New Pearl High-End Drum Sets Review | 4 Lines Compared!

For a long time, Pearl has focused more on their value-minded kits. Their high end drum sets, on the other hand, haven’t gotten much attention. Some customers didn’t even have any idea what they were offering for their high end collection!

But now, that completely changed because Pearl decided to gut most of their high end offerings and re-introduced a new lineup that will blow your minds. Today, we’ll be talking about a total of four Pearl high end drum sets along with the company’s latest innovations, particularly on their mounting systems.

So, are you ready? Buckle up because this is going to be another thorough review from the Drum Center of Portsmouth — the largest independently-owned drum store IN THE WORLD!

Did you know that at least half of the customers we’ve spoken to over the years just flat-out say they don’t like Pearl’s Tom arms? That’s right! Well, they do think they’re functional and solid, but for some reason, Pearl’s mounting system gets a lot of hate. Some actually admit it’s the one thing that prevented them from even considering Pearl as a drum company!

Now, despite those arising issues about Pearl’s tom arms, the company just seemed unbothered towards the issue. But then — that changed in 2023, when they introduced the Gyrolock L Tom Arm and the new R2 Air Suspension Mount. 

A lot of drum enthusiasts, including us from the Drum Center of Portsmouth, were actually impressed with this move by Pearl. Why? Not only did they come up with an L-Arm solution, but they also developed one of the best in the business. A game-changer indeed!

You might be wondering — what’s so special about the Gyrolock L Tom Arm? Well, This 360° adjustable system enables you to position the hardware all around and in and out! That guarantees tour-grade strength, gives world-class reliability, and assures hassle-free teardown and reset every time for your high end drum sets.

See? From being hated for its tom arms and mounting systems, Pearl now has the World’s Most Adjustable Tom Arm in its arsenal.

Pearl’s latest mounting system development has the Gyrolock L Tom Arm going hand-in-hand with the new R2 Air Suspension Mount. Together, these two provide the most reliable setup to unlock drum resonance at the highest level! Oh, the R2 Air Suspension Mount features an exclusive four-point floating isolation platform that utilizes the BEST mounting point of every drum. 

Alright! Now, it’s finally time to unveil the updated lineup of Pearl’s High End Drum Sets. Today, we’ll be featuring four 4-PC drum sets, specifically three Masters Series and one Reference One kit. 

We’ll be starting this one off with a bang! Stealing the show with tons of shimmer and shine, the Pearl Masters Maple MM6 “Shimmer of Oz” is definitely a head-turner. Trust me, when light hits this lacquer-finished high end drum set, it looks absolutely stunning.

The Pearl Masters Series boasts of the best in the best when it comes to performance for pro drummers. And since we’re talking about high end drum sets, these are made of 6 layers of the premium North American Maple from the iconic Masterworks Veneer Vault. This gives increased projection, improved sustain, and better sonic output than ever before!

This Shimmer of Oz high end drum set also features Pearl standards such as the CL Bridge Lugs and Mastercast Die-Cast Hoops, ensuring optimum performance in any environment imaginable! The kit includes a 10x8 tom, 12x9 tom, 16x16 floor tom, and a 22x16 bass drum.

Up next — the Pearl Masters Maple Pure “Putty Gray” is also a remarkable high end drum set that epitomizes three decades of the quality and excellence of Pearl’s Masters series. It features four layers of North American Maple, 4-ply reinforcement rings from the Masterworks Veneer Vault, and standard 45° bearding edges.

These special Maple veneers can increase sound projection, improve the sustain, and provide better sonic output because of their enhanced shell hardness. This high end drum set is also equipped with Pearl standards like the Mastercast Die-Cast Hoops, CL Bridge Lugs, and revamped bass drum spurs and floor tom brackets. See? A high end drum set indeed requires high-end features to ensure world-class performance!

The Pearl Masters Pure Maple “Putty Gray” includes a 10x7 tom, 12x8 tom, 16x16 floor tom, and 22x16 bass drum. All in the mesmerizing Putty Gray Premium finish that absolutely steals the show on any stage!

Number 3 on the list is the Pearl Masters Maple Gum “Crystal Rain”. Come on, just one look at this ridiculously beautiful high end drum set already screams “world-class”, right? This is another reimagined classic from the Masters Series featuring a flawless 5.3mm thick shell perfectly blended with 4 outer plies of Maple and 2 inner plies of Gumwood. Oh, and this high end drum set also has an outer 60° bearing edge!

From the name of its finish itself, it definitely looks like it’s raining crystals when you look at this work of art. Of course, the Pearl Masters Maple Gum “Crystal Rain” is also equipped with Pearl standards like the Mastercast Die-Cast Hoops, CL Bridge Lugs, and revamped bass drum spurs and floor tom brackets.

This majestic high end drum set comes with a 10x8 tom, 12x9 tom, 16x16 floor tom, and a 22x16 bass drum. All made to give a spectacular performance on any stage!

Ah, finally. The Pearl Reference One “Kobalt Blue Fade Metallic”. Now this one’s a beast. Pearl took the hybrid concept to new and unprecedented heights with the recipe and construction of this high end drum set. By using specific woods — Birch, Maple, and Mahogany, Pearl was able to fine-tune the shell thicknesses and bearing edges to ensure that they produce the most sonically perfect sound for the high end drum set.

Every drum on this amazing high end drum set is meticulously created to maximize the capacity of each! The 10x8 tom is an EvenPly six featuring 5.4mm of shell, 4 plies of Maple, 2 plies of birch, and a rounded 45° bearing edge. On the other hand, the 12x9 tom is an EvenPly six with a 5.4mm Maple shell and a rounded 45° edge as well.

The 16x16 floor tom is also made of a 5.4mm shell with 4 plies of Maple, 2 plies of Mahogany on the inside, and a rounded 45° bearing edge. Lastly, the 22x18 bass drum is made from a 7.22mm shell, 2 plies of Maple, and 6 plies of Mahogany with a fully rounded edge. Confusing, right? But these details are what makes this kit incredibly special!

The Pearl Reference One “Kobalt Blue Fade Metallic” is already engineered to deliver optimum performance. But it’s also equipped with Mastercast Die-Cast Hoops, which bring its capabilities to the next level with a radical combination of sustain and attack! Oh, and not to mention the stunning finish of this high end drum set — it’s definitely fit for world-class stages.

And that’s it! Those four latest additions to Pearl’s high end drum sets can elevate your performance to the ultimate level. The best part? You can score all of them here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth!

Ah, did you think we’d miss the chance to give you a closer look at the actual performance and sound quality of these high end drum sets? Absolutely not. As always, we’ve got you covered! Make sure to check out this video and let our drum experts show you the performance of each high end drum set on the list!

Are you still looking for more remarkable drums and percussion instruments like these awesome high end drum sets to add to your collection? Feel free to visit our website www.drumcenternh.com or subscribe to our YouTube channel Drum Center of Portsmouth for more amazing content. See ya around!