DW or Pearl

I'm having some trouble of deciding b/t a DW or a Pearl Reference or Masters. Does anyone have any experience to speak of? Yes? No? I played my friend's Export today and it sounded surprisingly good, but I also played my schools DW today, and, with it's rep preceding it, it did not let me down. I dont play strictly any type of music, and I could use some input so I could create a virtual pro-con list....... thanxxxxxxxxxx

My two cents:

I had a Pearl Masters Custom kit before I got my dw Collector's Series kit.

What I noticed is that my dw's respond better when struck lightly, whereas the Pearl's needed a bit more oomph to get them resonating. I often do low volume gigs, so that was a consideration for me.

Other than that, there wasn't a whole world of difference between them. They are both excellent drum sets and I don't think you could go wrong either way.

If I had to make this choice, .... it would come down to hardware and mounting systems.

DW Hardware looks better. I dont think theres that much difference between drums at the upper range of High End.

I wouldn't use the Exports as a reference point other than that they domonstrate that even at the low end, Pearl makes good stuff, so you could assume that their top line stuff would be even better. Same with the school's DW's (your school could afford DW's?!?).

Odds are, your friend has good heads and knows how to tune. Odds are also fairly good that the DW's that the school uses might have worn heads, or may not be tuned opitmally. Your best bet is to go to a store and check them out live and in-person and play them both in as close to optimal conditions as you can.

Bottom line, if you're going to drop several grand on a kit, you want as much hands-on personal experience with it as possible.

Both are great kits, btw. You can't go wrong with either. The choice will probably come down to a collection of minor factors...one company has a finish that you like, you like one company's hardware design better, etc.

It is a tough choice I have plyed both. The Reference series is damn impressive, on the other hand the DW's are one of a kind. I like the customization you have with the DW's. You seem less of a number to DW when ordering a kit. The Pearl has a mass production feel to them. Please understand the Reference may be more hand crafted than their other lower end series but, I think DW has more of your own stamp on it in the end. The choice is not easy I would love to have the Reference or the DW. I play the Mapex Saturn which is nice, but both of the kits mentioned are a step up from mine so I could go with either.

+1 on the hardware...which is why I'd get Starclassics.

Originally posted by the DW My two cents: What I noticed is that my dw's respond better when struck lightly, whereas the Pearl's needed a bit more oomph to get them resonating. I often do low volume gigs, so that was a consideration for me.

Just curious, Were the shells the same depth or did the DW set have fast toms (9X12, 11X14) and the pearls have deeper shells(10X12, 12X14), even though both are available in both sets...

Because I believe the fast toms (shorter toms) are suppose to respond better to a lighter strike...

Is'nt that one of the desires in shallower shells??? (Quicker response)

The drummer in my band plays a Pearl Reference kit and he absolutely loves it, especially the little touches and the fact that they mix and match wood types to get the best sound out of each shell. However, he plays a DW kit at his church that he ordered and set up, which he likes as well.

In my opinion, you couldn't go wrong either way, but I do love the round DW lugs.....

By the way, since someone introduced another maker.....Tama. .... Can I opt out of the DW Pearl thingy and just go for another mid 60s........say 64- 67 flat gray interior vintage Rogers 4 piece kit with a matching Powertone or Dynasonic snare drum in .... heh, blue onyx, or wmp, or .... red glitter, or black onyx, red onyx, blue steel ripple, that ringo bowling ball thing, or unblemished silver sparkle, or, or, or....... I dont have to be all that particular about color. I would be happy I think.