Here is my old set of Pearl drums, don't know the finish, but I get lots of compliments....would love to find a floor tom that matches for that double floor tom cool factor

BackBeat Keeper - THAT IS A WONDERFUL KITClapping Happy2

These is an absolutely wonderful and priceless kit. IMO

Thanks Osaka, I have the matching 6 lug snare, but I can't get it to sound good, so I use the good ol' 67 Supra. BTW, the kit is all original hardware on the drums, except for the cymbal mount. Sizes are 20, 12 and 14. Got it a few years ago with cases and some odds and ends for $200.00

The 6-lug snares from Pearl are tricky to get sounding good in a modern sense I think.

I have had the best results with oiling the lug bolts and using those plastic lug washers that are offered from the major drum companies. Those allow me to go a little bit more easily into a higher tuning- it`s a little more slippery and tunes up easier. I have gotten the best sound results with them using a simple Remo Ambassador batter head and Ambassador reso. Others not used to these drums might laugh and not understand but - these early Pearl 6-lug sanre drums have only [COLOR="Red"]one[/COLOR] tuning "TRUE" spot IMO. It`s a high and tight sound, basically tightened high on both the top and bottom. The internal muffler then gets tightened slightly touching the drum. That one spot seems to really work, and it`s records well too IMO. I have six 1960`s & early 70s Pearl and MIJ 6 lug snare drums and have spent very much time trying to tune them. I have about ten modern snares as well and the modern stuff is all much easier to tune. I play out often and I choose a 60s Pearl snare for two types of gigs- one is a 1960s R&B show- cranked high and tight and with that internal muffler cranked tight as well- it is really authentic sounding. The other is for a vocalist who plays small, small jazz clubs here doing R&B meets Jazz and reggae-- that dry, high and tight sound with no ringing is just what she likes. So basically, if I need to control my volume and have a tight sound- then I choose 6 lug luan.

I have a six lug 5x15 60sMIJ - the extra inch of diameter really opens up the drum - very different from the 6-lug 5x14. Imagine a great, open NewOrleans type snare (5x15)

90% of the time I play modern snares and vintage bass/toms like you.

Again, that`s a classic kit you haveCool1

Love this thread... Great vintage Pearls! I'll post pics of my 1966 President series when it's completed... My cousin bought it in Japan on his way back to the states after serving in Viet Nam...

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Just curious about a couple of things. These drums are painted gray on the inside, I had to repair the bass drum that had a ding and noticed that these are some kind of composite or pressboard? Secondly, just wondering if you had a date of approximate manufacture?

I sent you a PM reply to yours....

Hi All, The story about Mr.coopers inport drum business he started..This was told to me over the years of knowing him before he passed away...He had a drum shop he open back in 1950 called "cooper drums" in garden grove,ca..He sold all the big name drums ludwig,rogers ,ete,ete..So in 1960 he was looking to make more money,and came up with what about inporting drums from japan,up to this point no one was doing this..So he talk to Pearl about making drums for him and selling "pearl sets in the u.s.a. but not under Pearls name,they did the deal and the drum inporting started...The first sets Mr. Cooper only sold in his store the name he used was "MINDY" name after is first granddarghter,these badges were simple sticker type they were recteangle in shape with silver backing and mindy in black letters,sets were 3pc,4pc,5pc with cymbals only colors were red,blue,gold,silver speickle finish.He sold these for about 1 year under that name sells were very good so he order more sets in 1961 he change the name to "COOPER" these badges again were simple stickers that were oval in shape silver backing with cooper in black letters..In 1962[mid] he ordered more sets but wanted to sell them across the U.S.A.he said he added pearl finish[w.m.p.--b.d.p.--pink d.p.]and change the name again to "Tempest" change the badge to a oval made of brass-[slingerland copy]-painted black with tempest in gold letters badge also had "de-luxe" under the tempest name at bottom of badge again sold these sets across the U.S.A.--By late 1964 Pearl wanted to export pearl sets under the Pearls name thats when Pearl drums became inports to the U.S.A,but still made sets for Mr.Cooper to sell under the Tempest name Mr.cooper told me by 1966 Pearl was flooding the market with the sets they made,they were useing Pearl and about 75 other names..Pearl still made the Tempest sets for Mr. Cooper but also wanted him to order more sets so in late 1966 Mr.cooper came out with another name of drums"stagemaster" also still useing Tempest these badges were stickers somewhat oval is shape letters and around the badge was gold the backing color was an off-white..By late 1968 or the first part of 1969 Mr. cooper stop useing Tempest and Stagemaster as names to sell the drums he was selling and stated to sell "AMERICAN CUSTOM" drums also made by Pearl...More on "AMERICAN CUSTOM" drums next time...Mikey----P.S. Mr.Cooper give me all the badges i talked about i think iam going to email David a photo of these maybe he could post them here or maybe one of you guys can>>>

It's cool when we get the real history of how it started. I thnk I will get in touch you Mikey and put together a complete timeline and se if we can come up with a sticky. Tahnks !!! I will PM over the Holidays and we'll put his in a nice format and repost it. Walking