Pearl Masterworks
Since 1999, Pearl’s hand-crafted Masterworks drums have given the professional drummer the tools to make a totally custom statement with new heights of perfection.
The Masterworks Philosophy – It’s simple: let the drummer call the shots on the construction, sound, look, and feel of the kit. Truly custom options, from shell composition and thickness, to hardware selection and finish, even bearing edges and a virtually endless pallet of custom finishes. All selected by and built for you by the most elite craftsmen in the drum world.
Pearl Masterworks
{youtube}0au_-h0X3vQ{/youtube}
Since 1999, Pearl’s hand-crafted Masterworks drums have given the professional drummer the tools to make a totally custom statement with new heights of perfection.
The Masterworks Philosophy – It’s simple: let the drummer call the shots on the construction, sound, look, and feel of the kit. Truly custom options, from shell composition and thickness, to hardware selection and finish, even bearing edges and a virtually endless pallet of custom finishes. All selected by and built for you by the most elite craftsmen in the drum world.
For the ultimate personal and performance statement, Masterworks puts you in control.
NEW FOR 2016!
Choice of Fiberglass inner-ply in Masterworks shells
Nickel Drum Hardware is now available
New Masterworks snare sizes: 15×5, 15×5.5, 15×6.5
WOOD CHOICES
For a totally personal sonic signature, of perfection. Masterworks has more options for shell composition than any other custom drum builder; making each drum a truly unique work of art.
WOOD CHARACTERISTICS
Maple
The perfect blend of tone, attack, and body.
• Ideal for general purpose applications.
• Equal tonal amounts of hi-end attack, mid-range body, and low-end punch.
• North American hardwood with rich, even grain.
Birch
The precision choice for high-volume cut and power.
• Premium “white” wood with marbled, subdued grain.
• Boosted hi-end and mellow midrange excellent for stage and studio.
• “Built-in EQ” delivers articulate stroke with shorter, even decay.
African Mahogany
Deep, powerful punch with dark, elegant tone.
• Boosted bottom-end perfect for controlled rooms/studios.
• Rich low-end warmth with beautifully smooth midrange sustain and hi-end roll-off.
• Porous African wood with rich, dark texture and grain.Composite
Composite Shell
The Ultimate Hybrid.
• Combine wood types to sonically blend the characteristics of each material
• Each cross-laminated two-ply panel is hand-selected for proper density, grain consistency, and color.
• Maple/Birch ideal for outer plies for ease of finishing, while inner Mahogany plies boost bass.
SST – 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.
SHELL THICKNESS
Masterworks allows you to further tailor your drum tone by selecting the thickness of each shell.
Thin Shell
(4-ply, 5mm w/ 4-ply Reinforcement Rings)
Great resonance and sustain with top-end “spike.” Maximum tonal note for the near-field environment.
Medium Shell
(6-ply, 7.5mm)
Exceptional for generalpurpose play. Excellent projection with full-bodied
Thick Shell
(8-ply, 10mm and 10-ply, 12.5mm)
Maximum cut and projection with subdued sustain.
BEARING EDGE
Nothing influences a drum’s overall response more than the bearing edge. That’s why Masterworks gives you three bearing edges from which to choose, and with our new hybrid option, allowing you to mix edge types on batter and resonant side of the same drum.
45 Degrees
Provides the perfect blend of attack and warmth.
Rounded 45
Boosts mid to high frequencies as a result of greater head-to-shell contact.
Fully Round
Provides maximum head-to-shell contact for the greatest boost in mid to low range frequencies.
DRUM HARDWARE
The Perfect Compliment to a Great Set of Drums
The same tireless pursuit of perfection that goes into our legendary drums is found in our drum hardware. With Masterworks, you get to choose which hoops (Die-Cast, Fat Tone, or SuperHoop II), lugs (STL Swivel Tube, TB Tube, BRL Bridge or Bridge-Style), and mounting brackets (I.S.S.-SuperHoop II only, Aluminum OptiMount, or Optimount) go on your custom drums. Finally, your drum hardware can be plated with Chrome, Black Chrome or Gold to make your drums truly unique.
HARDWARE COLOR OPTIONS
Color Options
All Masterworks Series drums are available in your choice of Chrome, Nickel, Gold, or Black Chrome plated drum hardware finishes to make your kit as unique as you are.
GOLDEN RATIO FOR AIR VENTS
The Golden Ratio, also known as the Golden Section, Golden Mean, Golden Rectangle, and the Divine Proportion, has fascinated mathematicians since the time of the Pharaohs. It is a mathematical constant (1.61803) that is found repeatedly in nature and has been used by artisans for generations to create art and structure with pleasing proportions.
Golden Ratio
Stradivarius applied the Golden Ratio to define the location of the “f-holes” and proportions of his masterwork violins. The exterior dimensions of the Parthenon are said to form a perfect Golden Rectangle. The proportions found in Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” follow the Golden Ratio. Intrigued by this, our engineers asked if the Golden Ratio was applicable to drums and more specifically to the location of the air vents. For every drum depth there is an upper and lower Golden Ratio location, and testing revealed that the upper location noticably improves attack, which is perfect for snare drums, while the lower position improves low frequency response, ideal for toms and bass drums. Pearl’s revolutionary new Golden Ratio air vents are so unique they’re patent pending.
Experience the sound of Golden Ratio air vents, centuries in the making, exclusively on Masterworks Series drums.
HOOP DESIGN
MasterCast Die-Cast Hoop
MasterCast are the finest die cast hoops available and feature the perfect blend of thickness and mass to improve the depth, clarity, and focus of toms and snare drums.
Super Hoop II
SuperHoop II hoops are precision formed from heavy-duty 2.3mm steel, triple-flanged and engraved with the SuperHoop II logo.
LUG DESIGN
BRL Lugs
Pearl’s revolutionary BRL lugs assure the ultimate in head seating and tuning integrity. The unique swivel function allows the tension rods to align perfectly into the lugs so there’s no lateral pressure against the hoops, thus assuring maximum resonance and sustain.
Bridge Lugs
Bridge style lugs and floor tom brackets provide maximum resonance with minimal shell contact.
STL Swivel Tube Lugs
Pearl’s revolutionary swivel tube lugs assure perfect rod to lug alignment for optimal seating and precision tuning.
FINISHES YOU CAN DO ANYTHING
Masterworks drums are very different than what other drum companies claim to be “custom” drums. There are no pre-fabricated shells on a shelf waiting to be painted with a “custom” paint job. Masterworks gives you every option, from shell composition, shell thickness, bearing edge, drum hardware, and of course, an infinite amount of finish possibilities. You will find Fades, Sunbursts, Grain-Thru Mists, Opaque Colors, Marbelized Finishes, Satin Oil Burnishes and our Exotic Artisan Exterior Ply Finishes to help you choose a color and style that’s right for you.
If you have a certain color or fabric that you want your drums to match, send us the fabric or color swatch and we will match it, giving your drums a truly one-of-a-kind construction inside and out. Masterworks: A Drummer’s Dream Come True.
