Anyone heard of Pearl D-20s? 1980s line?

[OsakaBop]

Any one heard of an 80s ( I think ) Pearl D-20 ? I bought this kit online for very cheap the other day- they should be arriving tomorrow. I have a feeling it`s a nice kit under the re-wrap. It`s listed as a 20x14, 12x8 and 14x14
Got it very cheap - thinking it might be a taxi kit- I just can`t take vintage stuff out unless it`s a private van or vehicle. The last taxi driver insisted on closing the lid of his trunk- jamming my 1969 Thunderking in there (luckily ok)Eye Ball
Here are some pics of what was listed as a D-20 (I checked the 1979, 1980 and 1983 catalogs and found no D-20) I am betting cash these will not be luan- I am think birch or maple- what do you guess? we`ll see tomorrow night when I remove the skins!
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/hanayoridango2002go-img600x450-1-2.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/hanayoridango2002go-img600x450-1-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/hanayoridango2002go-img600x450-1277.jpg

[gn86]

this is a job for the pearl forum..
the hardware looks very solid, good sign. 8 lugs per side on the bass drum, also a good sign.. BUT, metal hoops on the bd? Maple or birch kits usually have wood hoops on the bd.. But those could be replacements... I dont think they are luans either, but I wouldnt be surprised if they were. My guess would be that this is something similair to the world series.. like a mid-range kit, perhaps with mahogny-birch shells.

[OsakaBop]

GN86 thanks singerfor that reply- I checked out the Pearl Forums info. on World Series and DLX series drums in the mid 80s - those sound promising. That 14x14 ft has 8 lugs-around as well and looks like heavy duty legs/hardware. Looking forward to opening her up. One thing to note- the seller on my kit sid they were Pearl Super-hoops- that points it to being a DLX doesn`t it? I am now wondering if they aren`t just straight up fiberglass shells- the fiberglass shells of that period had metal bass drum hoops if I remember correctly.....

[jonnistix]

Well, they could have the same shells as my Astros. These are a mahog cores with either maple or birch inner. It looks to "white" to be birch though, to my eyes. You have a great kit, even if they are lauan, because those are the right sizes to make the jazz scene you like.

[OsakaBop]

Excited-Photos coming tonight! the drums arrived as I was running out the door to a rehearsal. When I got home it was late but I opened them up just to check them quickly and cackled with glee- wow.
They are freaking heavy duty, all Pearl Super Hoops on both 12 and 14 toms, the ft legs are monstrously heavy duty, all top grade hardware- even have lug locks. The front bass drum lugs are those 1980s "hinged" lugs that open up and let you take off the front head easily. The rear bass drum lugs are not hinged- (same design but not hinged for opening up) I think these metal bass hoops came with the kit- they have a similar design weight and feel( just my instinct ) Indeed they are 20x14, 12x8, 14x14. The shells look exactly as described for the World series- Birch/Mahogany/Mahogany/Birch/Lamina - from the number and colors of the plys I would say thats correct. I would love to find a catalog from the mid 80s (I have 79/80 and 83) Anyone got it or it`s location? This one is almost "vintage" I would say 25 years old- in a few it`ll qualifyWelcome
I got these for 180$ shipping incl. what a steal

[jonnistix]

The ft legs alone are worth 50 bucks...and the sizes, dude, this is a kit for punk jazz or what? Did they make this as a proto for Moonie? They could take his style of abuse, that is for certain!
I guess you found your new gigging kit, eh?

[OsakaBop]

Here are some simple pics from my mobile-
the interior lamina play is painted white on the tom and ft - looks like factory paint but the bass interior is black- again doesn`t look like a home job.
The hoops are really heavy giving the drums real weight. As I said the bass drum has lug locks. I am so interested in definitively ID ing this thing.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/Pearlbasslugscloseup.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/PearlbasslugsII.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/Pearlftinterior.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/PearlfullkitWS.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/luglocks.jpg

[gn86]

the "fast lugs" are a mystery, consider yourself lucky that those came along.. Those apeared on the pearl GLX series, a short-lived high-end kit with maple and fast-action lugs that should've made headchange fast and easy.. a smart idea but they were expenssive and once they break down it's hard to find replacements.. You could probably sell those for a pretty penny..

This doesn't look like a GLX though.. It looks more like a world series or something like that. nice find indeed!

[OsakaBop]

GN86, thanks for that information- that will move the search along. I am thinking now that the two toms could be one model (white interiors) and the bass drum another (black interior) - the rest of the aspects seem to match....Hmmmm

[MIKEY777]

Ok OsakaBop--What we have is a mystery set to me..I will go by drum,bass is the real mystery to me the leg's are mid-70s' to the 80's but the tom mount look's to be 1990's pearl started to used black plastic insert's on the tom mount's but the lug's are the biggest mystery to me the only thing i can think is someone added the "fast Lug's" to one side of the drum the black paint look's factory to me.The t-rod's look 1970's mid the claws look mid 1980's on...The mounted tom again tom mount look's 1990's black plastic insert..The floor tom lug's and mount's are mid 1970's[74] on to the mid 80's..I think the white paint in a home job it look's un-even to me maybe even black paint show's in spot's?? also the grommet's should be chrome on all the drum but they don't look like chrome and are the wrong size grommet's they should be smaller...So i'm thinking the set was put together and maybe a re-wrap have the edges been re-cut or do they look factory??.I would also remover a lug on each drum and see if it's a spring lug or a black rubber insert to hold lug nut in..If the lug's have the black rubber insert this would date the lug's in the mid 80's if sring it would date the lug's 70's....Mikey

[MIKEY777]

Oh, I forget to add i did check all the Pearl catalogs i have and No D-20's drum's are listed..maybe the D-20 was the bass drum size or catalog drum number??..Mikey

[OsakaBop]

I agree Mikey. I was saying that exact same thing to myself last night as I was putting new heads on. It is a big mystery to me even still though because- there are no extra holes on the whole kit except on the tom- it has 4 extra holes in a diamond pattern- so must of had a vintage type L-clip mount?
Also, the wood on all the drums- the plys (I lifted off the wrap) - that outer ply looks alot like birch to me (has a nice grain but not golden colored like maple), then two dark plys and then the laminate ply. Again, those four little holes in a diamond pattern are the only extras on the whole kit. If they put those hinged lugs on then they would have had to fit right in perfectly....hmmmm.
Then there is the 4 superhoops on top and bottom of the two toms....each drum is heavier than normal. Are you sure that you think this ft bracket is mid 70s? screams early 80s to me (just a note it says Pearl right on it) Mikey thanks for your help! keep it cominHelp2
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/6cb61bed.jpg
Also, the air vents on all these drums are huge- twice the size of the largest one I had ever seen before.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/2ad9f475.jpg

[MIKEY777]

I agree Mikey. I was saying that exact same thing to myself last night as I was putting new heads on. It is a big mystery to me even still though because- there are no extra holes on the whole kit except on the tom- it has 4 extra holes in a diamond pattern- so must of had a vintage type L-clip mount?
Also, the wood on all the drums- the plys (I lifted off the wrap) - that outer ply looks alot like birch to me (has a nice grain but not golden colored like maple), then two dark plys and then the laminate ply. Again, those four little holes in a diamond pattern are the only extras on the whole kit. If they put those hinged lugs on then they would have had to fit right in perfectly....hmmmm.
Then there is the 4 superhoops on top and bottom of the two toms....each drum is heavier than normal. Are you sure that you think this ft bracket is mid 70s? screams early 80s to me (just a note it says Pearl right on it) Mikey thanks for your help! keep it cominHelp2
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/6cb61bed.jpg
Also, the air vents on all these drums are huge- twice the size of the largest one I had ever seen before.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn87/Osakabop/2ad9f475.jpg
Osakabop--Yes with the photo of the floor tom bracket with the rubber backing piece that would date the mount from the 1980 on>the 70's mount's are one piece with the wing-t nut coming from the side of mount...Now another mystery is the mounted tom with the 4 hole's diamond pattern make's me think the tom is from the 70's made by Pearl but not sold under pearl's name..I can not recall any Pearl drum's that would have that mount in the 80s no catalog's that i know of show a diamond plate tom mount..Oh the photo of the grommet looks to be chrome 80's and the right size..Mikey

[OsakaBop]

Mikey - as always thanks!

I went into the bass drum and under the paint- very well filled and hidden are older lug holes, holes for a side rail mount and holes for telescopic bass drum spur rods. Honestly I looked and didn`t see them under the paint until I looked really carefully. Now, it gets so strange because - why would someone go to the extreme expense and effort of overhauling this drumset so completely?- the wood under wrap is very nice- I think the shells are great (I`ll remove the wrap a little and photo if I can-) And why did they install such major heavy weight hardware and Super-hoops all around, pro -level mounts and feet as well? The kit sounds as good as any I have ever played - rock solid drums. So the question, possibly never to be answered is- what were they??? Obviously they have all Pearl hardware now- but I am thinking those shells could have been just about anything. Not luan though- I may have to really get down to the shell construction to get my next clue. I`m completely pleased with them- they`re exactly what I wanted- but the effort, time and money to re-do them tells me they must have been very good drums originally......Hmmmm

[jonnistix]

As with Mike, I cannot find any diamond mounts for Pearl either. I was looking in the stencil cats and all I can find for the clips is a square with rounded top. The diamond plates are usually associated with Star stencils. So, this could be a mix and match. Some of the later Star used these as well, so you could heave a Star shell for one of the toms. Not saying it is 100% but I am looking atr all the 60s cats trying to find one and nothing in the 70s Pearl stencils either. I'm with O'bop....hhmmm.