Heat Compression Shell Molding System
Pearl's exclusive Heat Compression Shell Molding System consistently produces the finest drum shells on the market today. Hand selected fully aged wood plies are coated with Pearl's proprietary adhesive formulation that hardens to the same density as the wood it binds so the shells respond as if made from a single ply for outstanding resonance. During shell formation, the glue is literally boiled into the pores of the wood to assure complete adhesion then 1000 lbs/in2 pressure is applied to assure thorough bonding of the plies to create the finest shells in the world. No other system uses this perfect combination of heat and pressure to insure a perfect drum shell. All shells from Forum to Masterworks are formed using the Heat Compression Shell Molding System.

Overlapping Scarf Joint Seams
Pearl's overlapping scarf joint seams are bonded over several square centimeters for strength and feature no gaps and air pockets for maximum shell resonance. Other companies use butt joints where the seams are simply butted together. A butted joint is OK if the ends meet but often they don't and a gap is formed. Within the gap is air and being an excellent insulator, air stops sound. For example, recording studios are built with a room within a room with air separating the two to stop sound from interfering with recordings. This is great for studios but not for drums. We want drums to vibrate freely and evenly without air pockets to impede vibration. That's why Pearl uses scarf joints to assure that our shells have no gaps and no air pockets to allow the shells vibrate fully and uniformly for maximum resonance.

Exclusive Bearing Edge
Our precision cut bearing edges employ a 45 degree cut from the inside out with a 45 degree backcut, slightly inset from the exterior, to optimize contact with the flat portion of the drum head and still maintain maximum available diameter.

Thirty-One Step Exterior Finish
Masters Series drums feature the finest, most painstakingly beautiful exterior finish in the drum industry today. This exclusive finishing technique takes each Masters Series drum through thirty-one handcrafted steps before completion. The pristine result can be seen in every fade, mist, solid, and sparkle finish offered within the line. Layer upon layer of clear urethane, highly polished to a glass-like appearance, encases your choice of color with many allowing the natural beauty of the shell's wood grain to show through. One look and you'll see why we say, nothing compares to a Masters finish.