If you’re looking at this auction, I probably don’t have to tell you about how great these electronic drums are, or how they work. But for everyone else:

The DRX-1 and DRUM-X were two slightly different versions of Pearl’s entry into the electronic drum market in the 1980s. The kits came with five trigger pads consisting of a bass drum trigger and four snare/tom triggers; and an electronic brain controller module.

The brain has eight programmable “kits” that allow the user to save and access their settings by touching one button. Using the kit-selection buttons recalls the kits immediately and you can switch them while playing to change the sounds.

Each “kit” has the five trigger pads that can be modified through eight different parameters. To edit the sounds you select a pad, then the parameter and increase or decrease the value. The range is from 1-19 for all parameters.

The Parameters:

1. Pitch = the basic tune of the sound

2. Bend = the amount of pitch modulation (the pitch is also velocity-dependant. A heavy hit = more bend).

3. Mix OSC/Noise = here you can blend from OSC-only to Noise-Only

4. Overtone = adds some ring modulation sound to simulate the second drumhead of a tom.

5. Attack = Volume of Attack-Sound, makes the drum sound more defined and aggressive.

6. Filter = low pass for the Noise, also dampens the Attack-sound and even the Oscillator.

7. Decay = with high settings, the sound is very long, 808-like. With the shortest value, the decay is still quite long.

8. Level = Volume

The front panel has rotary knobs to control each trigger pad’s sensitivity, an on/off power switch, headphone jack, headphone volume, and input level. Also push buttons to switch the kits, select the pad, select the parameter, and increase/decrease the settings.

The rear panel has five separate trigger inputs and five separate trigger outputs. It has line input (L-R/mono) and mix output (L-R/mono), inputs for kit select and ext. trigger, and a switch to lock the kit settings.

You will need some sort of audio amplifier (not included) to hear the drums without headphones.

WHAT YOU WILL GET:

1980s Pearl Drum-X ALL ORIGINAL, ONE-OWNER complete set

Consists of: One bass drum trigger pad

Two bass drum legs

Four snare/tom trigger pads

Two snare/tom stands, each hold two pads

One brain/controller

Six matching connecting (patch) cables

Original factory boxes

Original owner’s manual

All of the chrome is still shiny with no pitting. The trigger shells are all in good shape. The playing sides of the snare/tom shells have strike marks on them which could possibly be cleaned off. The trigger pads are getting old and there is some flaking, but all have been tested and work perfectly. One pad has a 1.5 inch split in the rubber pad, but it still works well. There are no boxes for the tom stands – I don’t remember them coming with them.

The set needs a good cleaning.

I have done my best to honestly describe these items, but I must state they are sold AS IS!!!

I think my price of $450 plus shipping is very reasonable. One brain/controller alone sold for $200 on Ebay on Oct. 25, and there is one bass drum trigger recently up for sale for $125 asking price. You can get a complete set for only slightly more!