Pearl introduced many new products and updated features at Winter NAMM 2008. What about new signature snares, a completely redesigned Forum kit, a restyled Rhythm Traveller kit, and new finish options for the Masters, MCX and Reference series among others?
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Signature snare drums Pearl introduces three new signature snare drums. The Jimmy DeGrasso signature snare drum (JD1455) is a 14” x 5.5” hammered brass snare drum with gold-plated hardware.
Not surprisingly, it\'s ideal for loud, amplified music. Jimmy has laid the foundation for such hard rock acts as Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, Suicidal Tendencies and most notably, the multi-platinum Megadeth. This striking drum is sure to catch the eyes and ears of all drummers. List price: $649.
The Mike Mangini signature snare drum (MM1062) is the only drum of its kind. It features a 6 ply, 100% Birch shell in a unique 10” x 6.2” Golden Ratio size, complete with “Phi” graphic covering. Mangini, the Berklee professor and international clinician, has always been fascinated with science and the nature of sound, so it made perfect sense for his Signature Snare to be based on the ancient architectural phenomenon that is the Golden Ratio. The MM1062 snare drum also features Swivel Tube Lugs, SuperHoop II hoops and an included OptiMount holder. List price: $499.00.
The Morgan Rose signature snare drum (MR1450) is a force to be reckoned with. When rocking with his band Sevendust, Morgan needs his drum to be loud, powerful and full of attitude, so his mean 14” x 5” Steel drum has all the projection to cut through huge speaker stacks and subwoofers, Stainless Steel tension rods for incredible tuning precision, and a nasty green metallic finish with glow-in-the-dark “Alien” graphic that can’t be missed. List price: $499.00.
New finish options for 2008 Masters premium drums For more than two decades, the Pearl Masters sound has been heard on countless recordings and in the world’s top recording studios. The Masters sound is synonymous with legendary drummers like Jeff Porcaro, Dennis Chambers and many others.
Three new color options will be available in 2008 for both 100% Maple and 100% Birch Masters Premium drum sets. The new colors are Black Pearl (#331), Red Pearl (#332) and Purple Metallic (#333), for a total of 34 finish options: 26 Super High Gloss Lacquer finishes, boasting a 31-step, hand rubbed process, and eight Ultra Exotic Premium Coverings.
Masters Premium drums will continue to be available in 100% Maple or 100% Birch shell packs, with your choice of 6 ply or 4 ply shells with reinforcement rings. Additional premium features include MasterCast Die Cast Hoops, Stainless Steel Tension Rods, Remo Clear Ambassador drumheads on tom batters, Pearl’s innovative Golden Ratio Air Vents, and your choice of Chrome, Gold-Plated or Black Chrome Drum Hardware. List Prices: 100% Birch 4-Piece Shell Packs starting at $3,199, 100% Maple 4-Piece Shell Packs starting at $3,999.
New features on Forum drumsets Forum FZ Ready-Set-Go! is Pearl\'s all-in-one concept that gets you started in style and ready to rock right out of the box. With new upgrades, Forum is a good choice for the beginning drummer. New features in 2008 include I.S.S. tom mounts, newly designed low-mass lugs, improved cymbals, plus a new 16” crash, and a choice of black drum hardware with two dynamite finishes.
Forum comes with rugged double-braced hardware, a heavy duty throne, a pair of Vic Firth drumsticks, and a free dvd with all the set-up, tuning and instructional pointers you’ll need to get started. A great way to start your drumming career! Forum FZ list price is $1,149.
New colors and features for Pearl Masters MCX Pearl’s Masters MCX series will add three new Super High-Gloss Lacquer Finishes (Black Sparkle Fade #363, Lime Sparkle Fade #364, and Orange Sparkle Fade #365) and one new Delmar Glass Glitter Covering (Diamond Glitter #409) for 2008, all packaged in flashy chrome hardware.
Masters MCX features the same 6 ply, 100% Maple shells and Masters Quality drum hardware as its big brother, Masters Premium MRP. While Masters Premium is special order only, Masters MCX offers a select number of high-gloss UV lacquer finishes and “glass glitter” wrapped finishes, all complete with chrome hardware that are permanent stocking items.
Masters MCX will continue to be adorned with MasterCast Die Cast Hoops, OptiMount Tom Holders and Remo drumheads. List price is $2,499.
Additions to Vision family Pearl has expanded the Vision series for 2008 to include a 100% Maple shell pack (VMX) with matching snare drum, and a 100% Birch set (VBX) with a Steel SensiTone snare drum and full hardware. Rounding out the Vision family are the VSX and VX drumsets, which feature the original Vision Birch Ply shell. VMX and VBX each offer 5 unique lacquer finishes, while VSX features Ultra Exotic Delmar coverings and VX offers traditional solid color wraps.
Vision drumsets feature two very different shell thicknesses: 6 plies on rack toms and 8 plies on bass drums and floor toms, for incredibly balanced sound. Lower frequencies require greater energy to project equally to match the higher frequencies produced by smaller drums. Vision’s unique 6/8 technology makes this possible.
The exclusive two-ply heads on VMX, VBX and VSX are east to tune, and deliver full, powerful sound right out of the box. With the exception of the Vision Maple shell pack, Vision drumsets feature Pearl’s M.I.P.A. (Music Industry Press Association) award-winning 900 series hardware.
List Prices are as follows: VMX (#360 Silver Sparkle Lacquer): $1,599; VBX (#235 Concord Fade): $1,499; VSX (#444 Orange Sparkle): $1,399 and VX (#84 Olive Green):VX: $1,249.
New Vision Maple VMX, 100% Maple drums Maple, known for its warm, rich tone, has long been the choice wood of professional drummers worldwide. Pearl now offers nine standard Vision Maple configurations. Vision Maple shell packs come standard with professional Two Ply heads and a matching 100% Maple snare drum. These drums are offered in five exclusive High-Gloss Lacquer Finishes with a list price of $1,599.
New Vision Birch VBX, 100% Birch drums Birch has long been recognized for its focused, naturally EQ’d sound, ideal for both stage and studio. Pearl now offers nine standard Vision Birch configurations. Vision Birch comes standard with professional Two Ply heads, a Steel SensiTone snare drum, and Award-Winning 900 Series Hardware. These drums are offered in five exclusive High-Gloss Lacquer Finishes with a list price of $1,499.
Vision VSX & VX Birch ply drumsets Based on the original Vision formula, VSX and VX drumsets feature blended Birch Ply shells with 6/8 shell technology. Lower frequencies require greater energy to project equally to match the high frequencies produced by smaller drums. Vision’s combination of six-ply rack toms and eight-ply floor toms and bass drums deliver a dynamically balanced sound.
Pearl offers nine standard Vision configurations. This is more than any other drum manufacturer. VSX and VX come with a Brushed Steel SensiTone snare drum and Award-Winning 900 Series Hardware. VSX offers 6 Ultra-Exotic wrapped coverings, while VX offers 6 more affordable solid color wrap options, 3 of which boast black drum hardware. VSX List price: $1,399 - $1,249.
New Reference colors and features Pearl’s Reference series offer even more features and colors in 2008. Six brand new finishes are now available with Reference: Shimmer of Oz (#198), Inca Gold Burst (#302) and Ivory Pearl (#330), Black Pearl (#331), Red Pearl (#332) and Purple Metallic (#333) will combine with a selection of Masters Premium finishes to give Reference a total of 27 premium finish options.
New for 2008, Reference drums will now come fitted with Remo Clear Emperor drumheads for the toms, Remo Clear Powerstroke3 drumheads for the bass drum, and an exclusive Remo “Window” drumhead for the snare batter drumhead so that the task-specific shell configurations, thicknesses and bearing edges are all clearly visible.
Lastly, Reference drums will now be offered in your choice of Chrome (C), Gold-Plated (G) or Black Chrome (B) Drum Hardware. Reference list price is $4,499
New features on Rhtyhm Traveler Kit Pearl’s Rhythm Traveler Kit, the ground-breaking concept kit that’s easy to transport and easily transforms from a silent practice kit to a great-sounding acoustic kit, now comes fitted with black drum hardware. Combine that with the slick Jet Black finish, and this kit has black-on-black attitude!
This five piece kit includes professional quality 2-ply “ProTone” heads, a pair of 13” hats and a 16” crash/ride. To switch from live to silent practice, a full set of included mesh drumheads and plastic cymbals turn this kit into the perfect option when sound levels are sensitive. No list price is available yet.
New convertible flat/tripod base boom cymbal stand Pearl’s new BC-100S Convertible Flat Base Stand is a lightweight boom cymbal stand that features a low profile flush-base design that is convertible into a traditional tripod base. The stand features a gear tilter and is specially designed to be lightweight and highly portable. List price: $109.00