YES!!!! That is the real McCoy there buddy. That `s what it`s alll about. Gold OysterPearl

Is that your own kit? Looks like either a Thunderking or a DownBeat 72-74 around there- with that wrap earlier in that time line is likely. Valuable.Sumo Dudelove it

Hey Osa!

I don't own it.............but may. Yeah it is definitely seriously funky wrap and I can hear it and even smell the kit already! It smell good!!!!

That would be a nice aquisitionCool1

It would be a nice aquisition.

BTW- Thats a fairly impressive stable you got there!

Someone hit me with 1969 Pearl catalog a few years back and I really got the 69 bug! lol (no comment) I dig everything about the Pearl 69 line up- the hardware, the wraps, the total concept- It was before they began moving production out to Taiwan- so when a 69 comes up on auction I take it. One score I just got last week was a great 69 deluxe snare stand.

Couple quick questions: What year did Pearl move their operations to Taiwan? Was there some overlap where they were built in both places?

Also, O-bop, are those floor tom feet on that snare stand???

Hey there, not floor tom feet - this one is stock accurate - but they are really similar to floor tom feet. It`s an unusual design that gribs the snare from the sides of the drum and the curve of those legs look very unique to my eyes.

I would have to go back and check the Pearl website but basically they opened a plant to Taiwan in the early 1970s- like 72 if I remember correctly. But they always kept the production of some lines in Japan. I have a 75 Challenger snare that says made in Japan-[IMG]http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/th_PearlChallengersnare.jpg[/IMG] so even the lower level lines had some Japnese production. For me- the big break off on what I collect and don`t collect is when they shifted to that $%# ugly big pipe tom mount. DOH

I like the 69 deluxe snare stand. I have a number 800 hihat stand appears in the 1975 catalogues. They have "Made in Japan" under the footboard and tension adjustment. I'd like to know what year they arrived.

[html]For me- the big break off on what I collect and don`t collect is when they shifted to that $%# ugly big pipe tom mount. [/html]

@osakabop It's funny how things change. I purchased a Pearl kit with the ugly pipe tom mounts in 1992 (it was at least 10 years old then). It was what I considered at the time to be my first proper kit. It replaced an old 60's Pearl kit that I considered to be a learner kit.

To be fair, it may be ugly but the quality is very good (maple shells, made in Japan). I still own it and until about a year ago it was the only kit I had owned in all those years (I now have 5 - not sure what happened there). It has travelled a big chunk of the world in the back of tour vans, chucked around by baggage handlers and roadies and has recorded 3 albums. The hardware that came with it was mainly tama from the 80's and most of it is still going strong today. I still use the hihat stand and BD pedal as my main gigging stuff.

All that said, I am now back to using an old Pearl kit (about 71/72) as my main gigging kit. And i love it, especially the way it looks, although it sounds excellent too.

I mention this because I too find the newer design ugly now, but once upon a time I thought it looked cool. I suspect I'll find it cool looking again someday too. And I know I'll never sell it.