Pearl Masterworks tour 2021 version

After almost 7 years I figured I'd give the latest update on the kit and what all I have. Now that I've got the ATEM Mini Pro ISO that you'll see in this, I'll be able to crank out alot more videos alot more frequently.
If you liked this video, please like, comment, share & subscribe!
~Jeff Wald~
Masterworks specs:
The kit is basically in Pearl Reference Specs except all have at least 2 plies of mahogany on the inside (which is stained red) and adding 4 plies w/ the floor and even more mahogany with the Gong & kicks. The rest of the plies in each are maple except for the snare.
We named the finish Red Bubinga Burst. I had them darken 25% of each drum to the edge. The gong is 40% fade only on the head side b/c its single headed. The only regret is that on the smaller drums you really can’t tell b/c I didn’t think about the rims covering the edges. Oh well, still looks amazing in person.
Snare (Mic’d with Audix i5)
14x5.75". 10 ply, 12.5mm "Regular" - 2 inner Birch, 7 ply Maple in the middle, 1 ply outer Bubinga. It also has the triple snare throw off. This thing looks amazing and lets you choose 3 different 6 strand snares allowing you to mix and match all of them. However, I've been using a 24 strand one from another Pearl snare for years.
Toms (Mic’d with Audix D2)
6x7" Rack Tom - 6 ply, 7.5mm "Regular"; 2 inner Mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
8x7.25" Rack Tom - 6 ply, 7.5mm "Regular"; 2 inner Mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
10x7.75" Rack Tom - 8 ply, 7.2mm "Thin"; 2 inner Mahogany, 5 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
12X8.5" Rack Tom - 8 ply, 7.2mm "Thin"; 2 inner Mahogany, 5 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
13x9.5" Rack Tom on left - 6 ply, 7.5mm "Regular"; 2 inner mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
Floor Toms (Mic’d with Audix D4)
14x13" Floor Tom - 8 ply, 10mm "Regular"; 4 inner Mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
16x15" Floor Tom - 8 ply, 10mm "Regular"; 4 inner Mahogany, 3 ply Maple in the middle, 1 outer Bubinga; Edge is Rounded 45 degree
Gong Drum (Mic’d with Audix D6)
20x15"- 8 ply, 10mm "Regular"; 7 ply Mahogany, 1 ply Bubinga on the outside. Fully Rounded Edge. Finish is a fade from the head down instead of the burst like the rest b/c of it being single headed
Kick Drums (Mic’d with Audix D6s)
22x17 kicks. 10 ply, 12.5mm "Regular"; 6 inner are Mahogany - BOOM!! The middle 3 plies are Maple and the outside Bubinga.
Overheads (Mic’d with two Audix SCX-25A)
Cymbals from left to right:
17” Sabian Xtreme China regular finish
10” Zildjian K Splash
14” Hi-Hats: K Custom Session (Steve Gadd model)
19” Zildjian K Dark Crash
20” K Custom Session Ride (Steve Gadd model)
14” Zildjian Mastersound as second hi-hat
18” Zildjian A Custom Crash

[@FONO63]

One of the greatest Pearl Drumsets around! Love the look, the sizes and the inside finish of the shells! Pearl should start to do that again.

[@JeffWald]

Thanx! It never gets old, pulling the sheets off or listening to a playback

[@B16Dougie]

Beautiful buddy. Always loved seeing this kit on PDF and love watching the videos. I've got a Masterworks on its way too me now. Ordered in May and waiting on it any day now. Super excited. Maple mahogany blends, custom artisan finish etc.

[@JeffWald]

Very nice! Be sure to post some vids of it and let me know. I haven't been on PDF in awhile, no particular reason.

[@Sundaydrumday]

Love watching this video, this drumset is one of my favorite, what an absolute blast it must be to play

[@JeffWald]

Thanx man! It is fun, never gets old. I'm getting anxious to get it set up in the new studio!

[@HoldenMcG]

Nice rig Jeff... Thanks for the run down. You're giving me that X-mas kinda feel... you know, where I just can't wait for the new content!

[@JeffWald]

I'm working on it brother! I'm gonna start doing some instructional type ones after I do a few covers.

[@nunjabusiness9424]

Just found your channel and I have to say I am really impressed! Your property look amazing, the drum room is the bomb and your kit is one of the most beautiful, aesthetically set of drums I have ever seen! Being from "Hellinois" we look in Tennessee for a home with a bit of land, but everywhere we looked, they only had satellite for internet. How did you luck out and find Fiber? Keep the drum vids coming! Please cover YYZ snare fills from about 36 seconds in to 42 seconds.

[@JeffWald]

Hey brother, my wife is a realor (top in her office) so if you'e looking to buy, hit me up diredtly , I'll connect you. But afa the other questions, fiber was just installed 3 mos ago by the electric company, very cool. That's "the thing" right now, elelctrc company doing it but hey, it works!

[@BobbyJetty1502]

My Lord what a lucky man you are. That is a beautiful drum kit, not to mention you have A beautiful selection of snares as well. As soon as you pulled the sheet away that song popped in my head “ ooh what a lucky man he was “ or is in your situation. Best of luck to you and all your future endeavors brother

[@JeffWald]

Thanx Bobby! It definitely did not happen overnight, I prefer "blessed". :). I like that phrase, "The harder I worked, the luckier I got". All this came together just in the last 7 years but it took awhile. Heck, I still remember as a teen playing with a knockoff of Sony Walkman headphones and a Realistic Radio Shack tape recorder so I could record myself. Thanx for checking it out!

[@BobbyJetty1502]

@@JeffWald Blessed is the word. At 48 I’ve been there and done that born and raised here in San Diego California, I’ve been blessed to have a career in professional surfing and as a musician simultaneously. I remember those days of using a karaoke machine in 1988 it had dual cassettes so you could bounce tracks back-and-forth from one type to another, oh what a lucky man I was and I am

[@JeffWald]

@@BobbyJetty1502 man, we didn't know how bad we had it back in the 80s compared to this stuff we have now but we made it work! I loved my dual tape deck that I used and took to Berklee. Recorded many tapes back in the day with that thing :)

[@synthguy7774]

Your kit was made for the gods. People like you make me proud to be a pearl guy myself.

[@JeffWald]

Right on, Synth Guy - much appreciated and glad you're a Pearl guy as well!

[@pcbw75]

What a set up you have there Jeff! Bad ass!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@JeffWald]

Glad you dug it, Pete!

[@christiancea6]

Great video and insight on your kit. The color is great and the gold hardware really makes everything pop.

[@JeffWald]

Thanx Christian! After 7 years I have no regrets

[@christiancea6]

@@JeffWald I have had them all except a Masterworks kit. The red with the gold is awesome. Looking forward to the mini La Studio lol

[@vincentsimon4037]

BTW. Awesome studio!!!

[@stanleynich]

Great to have Drummer friends got few set of heads and a couple splashes from Jim

[@JeffWald]

Yes indeed! He's hooked me up a few times

[@jcdrums2798]

a dream tour Jeff!...thanks for that and respect.

[@JeffWald]

Thanx JC!~

[@dannylugojr3428]

Very cool drum set and gear. Thanks for sharing

[@JeffWald]

You bet!

[@paistefever]

Fantastic kit! One of absolute best companies out there!

[@JeffWald]

Yes they are! And a great bunch of guys in the Nashville HQ

[@toddneilmacintyre]

Great studio brutha.

[@JeffWald]

Thanx Todd!

[@apieceofdirt4681]

Absolutely beautiful. That 6” tom and of course the gong drum are quite unique for sure. I’m still waiting on a solo with just those 2 drums haha. I don’t know why most drum manufacturers have quit making 6” drums. Back in the 90’s when I bought my Super Classic Ludwigs I had to pay Ludwig a small fortune to have them make me a 5 1/2 x 6” and a 5 1/2 x 8" tom because I just had to have Neil’s RTB’s drum kit. I drove about an hour to Monroe NC to pick them up and I can remember the excitement. You definitely have one heck of a great sounding and looking kit. I just watched your “I will remember” Toto video through my home theater and it sounds KILLER!! Your technique…………..I don’t think you realize just how good you are my friend. It’s just a great video. I’ve been wanting to post videos myself but I’m too ugly lol. Love your videos bro!

[@JeffWald]

Thanx for all the kind words my friend! Yeah, the 6" is a rare thing and from what I've head, Pearl will only do it as a MW. Its fun as you know, its just that something above the rest when you want it. Kind of like.... it goes to 11!! haha.

[@JonneDrums]

Awesome kit

[@evensteven8129]

thanks for posting! Great video, gorgeous set. 🔥

[@JeffWald]

You bet, Even! 😅. (love that screen name)

[@davidwilcox9944]

Gorgeous kit!

[@billbradleymusic]

Pretty fancy

[@ASpoonfulOfJimmy]

Just found your channel, but your kit gives real Todd Sucherman vibes. The sizes, colors, and even the Masterworks series are all very similar to what Todd plays!

[@JeffWald]

Thanx for checking it out, James! There's definitely some similarities with Todd, and I've mentioned this elsewhere, but the funny thing is that he really hasn't any stylistic influences/approaches on me. What I mean is that I saw him in 2000 with Styx and he was playing everything that I wanted to hear/would play if it was me. I was intrigued on who this guy was. A few years later I learned some more about him and then discovered that we're a year apart, we have MANY of the same drummer influences (Steve Smith), we both went to Berklee (although he was there in 87 and I didn't arrive til 88.) But we took lessons from the same teachers. So once I found out all of that, I then knew why I felt like I'd discovered my long lost drumming brother! haha. I knew exactly what he was doing technically AND why he was doing it. Afa the kit, his influence is definitely on the bubinga & the 6" tom. But the rest all comes from my early influences - Neil Peart - double kick & gong drum, Steve Smith - 4 toms across the front with Journey & double bass; Simon Phillips - 4 across the front & double kick and the Gong; Dave Weckl - tom on the left & double hi-hat, Gadd - main setup is 2 toms & 2 floors & the main cymbal setup. And I got my first gold hardware Pearl MRX in 2003, so I've been a gold buy ever since. But heck yeah, if someone wants to compare me to Todd, I'll take it! :)

[@V4Victory93]

It's majestic

[@JeffWald]

Thanx man, I added an 18" FT this year as well

[@ricardogonhin]

Hi Jeff, what a beautiful setup!! Question on cleaning, would you use the Bead Maker straight on a dusty kit with gold and chrome hardware or would you first run a damp (soapy water) rag through it and then shine with Bead Maker? Are you using Bead Maker on the gold hw too? Thanks!

[@JeffWald]

Hey Richard, thanx for watching brother! Depending on how dirty/dusty they are, you would probably want to use a 2:1 ratio of Windex:Ammonia in a spray bottle. Spray that onto a microfiber and clean off. If they're really bad, ie: "streaky" after doing that, 91% rubbing alcohol in a different spray bottle is a good finisher to clean any residue left. Hardware as well. Then spray the BM on a different microfiber and polish in/wipe off with a separate microfiber. the ones that I couldn't remember in the video are by the Rag Company. the Eagle Edgeless 500 is what I spray BM on first and wipe down the clean shell & gold - amzn.to/3sdubZ8. Then I gently polish/buff it off with their Edgeless 365 - amzn.to/31YFbyD. If you look on my channel, we've got a 2019 Mustang GT and that's the same stuff that I use on it, so its high quality! Here's a link I found for Bead Maker + a few microfibers. amzn.to/3ypOcgg

[@cclloyd3200]

Love it! Just became a Masterworks owner myself.

[@JeffWald]

Right on! I trolled your page - you need to post a video!

[@drummaman1]

Nice video! Did you mention the shell makeup of the drums? I must've missed it. Cheers!

[@JeffWald]

Crap!! No, completely forgot that part. I thought I had it in the description like I do on all my other vids but I forgot that too but I just added it!! So go to the description and check that out. Good catch!! Maybe I'll do a quick follow up/part 2/I'm a loser video with just that 😅

[@darkknightk]

Beautiful color on the drums! How does that 19" K Custom Dark Crash sound?

[@JeffWald]

Thanx! the 19" sounds great, although its not a K Custom crash - only the ride is. But it sounds very similiar to the 19" Turkish Millenium crash I've been playing for the past 2 years - that same nice dark type sound. I may have to do a comparison sometime!

[@Dusty2112]

WOAHHHHHH THAT IS SO COOL AND WHAT i WOULD WANT LOL

[@JeffWald]

Thanx Dusty!

[@gregdaniel8404]

dig the presonus. I have that one

[@JeffWald]

Its a great one, isn't it? I'm still figuring it out

[@wonderdrummer]

Very cool video!!! Enjoyed the episode... Subscribing...:)

[@JeffWald]

Right on, thanx!!

[@wonderdrummer]

@@JeffWald - you are welcome..:)

[@michaelbrady2339]

What heads to you have on there? I have the Aquarian Response 2 but those sound awesome! Love the clear!

[@JeffWald]

Thanx Michael! Those are classic clears. Currently using emperors on the floors but have used CCs for over 6 years on tops and bottoms (for the most part)

[@michaelbrady2339]

@@JeffWald you use the same head on top and bottom? It may have been the Emperors that got my attention in your FreeWill Video. That's what got me to think about replacing mine.

[@JeffWald]

@@michaelbrady2339 yes - when they are classic clears - same on top & bottom. Always on the bottom for sure - except for right now I have Remo Gold Starfire's on the bottoms of the 6-12" but they are also Ambassadors so the sound is the same as the CCs (at least to me it is). BTW - putting the final touches on the YYZ video - there's alot more toms in that one - I hope to have it up tomorrow morning!

[@jeahhh]

you in northern wisconsin? looks gorgeous

[@JeffWald]

Nah, north of Nashvegas, 30+ years :)

[@vincentsimon4037]

While these drums look absolutely beautiful and sound great, I've never liked their mounting hardware for toms. Even TAMA evolved theirs along with a few other manufacturer's that further enhanced their hardware. I've stayed away from Pearl to this day because of theirs. Handlebar hardware just isn't my style. Again! Beautiful drums Pearl has!

[@JeffWald]

I've heard that from a few folks over the years and I can see why. But I'm so used to these that i don't even think about it. i think they have a cool look but again, I'm used to them. One thing is for sure, unlike other mounts that i've seen, the toms don't BOUNCE or BUDGE with these arms :)

[@JOEDRUMS2112]

Hey Jeff, Enjoyed the video. Love your setup. Keep Up the great work. JOEDRUMS2112

[@JeffWald]

Thanks, will do! Keep rockin'

[@AxelBurgos]

They make gay drumsets?

[@JeffWald]

only for you sister