Pearl Modern Utility Snare Drums

94
| FEBRUARY 2018 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
GEAR REVIEW
U
t ility is a rather dismissive label,
but it’s honest. These no-frills
snare drums, in a selection of
popular sizes, give you multiple
options to add variety to your set-up without
over-stretching your pocket. In the Pearl
hierarchy Modern Utility sits above Export and
Effects drums (Firecracker, Piccolo, etc)
price-wise, and below the Sensitones.
Build
Where Pearl’s long-standing Sensitone ranges
offer exceptional fl exibility in wood and metal
shell drums for the upper-middle bracket,
these Utility snares neatly plug a gap in the
lower-priced market. Sensitones generally
have slightly superior hardware and shell
specs. And they boast 10 lugs where Utilities
have eight. The Modern Utility range adds yet
further options, but are accessible to those on
a tighter budget.
The size range (pictured here) covers
12"x7", 13"x5", 14"x5½", 14"x6½" and 14"x8".
All have Asian maple shells made up from six
‘even’ 0.9mm plies, totalling 5.4mm. Thin
shells, then, and as always with Pearl,
constructed via the proprietary Superior Shell
Technology (SST) method, with overlapping
scarf joints.
As likely add-ons the drums are offered in
just two relatively neutral lacquer fi nishes:
Black Ice or Matte Natural. The black is so
mirror-smooth it has the slightly disconcerting
look of plastic. A shame as it’s a class fi nish.
The natural drums display the wood’s pale
buff colour, although the Asian maple lacks a
standout grain.
The 8" deep drum has 16 single-ended
Classic CL bridge lugs while the four other
drums have double-ended CL lugs. There are
eight on the 14" and 13" drums and six on the
12" and they vary in length to correspond with
£203 This set of fi ve snare drums from
Pearl aims to extend your sonic range
without wrecking your bank balance
PEARL
MODERN UTILITY
SNARE DRUMS
WORDS: GEOFF NICHOLLS
1
NATAL ORIGINALS
MAPLE SNARE
DRUM
We say: “A bargain
drum with Natal’s three
position (off, on, looser)
Tri-Throw strainer and a
bright and open maple
shell tone that is
responsive and lively.”
2
SJC DRUMS
PATHFINDER
SNARE DRUM
We say: “ The Pathfi nder
represents a more
affordable,
student-friendly offering
from SJC, featuring a
7-ply agathis shell with a
cherry outer veneer. ”
shell depth, which is quite an investment on
Pearl’s behalf. The two shallower drums have
6cm lug cases while the two deeper drums
have 9.5cm cases, thus avoiding over-long
tension bolts.
Hoops are 1.6mm chromed steel
triple-fl anged and the throw-off is Pearl’s
utilitarian SR-700, accompanied by a cast butt
BRIDGE LUGS
Pearl’s Classic CL single-and
double-ended bridge lugs come
in several sizes appropriate to the
depth of each drum
ASIAN MAPLE
The monster 14"x8" maple shell drum takes
the prize as the most striking in this collection
with a decoratively streaked maple grain
end. It’s basic but it works, as do the steel
snare wires, with 16 strands on the 12" and 13"
drums and 20 strands on the 14" drums.
With the minimal lug count and extra-thin
Asian maple shells the drums are lightweight.
Many vintage drums are light like this and it’s
not a bad thing so long as the drums are
strongly constructed, which Pearl is at pains to
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RHY277.gear_pearl.indd 94 18/12/2017 18:23