The world's first truly custom drums.

The mission behind Pearl Reference Series drums is to produce a complete set of individually engineered, incredible sounding drums. Each shell in the Reference Series 5 piece drum shell pack is composed of a blend of woods totaling an incredible 20 plies. This extra thick shell ensures that no energy is lost through shell vibration and all energy is focused on moving sound waves. The shell's bearing edge is 45° to promote a focused contact area with the head for response and crack. Six inner plies of birch provide cut and attack while the outer 14 plies of maple provide warmth and solid midrange punch.

In 1999, Pearl began its most ambitious undertaking, The Masterworks Series, the world's first truly custom drums. Designed for the player by the player. Every aspect of the manufacturing process was custom made, from the number of wood plies, to the wood selection, to the final finish. Over the last five years, through arduous listening tests, Masterworks taught Pearl drum makers a great deal about drums and what makes the perfect shell. So forget what you think you know about drums and take a close look at Reference Series, the most acoustically advanced drums in the world. To fully understand Pearl's Reference Series you must understand that the desired tonal characteristics of a 10" tom are completely different than that of a 22" bass drum. Thus to use the same material in both drums would result in a compromise.

Reference Series drums use a combination of task-specific bearing edges and three time-proven woods: birch, maple, and African mahogany. Using maple as a sole material has long been the traditional choice for shells and for good reason. Maple provides smooth, well-balanced tone that is perfect for a 12" tom. Subsequently, all Reference Series 12" toms are composed of six plies of maple; this is the only single wood shell in the series. And for maximum response, all 13" diameter and smaller toms have a rounded 45° bearing edge, and a more focused area for head-to-shell contact to boost mid- to higher-range frequencies. Beginning with Pearl's 13" tom and larger, mahogany is added to the inner plies to increase the lower frequencies and accentuate the warmth of the maple. The 14"-diameter toms and larger begin using Pearl's fully-rounded bearing edge for even more shell contact for a boost in mid- to low- range frequencies.

The heart and soul of your kit is your snare drum and the Pearl Reference snare drums shine through loud and clear. Simply amazing volume. The snare tension knob features a locking mechanism to maintain snare tension at all times. Simply depress the button and turn the knob simultaneously. The strainer lever features a Positive Lock system that, while in the "on" position, removes the possibility of accidentally turning the snares off without depressing a button on the lever.

As the sizes of the bass drums increase, so do the amounts of mahogany. Pearl's 22" Reference bass drums incorporate an amazing six inner plies of mahogany surrounded by two outer plies of maple for the ultimate in solid responsive bass frequencies.

With Reference Series, it's not about compromise; it's about every drum in your kit performing at its optimal capacity.

Cymbals and hardware not included.

Pearl Reference Standard 5-Piece Shell Pack with Snare Features:

• 12" x 9" mounted tom
• 6 plies maple
• Rounded 45° bearing edge
  
  13" x 10" tom
• 2 inner plies mahogany
• 4 outer plies maple
• Rounded 45° bearing edge
  
  16" x 16" floor tom
• 2 inner plies mahogany
• 4 outer plies maple
• Fully rounded bearing edge
  
  22" x 18" bass drum
• 6 inner plies mahogany
• 2 outer plies maple
• Fully rounded bearing edge
  
  5" x 14" snare drum
• 6 inner plies birch
• 14 outer plies maple
• 45° bearing edge
  
  2 TH2000 Dual Uni-Lock Tom Holders with Gyro-Locks, 14" x 4", 7/8"-diameter post, new single keybolts
  
  Hardware not included

Pearl's Reference Series will make you reconsider everything you know about drums. Order today.

Pearl Reference Standard 5-Piece Shell Pack with Snare

Write A Review

Average of 2 User Ratings

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Customer Reviews

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Simply AMAZING.

Posted by Birchbuster101 from Mississippi on Jan 8, 2009

Experience w/product: I have heard about it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Grunge, Metal.

I had the pleasure and honor of playing this kit at a drum shop and I must say it was an experience I will never forget. The attack, warmth, and clarity of each drum is very impressive. I am saving up for this kit, and couldn't be more pleased with the price. I HIGHLY suggest this kit to any drummer of any genre of music.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

I'm speechless; it's that good

Posted by Anonymous Musician on May 18, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: I drum for a well-known band.

Reviewer's Play Style: Anything.

This product will quite simply blow you away like leaves in a breeze. This drum set is capable of much more than you'd expect. It's amazing. It should cost more like 6 grand. But's that's a good thing. Get this set, and you'll be set for life! I think it is better than any Ludwig, Tama or any other Pearl for that matter. I'm telling you: GET THIS SET.

If you would like to write a review, please see our product review guidelines.

Pearl Reference Standard 5-Piece Shell Pack with Snare

Read 2 Reviews