> SHELL COMPOSITION
Optimized Shell Composition
Reference Pure Series drums use a combination of task specific bearing edges and 3 time proven woods: Birch, Maple, and African Mahogany. Using Maple as a sole material has long been the traditional choice for shells and for good reason. Maple provides smooth, well balanced tone that is perfect for a 12" tom. Subsequently, all Reference Series 12" toms are composed of 6 thin plies of Maple. The only single wood shell in the series. Our 10" and 8" toms receive 4 thin plies of Maple with 2 inner thin plies of Birch for cut and attack. And for maximum response, all 13" and smaller toms have a rounded 45° bearing edge.
Beginning with our 13" tom and larger, Mahogany is added to the inner plies to increase the lower frequencies and accentuate the warmth of the Maple. The 14" toms and larger begin using our fully rounded bearing edge for even more shell contact. Our 18" and 20" bass drums use 4 inner thin plies of Mahogany with 2 outer thin plies of Maple. As the size of the bass drums increase, so does the amount of Mahogany. Our 22" and 24" bass drums incorporate an amazing 6 inner thin plies of Mahogany surrounded by 2 outer thin plies of Maple for the ultimate in solid responsive bass frequencies.
With Reference Series, it's not about compromise; it's about every drum in your kit performing at its optimal capacity.
Optimized Wood Characteristics
Maple
Maple is a fine grain wood with a smooth even texture. This highly respected wood offers a very wide dynamic range with extremely well balanced acoustic properties. Rich lustrous lows, with an even balance of mid tones and high frequencies have made this the all around accepted premium shell material for years in the acoustic drum industry. This mix of creamy warm resonant mid to high frequencies, balanced with the propensity for powerful bass response, makes it the logical choice for our 12" toms, which also happens to be the only single wood shell in the series.
Birch
A straight grained wood with a fine, even texture, Birch is known for its strength and resilience. It provides a lively interior springboard for sound waves, which in turn creates a noticeable increase in the higher frequencies. This makes it the perfect interior for smaller tom-toms. Birch’s tightly bound network of cells also promotes a perfect balance of mid-range frequencies, with a smooth transition from the lower register to middle register. The 8" and 10" toms incorporate 2 inner thin plies of Birch for cutting attack and high frequency presence.
Mahogany
African Mahogany is a relatively "soft" hardwood that offers a dramatic boost in lower frequencies. This bass boost effect is most likely due to its loosely packed cellulose network, which creates a natural resonator effect in the lower frequencies. This predisposition for powerful lows makes it the logical choice for the interior of 13" and larger toms. All Reference Series bass drums utilize 4 to 6 inner thin plies of Mahogany to produce a noticeably present bass response, as well as a naturally smooth sonic transition into the mid-range frequencies.
Bearing Edge
45 Degree
The 45° bearing edge on Reference snare shells brings all 6 thin plies into play by promoting a tightly focused shell contact area for extreme sensitivity and maximum volume. The six inner thin plies of Birch provide a resilient crack, which is balanced and warmed by the 14 outer thin plies of Maple. The ultimate balance of power, projection and resonance, Reference Snare Drums are unlike anything you have ever experienced.
Rounded 45 Degree
The rounded 45° bearing edge featured on our 8" through 13" Toms offer cutting attack and projection, all balanced with a solid punch. This edge promotes a finely balanced interaction between the individual wood plies that allow the smaller toms to sing with amazing clarity, without premature delay. The journey of the energy from the head to the shell is given a much more direct path with the rounded edge.
Full Rounded Bearing
The fully rounded bearing edge provides the ultimate solid punch and resonance by raising the overall contact area of the head to the shell. This allows maximum kinetic energy transfer from the head to the shell, resulting in maximum shell resonance. This is the logic for using the fully rounded edge on 14" through 18" toms, for absolutely thunderous tom fills. Our 18" to 24" bass drums utilize also utilize this edge for a deep solid punch, creating sound pressure levels that are felt just as much as they are heard.
Optimized Wood Thickness
Lower frequencies require greater energy to equal the projection of the higher frequencies, requiring the larger diameter drums to be thicker than the smaller drums. Reference drumsets feature two very different shell thicknesses: 6 thin plies on rack toms and 8 thin plies on bass drums and floor toms, for incredibly balanced sound. The Reference Snare Drum has an alarmingly thick 6-thin ply shell, giving it incredible projection and cut, perfect for higher volume musical settings.
Pearl’s Superior Shell Technology utilizes a proprietary technique for achieving the ultimate air chamber. It begins with select woods chosen for their unique acoustic attributes, milled to precise thickness with overlapping scarf joint seams, for a perfect air-tight fit. The wood plies are saturated with Pearl’s proprietary “AcoustiGlue” that permeates every pore and dries to the exact consistency of the wood for optimum resonance. Finally, the plies are formed in high-temperature molds with 1000 PSI of hydraulic pressure to produce perfect drum shells that exhibit superior tone, optimal resonance and extreme strength.