Welcome to the inaugural issue of “This Week in Drums,” the first in a new series of bi-monthly posts highlighting the most recent arrivals at the Drum Center of Portsmouth. Next week (November 16th) will be the launch of “This Week in Cymbals,” a similar review of the latest and greatest gear to grace us with its presence, but with a particular focus on bronze pies!

This first issues features 40 new snare drums and 5 new drum sets. Admittedly, we have cheated a little bit and decided to showcase most of the gear that has landed in the last three weeks or so. There is actually quite a bit more, but much of it has sold already. Future issues will likely be a bit shorter with less gear being shown.

The brand new 5.5×14 Pearl Masterworks snare drum features a 10-ply, 12.5mm shell with six inner plies of African Mahogany and four outer plies of Maple. This drum has 45-degree bearing edges, single flanged hoops with claws, tube lugs, the SR300 concert strainer and is finished in #102 Natural Maple. This drum is definitely one of a kind!

The Pearl M-1330 maple piccolo snare drum can be used for secondary effects or as a main snare drum. Pearl’s 13×3 maple piccolo snare drums features a 6-ply, 7.5mm thick 100% maple shell coupled with 1.6mm triple-flanged hoops. This combination yield a unique, cutting, pingy crack that bigger snare drums just can’t match! A fun addition to any set up!

The Pearl Limited Edition Maple snare drum (model number MLP1480S) features a 14″x8″ 100% maple shell for rich tone and extreme loudness. The 8-ply 7.5mm maple shell offers outstanding durability and the classic style tube lugs and 1.6mm triple-flanged hoops permit high-tension capability and an open sound. The MLP1480S snare features precision-fit Stainless Steel tension rods and solid brass receivers for incredibly smooth and precise tuning. You can tune this sucker down for a juicy, fat backbeat or tune it up for a full-bodied pop!

The Pearl Omar Hakim Signature snare drum features a 6 ply 7.5mm African mahogany shell in a natural mahogany finish with 2.3mm triple-flanged SuperHoop IIs. Having played the drums for Sting, Madonna and David Bowie, to name but a few, Omar was looking for a unique sound in designing his signature snare drum. The 13” x 5” shell has a power piccolo sound while the Mahogany helps to produce the perfect blend of sonic power, projection and tonal color. The Omar Hakim Signature snare is rounded out with CL55 lugs, stainless steel tension rods and an SR015 snare strainer.

Pearl Sensitone Elite Aluminum snare drums feature a 1.2mm thin seamless aluminum shell. The thin seamless shell along with 2.3mm super hoops gives the Pearl Sensitone Elite Aluminum snare drum excellent versatility to be used in a variety of applications. Rounded out with ten CL65 lugs, Pearl’s great stainless steel tension rods and the SR017 snare strainer, the Sensitone Elite aluminum snares are a great value — high quality at an affordable price.

Pearl Sensitone Elite Black Beaded Brass snare drums feature a 1.5mm thin brass shell with black nickel plating. The thin brass shell along with 2.3mm super hoops gives the Pearl Sensitone Elite Black Beaded Brass snare drum provides a wet, ringy sound that is at home in a variety of applications. Rounded out with ten CL55 lugs, Pearl’s great stainless steel tension rods and the SR017 snare strainer, the Sensitone Elite Black Beaded Brass snares are an affordable alternative to other beaded brass snare drums that cost up to twice as much!

Pearl Sensitone Elite Black Beaded Brass snare drums feature a 1.5mm thin brass shell with black nickel plating. The thin brass shell along with 2.3mm super hoops gives the Pearl Sensitone Elite Black Beaded Brass snare drum provides a wet, ringy sound that is at home in a variety of applications. Rounded out with ten CL55 lugs, Pearl’s great stainless steel tension rods and the SR017 snare strainer, the Sensitone Elite Black Beaded Brass snares are an affordable alternative to other beaded brass snare drums that cost up to twice as much!

Pearl UltraCast Aluminum snare drums feature an exclusive precision-milled, 3mm thick cast aluminum shell. At 3mm thick, Pearl’s UltraCast snare drums possess one of the thickest metal drums you’ll find. Aluminum is a relatively soft metal, and provides the warm, round, full bodied tone of a wood shell snare. At the same time, the UltraCast snare drums also possess the crack, volume and projection provided by a metal snare. No other snare drum can offer this perfect compromise between wood and metal. Since Pearl’s UltraCast snares use a milled cast aluminum shell, the bearing edges are precision-cut and perfect every time. This provides ease of tuning and perfect head seating around the entire circumference of the drum.

Pearl Reference Brass Steel snare drums are among “the best of the best” that Pearl has to offer. In the final stages of R&D for new metal Pearl Reference snare drums, the Brass models came in a close second to the Cast Steel models that were the best sounding of all the prototypes, hands down. Play one for yourself and you’ll know why. Pearl Reference Brass snare drums feature 3mm thick brass shells. Coupled with Mastercast die cast hoops, the top-of-the-line SR1000 snare strainer and other standard Reference appointments, they are a sight to see and worth every penny.