Pearl Eliminator Redline

92
| SUMMER 2016 WWW.MUSICRADAR.COM/RHYTHM
GEAR REVIEW
P
earl’s famous Eliminator pedals
have become a popular choice
among professional and amateur
drummer alike in the 15-plus
years since their inception. This popularity
can be put down to their trusted reliability
and the sheer scope of customisation
available. The new Eliminator Redline aims
to take this to the next level.
Build
Aesthetically, the pedal doesn’t stray far
from the previous versions. The footboard
and heel plate are fi nished with a brushed
steel while the proprietary customisable grip
plate is a darker grey. The removable and
interchangeable rubber disks in the grip
plate are now red instead of black which
matches the gratuitous go-faster stripe down
the centre. Other original Eliminator features
include the patented interchangeable cams
(the pedal comes with four but two others
are available) and the ‘Powershifter’ function
which allows the entire footboard to be
moved up and down on the base. Shiny new
additions include Control Core Quad beaters
(two felt sides and two plastic), Click-Lock
Spring Adjustment and NiNja precision axle
bearings. The latter are established
skateboard bearings, already used in Pearl’s
fl agship Demon Drive pedals. According to
Pearl, this new functionality allows the
Redline to perform 85 percent better than its
predecessor in velocity testing.
The Redline is available as a chain or
belt-drive option, both as single or double
versions with conversion kits also available.
For review we have taken receipt of the
chain-driven double model.
Hands On
Despite the almost infi nite scope for
customisation, the Redline performed well
straight out of the box. Readily equipped
with the ‘linear’ round cam (black), the
pedals felt solid and responsive in a
medium-tight spring tension. Quickly
exchanged for the ‘radical progressive’
£ 3 6 9 Pearl claims to have red-lined its famous
Eliminator’s performance with a plethora of upgrades
PEARL
ELIMINATOR
REDLINE
WORDS: TOM BRADLEY
red cam, the amount of energy needed for a
convincing stroke was greatly reduced. Great
for speedy doubles.
With so many set-up options available it
can take a long while to work your way
through each variation and choose a
preference. With almost every component
movable or changeable they can easily
contradict each other. The bottom line is
though, for those willing to tinker away the
hours fi nding their perfect set-up, there
really is a pedal for everyone in the Pearl
Eliminator Redline.
PRICE
Single, £176; Double,
£369; Conversion Kit,
£276; left foot version
available
DRIVE TYPE
Chain or Belt
BASEPLATE
MATERIAL
Steel
BEATER
Control Core Quad
Beaters
CASE
Included except
conversion kit
CONTACT
Pearl Drums
pearleurope.com
Essential spec
VERDICT: Arguably one of the best
pedals on the mass market, Pearl’s
engineers have considered every
single aspect in order to make the
Redline customisable to a frankly
ludicrous level.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
BEATERS
Control Core Quad beaters
have two felt sides and two
plastic sides for sonic options
INTERCHANGEABLE CAMS
Four different cam types
are included but a total
of six are available
RHY258.gear_pearl.indd 92 7/18/16 10:37 AM