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Early 80's Pearl US Maple

Posts: 109 Threads: 10

Hello,

I don't post a lot on these forums, but have a new project that I need some help with.

I had been looking for a project kit for awhile and picked up an early 80's Pearl US Maple kit for pretty good price. It's fairly complete although pretty grungy, but is missing 2 bass drum claws and tension rods. The rods are easily available being that they are keyed rods, but I can't locate the claws to match. It doesn't help that I'm more knowledgeable of 60's - 70's US drums (Slingerland, Ludwig, Gretsch).

Also, it has the tom arms that are adjusted with a key, not the ones that were on my old Export kit that I had in the 80's. The ones on it probably aren't even salvageable, they are pretty gross, so tooling for a nice pair of these also. Does anyone know what the model number would have been for the tom arms?

Question #3 would be, has anyone removed the badges from one of these or a similar Pearl, where the badge is tacked onto the shell with 4 little nails? I would like to here how you did it so I don't damage mine.

From what I have gathered, these were made in Nashville, using Keller 8-ply shells, in around 81 - 83, but not sure what year. I also believe they were Pearl's top of the line at the time. They are wrapped in gloss black that is cracked all over on all of the drums. I had picked up some titanium sparkle wrap from Precision Drums a couple of years ago, so that's what I'll use on these.

Oh, by the way, they are 9X13, 10X14, 16X16, & 16X24. It should be fun bringing these back to life.

Steve

Posted on 6 years ago
#1
Posts: 1880 Threads: 292

I'm sure Pearl guys will chime on this to give their advice, but i do know that there are Gibraltar generic claws that look very similar to the Pearl claws from that era. Your local drum shop may have some lying around, or you can just order online. If your claws look like this, then you should be good with these Gibraltar ones, just like in the pic..

You can always install them on the batter side at the bottom so they aren't visible. Hope this helps !

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Posted on 6 years ago
#2
Posts: 109 Threads: 10

Update:

Located tom arms, should be here in about a week.

I saw those Gibraltar claws. I may just replace all of mine and keep the originals in a safe place.

Now for badge removal.

Thanks,

Steve

Posted on 6 years ago
#3
Posts: 948 Threads: 48

Hello sksmith2500

on the badges

from the inside of the drum feel around carefully

to see if the points of the nails protrude slightly from the wood

as most times they do

If so, position the head of a small hammer or something solid and push on each point

do not tap just apply a nice firm pressure outward

This now should raise the nail heads slightly above the surface of the badge

now take some needle nose pliers and pull each nail straight out

if the badges are also glued to the shell?

take some dental floss and use a careful sawing motion, between the badge and the shell, to break that glue bond ......Good luck

Posted on 6 years ago
#4
Posts: 109 Threads: 10

Kenwood, thanks for the advise. I'll go grab a drum key and take a look shortly.

Funny thing is the mounted toms each have 2 badges. I need to look and see if they both have serial numbers.

Thanks,

Steve

Posted on 6 years ago
#5
Posts: 109 Threads: 10

Unfortunately, the nail heads don't protrude.

I'll just have to be really careful removing them. I'll try a putty knife to avoid doing any damage. I'll use screws & nuts/washers to reattach the badges, like the later Pearl Masters use. Trying to re-tack them in the correct location would be next to impossible with new sparkle cover.

I'm also going to remove the mounting hardware, get some ISS mounts, and hang the toms from stands. I'll probably fill the mounting holes with dowels, undecided on that.

Posted on 6 years ago
#6
Posts: 109 Threads: 10

Posted on the Pearl Drummers forum also, but thought I would share here as well.

Bass with the original gloss black. You can see how bad of shape the coating is in this pic. The rest were similar.

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/2pgAZAc.jpg[/IMG]

Close up of the badge on the bass.

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/C4XYOkh.jpg[/IMG]

The toms unwrapped. There is some staining on the floor tom, probably sat in a damp basement at some point.

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/OpV5SOV.jpg[/IMG]

Some of the lugs and the floor tom Super Hoop cleaned with Barkeeper's Friend.

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/ICpuWJn.jpg[/IMG]

And a close-up of the titanium sparkle wrap that I'll be using.

[IMG]https://i.imgur.com/ElWlY7x.jpg[/IMG]

Posted on 6 years ago
#7
Posts: 109 Threads: 10

Finished the floor tom last night.

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Posted on 6 years ago
#8
Posts: 878 Threads: 190

From sksmith2500

Finished the floor tom last night.

Looking very cool!

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Posted on 6 years ago
#9
Posts: 109 Threads: 10

Does anyone know where I can get small black screws to replace the little tacks for the badges?

Or, does anyone what size I should look for?

I've tried Lowe's & Ace Hardware, nothing I can find is small enough.

Thanks,

Steve

Posted on 6 years ago
#10
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