In early June of last year, when we locked ourselves away at Perlazza Studio (based in Poznań, Poland), we tested quite a number of vintage drum kits and snares provided by Mateusz Wysocki and his MW-Vintage company, which (as the name suggests) specializes in vintage drums. We performed the test under the sonic supervision of musician, award-winning producer, studio owner and, most of all, a drum maniac, Przemysław Wejmann. To be more exact, it was drummer Max Psuja, who tested all the gear while the beatit.tv team recorded the video and the sound engineer/producer took care of the sonic side of things.
Max Psuja, as an utter vintage drum maniac, a former employee of a drum shop, and a great drummer, who has collaborated with a host of popular acts in Poland, such as Kumka Olik, Holak, Lilly Hates Roses or Yoachim, was perfect for the role of ’lab tester’. Needless to say, he was more than eager to do the job.
We have been publishing the results of our tests successively throughout the summer, and there’s lots more to come. Today…
We are testing a 90s Pearl Masters MHX Limited Edition drum kit
1. Product
Pearl Drums are Japanese power brokers in the global drum market. The company has been operating since 1946 and the brand needs no introduction among drum maniacs the world over. The drum kit that we tested is to this day the only serially produced set from this company made from African mahogany and maple.
2. Basic drum kit specification:
- Manufacturer: Pearl
- Model: Masters MHX
- Year of production: Mid 1990s
- Material: African Mahogany and Maple
- Configuration: 22” x 16” bass drum, 10″ x 10″, 12″ x 10″, 14″ x 12″, 16” x 14” toms
- Finish: Natural Mahogany
- Rims: Pearl Super Hoops
- 4 Pearl Unilock tom holders
3. Test and sound
When testing the Pearl Masters MHX drum kit, we also used a Sonor S-Class Maple snare, Impression cymbals, Aquarian heads (Response 2 Coated on the toms, Super Kick I Coated on the bass drum) and a Remo Ambassador on the snare.
Max first presented the sound of the kick drum produced by single strokes at different dynamics, then the kick drum together with the snare drum, each of the toms in isolation, only to finish off with a rhythm figure using all the kit elements as well as performing a groove.
The quality and sound of the Pearl MHX set is a kind of modern vintage classic. The toms are characterized by short sustain, they rather prefer to be played with higher dynamics. They have many overtones but they are not abrasive and there is some charm to all of this. The bass drum has a lot of click but it has little fleshy and fat bottom. The sound of this drum can be described as rather dry.
The drums are available for purchase at MW-Vinage Internet store under this link: http://mw-vintage.pl/pearl-perkusja-pearl-masters-mahogany-classic-22-10-12-14-16/
Drummers and Drummerettes! It’s time to put the 22″, 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″ Pearl Masters MHX Limited Edition drum kit to the most important test of all, i. e. the en.beatit.tv viewers’ test! Exclusively for you, we give you Max Psuja!
