the drums get smaller in diameter from the 12", Birch is gradually added to the inside plies to boost cut and add the presence needed for smaller diameter drums. The smaller the drum, the more Birch is added. As the Toms get larger than 12", African Mahogany is gradually added to the Maple base to further add warmth, depth, and to increase low end. The bearing edge also changes to a full round-over starting at the 14" Tom to add additional smoothness and body. The shells also get thicker, increasing to 8 ply at 16", to add volume and increase efficiency in larger size Floor Toms. Reference Series Bass Drums are by far the best sounding you will ever hear. Four plies of African Mahogany and 2 plies of Maple can be found on 18" Reference Bass Drums, with all 20", 22" and 24" Bass Drums receiving 6 plies of Mahogany and 2 plies of Maple, all with full round-over edges. The 20 ply Snare drum features 6 plies of Birch over 14 plies of Maple. The super thick shell resists vibration and focuses the energy into moving air. The inner plies of Birch provide the after burner of brighter sound making a Snare that can keep up with the rest of the kit. . For more information, visit their web site at www.pearldrum.com. |
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