In the summer of last year, we took a trip to the headquarters of the MW-Vintage company, which is known to quite a number of drummers in Poland and Europe not only from beatit.tv publications and can boast an increasingly growing range of drum kits of a slightly older date. On a beautiful and sunny day, company owner, Mateusz Wysocki, opened his show room for us to set up several vintage sets “tap” on. Once again, Max Psuja, agreed to be the ’lab tester’. Max is 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.
We’re testing a Pearl DLX snare drum
2. Basic specs:
- Producer: Pearl
- Model: DLX
- Sizes: 14” x 6.5”
- Material: Birch 8ply
- Shell thickness: 1.2 mm
- Hoops: Die Cast, 10 tension rods
- Lugs: Coffin Style
- Snares: 20 strand, steel
- Heads: Remo Ambassador Coated / Ambassador Snare
- Finish: Walnut lacquer
3. Test and sound
When testing the 14″ x 6,5″ Pearl DLX snare drum, we also used a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute drum kit as well as Impression Cymbals:14″ hi hat, 16″ Hollister crash and 20″ Leon Collection ride.
Max kicked off with single strokes on the batter head and the rim, then, proceeded to play a few rudiments with the snares off, repeat the routine with the snares on only to finish off by playing the snare accompanied by the entire drum kit.
The 14″ x 6.5″ Pearl DLX is very interesting instrument. It has just the right crack and a wide range of dynamics. It responds to the softest notes and does not fatigue the ear with a long sustain. Snares sound great in every dynamic, even in mega-turbo-piano. The sound characteristics are warm, dark and massive.
Max Psuja: “Pearl DLX is a great snare drum, it reacts very well in every dynamic range. Surprisingly compact and focused sound, with not a lot of overtones. I think that his musical applications are in basically unlimited because with this level of sensitivity to articulations it can be used as an orchestral snare drum, but it also has an attack that can also work in rock music. “
Drummers and Drummerettes! It’s time to put the 14″ x 6.5″ Pearl DLX snare drum in Walnut finish to the most important test of all, i. e. the en.beatit.tv viewers’ test! Exclusively for you, we give you Max Psuja!
