Members techristian Posted August 3, 2016 Members Share Posted August 3, 2016 I found these drums at a flea market for only $50 ! They were a bit funky smelling but had PEARL hardware on them so I thought I couldn't go wrong. Anyway follow this thread to see what I do to them !! Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dendy Jarrett Posted August 3, 2016 Members Share Posted August 3, 2016 Based on the tom depths, I am guessing around 1985-86 era. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 3, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 3, 2016 Were there sub brands under Pearl at that time? It looks like the 22" bass drum is maple 1/2 or more thick. The tom is a lighter color wood...maybe poplar . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted August 3, 2016 Members Share Posted August 3, 2016 Really thick shells might be birch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 3, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 3, 2016 I'm 90% sure that the bass drum is Maple . It is 1/2 inch thick, but the tom is much thinner and very resonant, I might add. It almost has no grain at all...very light color. The tom could be birch. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 3, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 3, 2016 Dry after first coat of Urethane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dendy Jarrett Posted August 3, 2016 Members Share Posted August 3, 2016 I believe that these are indeed an early version of the Export Series. I can't remember the early names, but these came out about the time ludwig introduced the "Rockers" sets. (or maybe even before). And to answer your question - yes, many sub sets to the Pearl brand. At the time, they were making drums for a lot of folks. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 5, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 5, 2016 I had a set of Ludwig Rock Duo's .Black with granitone interiors. 2 large 22" double bass with no mounting hardware, 2 toms on a tripod, a chrome snare and a large 16" floor tom.I bought them new in 1974, one month after I started at Chrysler. They set me back $1000 back then and my parents thought I was crazy. I was crazy to trade them in for an Octapad in 1988. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twosticks Posted August 7, 2016 Members Share Posted August 7, 2016 I had a Pearl copy set and I had a co-worker in high school in the 80's that had a real Export set. If it says Pearl than it mostly likely is Pearl, my knock offs didn't say anything and were far worse than the tom holder, arms and drum base plate shown here. My tom arms and holders stripped out all the time!! My tom arms had dents from where I tightened them down over time. These look MUCH stouter and still in good shape, So I say some type of Pearl Export??? Which would make it Popular wood??? Also what is really telling to me is the bass drum spurs. they are telescoping right??Another good sign of brand name maker, even if it was their base or student model. Pearl Copys and the like usually had just a peg rod that came start out with a rubber boot at the end. Is that a Tama Pedal?? or an old Ludwig Rocker II pedal?? The Tama pedals are great, the Rocker II pedal is okay (I had one, the chain link WORE through the metal link hole in the foot plate!!!). Not sure about the drums, Except the seam looks straight AND the wrap was still on good!! A lot of copy or cheap sets get bumps and lumps in the wrap from temp. extremes so that's a good sign there. But the mounts and arms seem to match the drum mounts and I don't see former holes drilled, so I would almost say Early to mid 80's Pearl Exports??? Although they should have a Pearl name badge then?? Unless they were re-wrapped at some point?? Scorpions, Def Lepard, Southern Rock, etc were popular in the late 70's and early 80's so sets with "Power Toms" (extra long toms) were popular on some sets back when so this set COULD have been from then as well?? Another good sign is if the bass drum hoop is wood? Some cheaper sets used metal or plastic. Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 7, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 7, 2016 The pedal is a cheap chain driven Pearl. The hoop for the bass drum is steel. The bass drum looks like maple but the tom looks like poplar. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twosticks Posted August 10, 2016 Members Share Posted August 10, 2016 I have a Genesis book that shows Chester Thompson from when he first joined the live shows with Genesis with a Pearl set with Steel or metal bass hoops on a Pearl set. I couldn't find a pic on line, but I did find this, an online ad for another 70's Pearl set and the hoop and toms seem to match or they are close?? See pic and then I included the link. May be of some help?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members twosticks Posted August 10, 2016 Members Share Posted August 10, 2016 Plus is this: this site it came from: They want $425, BUT that is the price WITH upgraded heads AND Cymbals, SO that may be some indication of the drums worth?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 10, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 10, 2016 Thanks for the info. Mine has straight tension rods without keys on the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 10, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 10, 2016 After 4 coatAfter 4 coats of urethane deep drying in 150 degree oven (my car)s of urethane deep drying in 150 degree oven (my car) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dendy Jarrett Posted August 10, 2016 Members Share Posted August 10, 2016 You're certain to catch a buzz on your next oven car ride. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 11, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 11, 2016 I only drive that car once a week. The drum has been in there since Saturday. I'll take it out and put it together tomorrow. Too hot to work...90s. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 12, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 12, 2016 I'm missing a part on the riding Tom so I won't have the set together until I get the part. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 13, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 13, 2016 I'm waiting for the BT3 tom mount. 10-14 days if they have it in the main warehouse. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dendy Jarrett Posted August 25, 2016 Members Share Posted August 25, 2016 It'll be interesting to see how the wood looks when you're done. Most of these kits came covered with a wrap because the wood was not conducive to being presentable with a clear coat finish. Was the wrap in bad shape? It looked like a plain champaign color, which seems fairly benign. Just wondering. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 27, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 27, 2016 The wrap was silver and wrinkled. Got the part yesterday. Assembled today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted August 27, 2016 Author Members Share Posted August 27, 2016 Finished !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted August 27, 2016 Members Share Posted August 27, 2016 You got the green tint. I had to use purple oil paint mixed in to kill it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dendy Jarrett Posted September 1, 2016 Members Share Posted September 1, 2016 I think the green tint is from the grass reflecting on the drums. But even then, I like it. It clearly shows what (with a little elbow grease) you can do to a down trodden kit. If more people would do this, more kids would or could be inspired to drum and make better music. Too many drums are "trashed" because they need a little TLC. Kudos to you Dan for giving a little love to these drums. D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted September 1, 2016 Author Members Share Posted September 1, 2016 I moved out my Tama 22" bass and I'm playing these now instead. The bass sounds as good if not better to my 2010 ImperialStar and is about 4" shallower , which means that I may actually be able to get this behind my seat in the vette. In the last gig I played, I had to put the bass drum on the passenger seat.....(no wifey). Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members techristian Posted September 1, 2016 Author Members Share Posted September 1, 2016 With used drums, the important thing to look at is that there are no cracks in the shell. Even then, that can also be repaired. The brand is also important. I wasn't 100% sure that these were Pearl until the Tom lug fit perfectly. It was approximately another $20 for the tom mount, and $5 for the Urathane...3 hours of elbow grease, 2 hours of disassembly/assembly and 2 hours of finishing. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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