The Presidents are Wood outer plies with a thick inner layer of fiberglass. The fiberglass is what makes them so heavy.

That plus they have 20 lugs that are stronger casing construction than regular Pearl. Then the hardware for the tom mounts. All adds up to some really great sounding/sturdy drums. My Pearl W/F won't replace the Slingerlands but a fun change of pace.

Creighton

How early was Pearl making fiberglass shells?

Hey Mike,

Think the run was 65 through 72 or so.

Creighton

Thanks Creighton!

The original mid 60's Presidents are not made of wood or fiberglass. They are made of phenolic. Phenolic is made out of resins (think epoxy) and fiberous materials, Pearl said that they were made out of plastic and epoxy. From the two cracked shells I've played with I'm not so sure they did not use some other things in there... possibly a cloth or paper layer on the inside and outside.

1966 was supposedly the first year for Presidents. The earliest set I've seen is the set member FloydZKing has. I have a kick and floor tom that are 67-68ish and then a couple other sets that are 69-71ish. About the same time they changed lug styles (73ish) they were putting "President" badges on sets that were fiberglass and wood fiberglass. I've only seen one of those sets and that was from a picture on the internet. The set was in Quebec (if I remember correctly.) I think the last year I saw that in catalogs was 1975... I think they used the phenolic in those vari-pitch roto toms with shells for a while after that. I have never seen a set of phenolics with the newer lugs. The first fiberglass are in the 1972 catalog.

Creighton, FYI: the 20" basses have 8 lugs while the 22s have 10.

No expert here. I just have a few sets and a set of fiberglass, too... spent a bit of time reading and looking for parts.

Hey tris66,

Was hoping you would chime in. Thanks.

Creighton