The Reference Story

Pearl's all new Reference Pure proudly builds upon the legacy started by Pearl's original Reference Series Drums by using the exact shell composition formula, the same number and type of wood plies, and the same targeted task specific bearing edges to create a thin shell, highly resonant, lower mass version of the original.

To accomplish this, we start the process by choosing thinner plies of prized Maple, hand selected Birch and rare African Mahogany. While Reference drums use a rotating combination of both 1.6mm and .9mm wood plies in its shell construction, the all new Reference Pure uses only .9mm thick plies in its construction. The result is a thin, resonant, extremely vibrant yet powerful near-field experience for the player with the wonderful accentuation effects of Birch and African Mahogany placed exactly where they are needed most.

To maintain maximum resonance, Pearl's Reference Pure features our super low-mass elegantly designed STL Tube Lugs and our all new thin Fat Tone Hoops with our exclusive hemmed and welded edge resulting in a hoop that is both lightweight and extremely strong to further promote maximum resonance.

For those looking for a thin shell alternative to our legendary Reference Series drums, your wait is over.

Reference Pure. Pure Tone. Pure Resonance. Pure Perfection.

Birch

Birch is known for its strength and resilience. It provides a lively interior springboard for sound waves, which in turn creates a noticeable increase in the higher frequencies. This makes it the perfect interior for smaller tom-toms.

Maple

Maple offers a very wide dynamic range with extremely well balanced acoustic properties. Rich lustrous lows, with an even balance of mid tones and high frequencies have made this the all around accepted premium shell in the acoustic drum industry.

African Mahogany

African Mahogany is a relatively "soft" hardwood that offers a dramatic boost in lower frequencies. This predisposition for powerful lows makes it the logical choice for the interior of 13" and larger toms. All Reference Series bass drums utilize inner plies of Mahogany to produce a noticeably present bass response.

Reference Series drums use a combination of task specific bearing edges and 3 time proven woods: Birch, Maple, and African Mahogany.

Using Maple as a sole material has long been the traditional choice for shells and for good reason. Maple provides smooth, well-balanced tone that is perfect for a 12" tom. Subsequently, all Reference Series 12" toms are composed of 6 plies of Maple. The only single wood shell in the series. Our 10" and 8" toms receive 4 plies of Maple with 2 inner plies of Birch for cut and attack. And for maximum response, all 13" and smaller toms have a rounded 45° bearing edge.

Beginning with our 13" tom and larger, Mahogany is added to the inner plies to increase the lower frequencies and accentuate the warmth of the Maple. The 14" toms and larger begin using our fully rounded bearing edge for even more shell contact. Our 18" and 20" bass drums use 4 inner plies of Mahogany with 2 outer plies of Maple. As the size of the bass drums increase, so does the amount of Mahogany. Our 22" and 24" bass drums incorporate an amazing 6 inner plies of Mahogany surrounded by 2 outer plies of Maple for the ultimate in solid responsive bass frequencies.

Lower frequencies require greater energy to equal the projection of the higher frequencies, requiring the larger diameter drums to be thicker than the smaller drums. Reference drumsets feature two very different shell thicknesses: 6 plies on rack toms and 8 plies on bass drums and floor toms, for incredibly balanced sound. Reference Pure Snare Drums are constructed with a 6-ply shell allowing for ultimate resonance.

45° Bearing

The 45 degree bearing edge on Reference Pure snare shells brings all 6 plies into play by promoting a tightly focused shell contact area for extreme sensitivity and maximum volume. The six inner plies of Birch provide a resilient crack, which is balanced and warmed by the 14 outer plies of Maple. The ultimate balance of power, projection and resonance, Reference Snare Drums are unlike anything you have ever experienced.

Round 45° Bearing

The rounded 45 degree bearing edge featured on our 8" through 13" Toms offer cutting attack and projection, all balanced with a solid punch. This edge promotes a finely balanced interaction between the individual wood plies that allow the smaller toms to sing with amazing clarity, without premature delay. The journey of the energy from the head to the shell is given a much more direct path with the rounded edge.

Full Round Bearing

The fully rounded bearing edge provides the ultimate solid punch and resonance by raising the overall contact area of the head to the shell. This allows maximum kinetic energy transfer from the head to the shell, resulting in maximum shell resonance. This is the logic for using the fully rounded edge on 14" through 18" toms, for absolutely thunderous tom fills. Our 18" to 24" bass drums utilize also utilize this edge for a deep solid punch, creating sound pressure levels that are felt just as much as they are heard.