Pearl Taiwan

Hey all,

Yesterday, I saw (for the first time!) a Pearl Masters Studio kit in a music shop I just happened to be passing by. It was a lovely looking kit in all respects and, to be perfectly honest, I didn't hear or play it (well, there was a Sold sticker on it!), but I was mildly surprised when I inspected the brass badges and discovered that the kits are made in Taiwan. Now, I don't know where I was expecting them to be made, but I did not expect Taiwan. After all, Taiwan has become a bit of a by-word for shonky, el-cheapo junk. I'm not saying that Pearl is junk, just that I expected their top-line stuff to come from somewhere else. What do all you guys and girls think about top-line stuff coming from Taiwan? Is it as 'good' as the stuff made elsewhere? Or better? Worse?

Cheers, Jayse.

Taiwan's become a good address for making musical instruments, a lot of the Japanese companies outsourced there in the mid-80's because Japanese salaries skyrocketed. The gear made there is normally medium to high quality stuff, the cheaper gear frequently being made in Korea. I think the most famous name in Taiwanese drums is Mapex. A lot of companies manufactured their stuff at the Taye factories. It's generally nothing to be worried about, Taiwan has very high quality standards, what's made there is most times the same quality level as Japanese gear, which is probably as high as it gets.

I wouldn't worry about it. My Prestige Session series have the made in Taiwan badge too and believe me, these are well made, great sounding tubs! I think it's like my Stratocaster - all American parts, but assembled in Mexico where the labor is a lot cheaper. In article

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Jayse, keep in mind that Pearl is a family-run business....Has been for as long as they have been around. The owners are Japanese and take a lot of pride in their product. They rotate their positions every couple of years to ensure quality is of the utmost highest. They even start family members in the warehouse in Nashville...Tak, who is now a bigshot at Pearl in Nashville, started in the warehouse pulling orders....Outsourcing to cheaper labor doesn't always mean crap stuff will be produced.

You all missed the most important part..Pearl pays no export taxes from Taiwan .

Aah...Good Point!

Worse?

Practically all drum hardware is manufactured in a just couple of factories on Taiwan (God help us if those factories every burn down!). I think the really cheapo stuff is made in Indonesia, China or Korea. I use Taiwanese Gibraltar 9500 series heavy hardware and it is very well made stuff.

As has been stated, I think it is more a matter of economics for the manufacturers in our global economy. Still, for some reason, it does seem a bit depressing to see a professional Pearl kit or a venerable American brand like Ludwig (on their Accent and Rocker models, as well as hardware) carrying the 'Made in Taiwan' label.

Joe Lampinen Weekend Warrior Drummer www.gearsongs.com

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when i was a wee lad; 'made in japan' was the joke...now their electonics and autos seem to be among the best...location of the factory shouldn't matter a great deal......jmt

The Pearl series sold in Japan are made in Japan, the sets that are sold elsewhere in the world are exported from Taiwan.

I'm an old-timer . . . I owned a Pearl kit back in the mid-60s . . . The set was a perfect imitation of Ludwig (except for the price.).

Now, in 2000 . . . I hear that the NEW Ludwigs (and Slingerlands) are being made in Taiwan by Pearl. Does anyone know for sure if this is true?

If it is . . . I'd call it a strange twist of fate. Hmmmmm . . . those people at Pearl are pretty slick! Maybe we need to give them credit.

Bill P

I REALLY doubt that Ludwig's top of the line (and I use that term loosely) is made in Japan. Although it might be an improvement. Ok, I'll stop ragging on Ludwig. Almost every drum maker's low end line are made in Asia.