Introducing Reference One

The Best Elements from Both Reference Recipes.
Delivering the best features of Pearl’s original Reference and Reference Pure Series drums, Reference One is an uncompromised, total percussion instrument where every element combines to create a drum sound you’ve never experienced before.

The Reference One Experience.

The Reference One shell and hardware Recipe elevate the professional drum set experience with shells that are tuned to draw the best tones from of each drum. 8″ and 10″ shells are EvenPly-Six (5.4mm) Maple/Birch for more attack and higher pitch. The 12″ tom (the “Middle-C” in the Reference tom spectrum,) is all Maple for tonal center. 13″ and larger toms add Mahogany inner plies to lower pitch and add tonal depth. Floor Toms and Bass Drums are an 8-ply Mahogany/Maple fusion to maximize bass frequencies.

Pearl’s ReImagined High-End features the newly enhanced hybrid drum concept of Reference One series; refined for sonic purity to fit the most discerning environments and players. A true Pearl original with a fresh new vibe, Reference One features premium North American Maple, Birch, and African Mahogany shell plys, with each drum having a custom shell, edge, and thickness profile to best suit its place in the total drum set. Its expressive tone produces a wide tuning range enhanced bottom-end and smooth sonic push.

The Reference Recipe: Engineered to Produce Sonic Excellence.

The foundation of the Modern Hybrid Drum Concept | Reference One Series (RF1)

Pearl’s ReImagined High-End features the newly enhanced hybrid drum concept of Reference One series; refined for sonic purity to fit the most discerning environments and players. A true Pearl original with a fresh new vibe, Reference One features premium North American Maple, Birch, and African Mahogany shell plys, with each drum having a custom shell, edge, and thickness profile to best suit its place in the total drum set. Its expressive tone produces a wide tuning range enhanced bottom-end and smooth sonic push.

• SHELL – Maple, Birch, & Mahogany
• SNARE – EvenPly-Six Maple/Birch Matching – 13″x6.5, 14″x5″, 14″x6.5″, 14″x8″
• LUGS – Low Mass STL Single Swivel Lugs
• HOOPS – MasterCast Hoops
• TOM MOUNTS – R2 Air Tom Suspension System
• CHOICE OF TOM BRACKET – Pearl’s Traditional 7/8″ Pipe Receiver or 12.7mm L-Arm
• TOM ARMS – Choice of Pearl’s Traditional 7/8″ Pipe Holder or 12.7mm Solid L-Arm (Sold Separately)
• HEADS – Smooth White Coated Ambassador (Tom) – Powerstroke 3 Coated (Bass)
• HARDWARE – Chrome (Standard) – Black Chrome, Nickel, and Black Nickel (Special Order)
• INCLUDED ACCESSORY – Bass Drum Muffler (BDM-F)

SHELLS
INDIVIDUALLY ENGINEERED TO MAKE YOU SOUND (AND PLAY) BETTER.

Derived from the shell blends of the sonically optimized Reference Recipe, each Reference One drum shell is comprised of reduced thickness premium wood layers. The resulting EvenPly shells beautifully capture every nuance of your unrestrained drumming voice.

HARDWARE ELEMENTS FINE-TUNED FOR OPTIMUM DRUM PERFORMANCE.

Each Reference One tom shell is fitted with MasterCast Die-Cast hoops, the revolutionary R2 Air Tom Suspension System (with your choice of tom arm brackets,) and Pearl’s self-aligning STL swivel lug.

FINISHES – CHOOSE A FINISH THAT INSPIRES YOUR PLAYING PERSONALITY.

Reference One drums are available in two levels of finish choice to best suit your visual preference. Available in a host of historic Pearl finishes in Premium and Custom Finish Tiers, Pearl keeps an unprecedented number of configurable shell packs to give you the features you demand, on demand.

Premium Tier Finishes.

A host of universally flexible Solid, Transparent Gloss and Satin Lacquer finishes, each using our trademark 52-step lacquering process.