G'day Boora!

My hunch (based on lugs, tom mounting hardware, no re-rings in the shells and the wrap finish) is that those Pearls are late 60's/early 70's. I have a Astro kit (Pearl stencil) with the same "battleship" lugs and tom mounting rig. The snare obviously doesn't look to be the original matching drum.

My Astros are 6 ply with no re-rings. However, the wood is much lighter in color and a totally different texture and density than luan. The shells of my kit look like a low-grade maple or birch... much less dense and more porous, but definitely look like they could be from either family.

10 lug bass drum... NICE!!! Beautiful finish. Nice looking kit. Hope it works out for you. If you get a chance, PM Osakabop (Eric). He's really knowledgeable about this era of Pearl.

Cheers,

Ryan

Those drums are most likely a Pearl "Dyna Max" kit from 1969, with one extra tom added. This type of Tom mounts were introduced in 1969. And by 1970, Pearl had changed from this badge to the rectangular ones with the new logo.

If you look at the 1969 catalog at vintagedrumguide.com, http://www.vintagedrumguide.com/pearl_drumsets_1969.htm

you can find the Dyna Max kit with a 10 lug bass drum and one tom, mounted off center, just as on the kit you found. The bass drum also has a cymbal mount wich indicates that there, originally, only was one tom.

The only kit in the catalog with two toms, is the Thunder King outfit, however that bass drum only has eight lugs and the tom mount is in the center. Shells are most likely 6 ply luan shells.

/Johan M

thanks for the responses guys. the seller has removed the kit from ebay DOH

and i am spewing!

bummer! I have the same kit but with the later badges (I don't use the 13" tom). They are gool ol' Lauan (sp?) wood but can sound really good with some tender loving care. I use mine a lot and they are pretty robust. Keep your eyes open for another one - they are not super rare.

Fayray.

Wow! Your kit looks absolutely wonderful. Actually, those drums look brand new even though they are over forty years old. And you are absolutely right about the sound. Very underrated drums.

Your kit appears to be a "Thunder King outfit" from 1970.

That is exactly what I had as my first kit in 1971.

However, back then, my drums didn't sound good at all.....propably because I didn't know how to tune them.....or play them....:o

/Johan M

Thanks fayray, I had a feeling about the wood make up of the kit. Yours looks very nice and it's hard trying to come across reasonable priced vintage kits in Australia. I will have to persevere and I will get something eventually.

Yeah, i've heard that. There's not that many here in NZ either but I guess the competition amongst buyers is smaller too. For example this Star kit in Fantasia pearl sold here the other day on the main auction site, Trade Me, for $160NZ (or $125au). It was too far away for me but it was a good buy for someone.

Thanks Johan. I know the feeling. I had a similar set when I was young but it would have had old, worn out heads with all manner of tape stuck to it. And the playing would have matched the sound.

Yer there is just nothing around and if there is, the price is just so inflated. I have found some pearl president toms, 12, 13 and 16 ft on eBay. So fingers crossed again.