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The Masterworks Concept  |
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Custom Drums. There
seems to be quite a few companies making them these days. Most buy
shells
from the same manufacturer, mount hardware they bought from some
place else, and apply a custom paint job. The end result, after a
lot of hype, is a custom drum set...or is it?
Masterworks hopes to change the way drummers view a custom
set of drums. At Pearl, the word custom holds quite a bit more reverence. It
means we made it, not assembled it. It means everything about the kit is made
by hand, one piece at a time, by a Pearl master craftsman. From hand selecting
the finest woods and painstakingly forming the shell, to die casting and plating
the hardware that mounts to it, drums bearing the Masterworks badge are one of
a kind ultimate acoustic instruments, hand made to your specifications, with
the expertise and quality no other company can match.
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Masterworks
is about choices for the discriminating drummer. Choices like North
American Maple, Scandinavian Birch and African Mahogany. Three highly
prized woods for shell composition, not just the same shell everyone
else custom paints. Choices like four shell thickness options, hardware
plating options and full control over sizes and unlimited finishes.
If this is starting to sound different from what most companies call
a custom drum set, then you see the concept behind Masterworks. At
Pearl, we are dedicated to producing the finest drums in the world
at our new Masterworks Custom Shop facility. Hand Made. Completely
Custom. When you're ready...we hope to build a set for you. |
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Inside Pearl Drums:
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The Difference Starts with the Shell |
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| Masterworks gives you a choice
of three prized woods, and four thickness and ply options for shell
composition. No one else offers you this unprecedented control over
the sound of your drums. When you think about it, how much different
can a drum sound from manufacturer to manufacturer, when they all
use practically the same shell. With Masterworks, your kit sounds
like your kit. With this wide range of options, Masterworks drums
will be as individual as the players that play them. But options
alone are not what separates Masterworks from the others. |
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Pearl's patented Heat
Compression Shell Molding Process (see illustration), or HC/sms as it's known, takes these outstanding hand selected wood plies, adds an exclusive adhesive formulation, extreme heat and constant cylindrical pressure, and produces the finest, most consistent drum shells on the market today. Consistency. By controlling every aspect of the shell manufacturing process, there simply is no need to tap the side of the shell and give it a note. If you have variation, you don't have consistency. |
Wood and Thickness Options |
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Maple
is a favorite wood used for drum shell construction. Its evenly distributed
lows, highs and mid range frequencies makes it ideal for all around
applications. Our maple is from North America and like all the woods
we offer, it is hand-selected to meet Pearl's stringent requirements
for proper density, age, and consistency of grain and color.
Birch drums have built a cult like following over the years due to their naturally "EQed" tone.
Our Scandinavian Birch shells feature slightly boosted high frequencies, smooth
mids, and a good low end punch. Drums made of this wood are ideal for applications
requiring extra presence and cut.
Mahogany was the industry standard shell material for over fifty years and one listen will tell you why. Few companies today offer this excellent wood for drum shell manufacture. Our African Mahogany is extremely rich in low end frequencies, with beautifully smooth mids and a slight roll-off in the higher frequencies. Without question, if your main requirements are "bottom" and
punch, African Mahogany should be your wood of choice.
The number of plies effects how readily energy is transferred from
the heads to the shell. This single factor has a profound affect on the tonal
characteristics and projection of the drum.
Thin shells (4 ply, 5mm) enable relatively easy energy transfer from the heads to the shells thus causing the shells to vibrate. This vibration imparts a very rich "wood" tone
to the overall sound that can be most appreciated in near-field applications
and especially in recording.
Medium thick shells (6 ply, 7.5mm) have greater stiffness and resist energy transference from the heads. With less shell vibration, a trade-off is achieved: the sound is slightly "cooler" than thinner shells but projection is greater. Drums made to this thickness are ideal for general-purpose applications and / or situations requiring more "horsepower."
Thick shells (8 ply, 10mm and10 ply, 12.5mm) are extremely "efficient" and
allow most of the player's energy to be focused to the audience. These drums
are ideal for coliseum-type venues and other applications requiring high sound
pressure levels. Snare drums made in this thickness rival metal snare drums in
intensity and projection.
It would be great if everyone had the budget and the space to own "one of everything." However, as this is not the case, drummers must choose sizes that offer the greatest versatility and flexibility for their musical style or requirements. For greatest versatility, rack toms with depths between "standard" sizes (12x8, 13x9, etc.) and "power" sizes (12x10, 13x11, etc.) should be considered. Shallower depths offer very good sensitivity (the ability to play quietly while allowing the bottom heads to respond for full tone). Deeper toms have greater low-end tuning range but require more energy to "activate" the
bottom heads. Sizes such as the Masterworks Alternative depths (12x9, 13x10,
etc.) offer both great sensitivity and wide tuning range.
I just wanted to tell you that I received my Masterworks kit, and
it is simply the most beautiful kit that I have ever seen in my
life. My wife laughed at me when I just sat there with the drums
for a few hours just looking, drooling and laughing. I guess I
never knew just how nice a custom kit can look, that is until now.
It is incredible!
See Ya, Andy K. |
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Wood and Frequency Response
Slightly boosted lows with smooth mid and high frequencies for all around
applications.
Boosted high frequencies, slightly reduced mids, and a good low end punch for applications requiring extra presence and cut.
Extremely rich low end frequencies, with beautifully smooth mids and
a slight roll-off in the higher frequencies for applications requiring
ultimate "bottom" and punch.
Shell Thickness vs. Sound
Thin shells (4 ply, 5mm) are ideal for near-field applications and especially recording.
Medium thickness shells (6 ply, 7.5mm) are ideal for general-purpose
applications and/or situations requiring more "horsepower."
Thick shells (8 ply, 10mm and 10 ply 12.5mm) are ideal for coliseum-type venues and other
applications requiring high sound pressure levels. |
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