Regarding that snare -

We all recognize that snare shell,but it is usually found in Chrome. I have never seen it in any other finish/color and it begs the question if it is stock or modified by an owner.

I am known as an MIJ specialist, but I have never seen anything like that - this one is new to me.

Well Stencil name aside that shell is most certainly from Pearl. Aside the color, the lugs and even badge seem to correlate. I'm gonna personally reach out and ask them if they ever did a run of bluish / grayish shelled snares. I've come across a few rare MIJ drums, where you step back and just scratch your head. This is one of those, but I would swear I've seen that finish before.

I went back to purchase it and somebody else picked it up.

Thanks for all of the feedback.

Ok, these are back in play and I did buy them yesterday. They will be shipped out today. Can't wait to hear the snare and the sound of the nine ply mahogany shells.

I had a Penncrest snare drum kit - with a silver cowbell and a cheap "cymbal" - that my folks bought for me around 1971 from the Penneys catalog. Penncrest was a Penneys brand that they put on lots of stuff - so it was an MIJ thing with their brand, just like Sears, Roebuck did. I got rid of that snare when I got a "real" Pearl kit around 1974.

Hey verminator, looking forward to your "review" of them. Were these at the Guitar Center Toledo? I grew up in the area and was back there not long ago and saw them in person. I was intrigued by the snare, but I already have too many MIJ kits, so I let them slide. Glad they ended up with a forum member!

I had a Penncrest snare in a blue onyx/agate type finish that my parents bought me in the early 80's that had been used by a local high school (not mine). The name of the high school's mascot was the Panthers, so there was a hand drawn panther paw logo on the batter head with the number 33, I guess for inventory purposes. I had that drum for many years. Wish I had kept it (and the head)!

I did receive the drums and must say that I am impressed. The thicker mahogany shells seem sturdy, decently cut and relatively in round. I love the mellow sound of mahogany. The wrap is underwhelming but does have kind of sparkle finish that you can see up close. I put a clear powerstroke 3 on the batter side bass drum and it has a great sound/tone. The toms sound very good but I have not changed out the heads. They currently have old coated ambassadors that should be replaced. Now, on to the snare drum. It sounds really, really good. The finish looks original to me, but I have nothing to go on since the badges are simply held in by what looks to be binder clips. The throw off works smoothly. The best way to describe the sound is this . . . it sounds like an acrolite but with a little more ass. The snares that came with it need to be replaced as they are bent and not hitting the resonant head symmetrically. All in all, for $150 I cannot go wrong.

They were from the Toledo store. Thanks