Pearl Vision Birch VBL 5-piece Drumkit Review by Sweetwater

[@mw13068]

I have this kit, and I love it. It sounds great, it's easy to tune, and the hardware locks keep everything exactly in place, even after dozens of setups, performances, tear-downs, and storage in hot and cold conditions. It's my gigging kit, so it's usually packed up for quick trips around town. Whenever I miss playing it, I watch this video. :)

[@mw13068]

I've been playing this kit at gigs for almost a year now. Not only do I love it, but sound engineers love this kit as well. I've had two different guys tell me how easy it is to get this kit to sound good in the mix. The birch EQ thing that Nick is talking about is real.

[@dedebellavita14]

how much did you pay this kit ?

[@haydendraycott7897]

Really wish Pearl still made this line it sounds superb

[@DanT2406]

you can find people selling them second hand they are starting to get more expensive though, i used to see people sell them for $600(AUD) and now they are over $1000

[@yearight359]

I have the pearl vision birch pin rod kit. It's got an extra floor tom. Had the kit for years I love it.

[@yearight359]

Also my rack toms hang from the cymbal stands. No vertical rods from the bass up. Heaps better set up and sound

[@roybeckerman9253]

Those Pearl Sensitone snares are great value for money and sound great.

[@jamieharris327]

Thank you for giving an accurate review of these drums! You've got a new subscriber :)

[@sweetwater]

Jamie Harris Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@dynamitekid8967]

same here! I just got my Pearl Vision VBA NY Splatter Friday last week.

[@jamieharris327]

Dynamite Kid COOL

[@dynamitekid8967]

Jamie Harris thanks Sir, I also sub. + like this channel too Sir! Take care Sir!

[@Daves1world]

I always love this kit

[@pienkawa]

How do you compare Pearl's vision for the Tama Superstar?

[@Tom-sd2vi]

Pearl export < tama superstar < yamaha stage custom < pearl vision < tama starclassic

[@markdemell3717]

I like both very much.

[@MilesGedney-y3p]

About to get this kit, cant wait. By the way, this guy plays amazing!

[@rickstav9024]

I got one of these a few months ago a rare find as brand new. Love them but uncomparabe to my export of 24 years ago...

[@robertgil1000]

Fab , played my friends kit , hardware second to none

[@dominickfulco]

Wow can't believe I haven't subscribed yet! Great video! I love how you give a very in-detail review. You have yourself a new subscriber! Looking forward to more videos!

[@Wannagobackto1980]

I have a Pearl Export Pro fro 1992 I bought brand new. Birch shells!!!! Will never get rid of them.

[@chisoxfan708]

sounds great! id upgrade the snare but that's just personal preference. im almost sold!

[@sheddski2942]

I have a 1976 pearl fiberglass 5 piece I bought new and this kit is like going past the next level nice hardware and much better sounding who says they made thing better back then no way pearl has come a long way sinse 1976 all the hardware on the old kit was top of the line today its like the lightest and cheapest stuff compared to this set glad I moved up oh ya the old set is up for sale

[@marcopololopez9732]

Yo tengo una y suena genial, y se ve hermosa!

[@roybeckerman9253]

Great value for money and sound great as well. Love the steel snares....very underrated. Thank God the rack toms go back into the bass drums and not the cymbal stands.

[@thodoris3790]

the visions were awesome drums.specially the VMX and the VBX.only thing you need to do is change the iss mounting system and the thin hoops.and thats extra money.other than this ,they are pro drums

[@kushallama6799]

the kit sounds really cool!

[@ProtectyTree]

So I've had this kit for years, but I've recently had to use the RTom black hole pads on my kit. Problem comes with the rack toms. I had to flip the mounts to the resonant head/rim and this creates some really bad physics for the mounts and they have failed a few times. So I see people saying replace the mounts with the optimount system, but I have also been looking at the optiloc system (its half the price). Could I get some pros and cons and if they would even work for these toms? I've never really done much hardware modification, so its a new beast to me.

[@CarstenMoreno]

I actually have a Pearl Birch drum kit (or at least parts of it) that has been in my garage all winter long. Will the cold weather damage the drums permanently, even though they were in my dry garage with the doors closed?

[@Chiro_ASMR]

CM rocker no. I keep mine in garage all winter here in Illinois and we get really cold and hot I have same drums and they’re fine

[@methatlovescats3602]

This sounds great

[@eddiegarcia7397]

What kindve heads is he using in this Video ? I just picked up a kit like this yesterday.

[@SixDogsMusic]

I got mine in 2012, I love it, the Tom mounts are trash but drums sound perfect

[@stephensstudios2022]

Just got mine used, it needs about $200 worth of work done to it but it will sound great in the end

[@diegovercesi]

Can someone please tell me what head is he using on the bass drum? And approximately what tension he uses?

[@dariousmarshall2838]

Great pocket💯.

[@anthonyn1312]

Did the Pearl vision birch series drums has been discontinued? Yes or no?

[@thodoris3790]

yes,for about 6-7 years now

[@patriciotroncoso4764]

The snaredrum....is supreme for me....

[@spercoco]

The link is to a Pearl Export kit

[@kobemiller8680]

How much does that cost?

[@MathewxThexHuman]

700 dollars now used to be 1200 or something

[@motodrummer]

what does bcx stand for? Also what is difference between Vision birch and Masters birch? is it just hardware?

[@sweetwater]

Thanks for the questions, motodrummer. Those are both discontinued lines from Pearl, and I believe the biggest difference is where they were made - China on the VBL and Japan on the BCX. What leads you to those and are you looking for a new kit? I'd be happy to discuss new options of the current Pearl line. Derek Senestraro, Senior Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 1243, [e-mail]

[@roybeckerman9253]

.Love Pearl Sensitone snares.

[@patrickorourke195]

Hey should I get a used vision for $500 or buy a new 7 piece pearl decade maple for around $900-$1000? A reply would be appreciated! Thanks!

[@jesuscanplayguitar1214]

What did you end up getting

[@roybeckerman9253]

The Sensitone Steel was based on the Ludwig Supra, but lacks the crack, even when tuned right up. They sound more like the Grestch COB. Still, about a quarter of the price.

[@dedebellavita14]

how much

[@zhongxina8426]

is the tom mounting system really that bad? im planning to get this kind of kit but the comments about the tom mounts are giving me second thoughts...

[@Chiro_ASMR]

Gino Tuano no they’re fine. Never had a problem in 7 yrs

[@Supertax2]

Had a pearl export kit with the same mounting setup. Never had any problems in 15 years

[@rfswag]

I got these drums for free in gold sparkle. I got a 10" tom and a floor tom and a bass. they are heavily beat up, the bass is missing on of the spurs completely, the floor tom has no leg brackets except for one that is held on with one screw and electric tape, the 10" tom is the only good one, came with no hardware whatsoever lol.

[@עליפיומי]

What Hi-Hat have on set?

[@samteague2342]

paiste signature

[@samteague2342]

paiste signature

[@s1lentscre4ms97]

14 Paiste Signature Dark Energy Mark1

[@AUSS13KA0S]

is this good for heavy metal?

[@thomashope373]

I mean i guess so. Put a click pad / plastic beater on the kick and deaden the toms a little, it would work. However. if i was you. I'd be looking into the Mapex armoury kits. They're a little bit more expensive than this, but they're worth more than their price. They're probably better in most ways. Plus, Pearls ISS mounts ( they are on the vision series ) are terrible. hope this helped. sorry if it didnt lmao

[@MathewxThexHuman]

It all depends on tuning I play metal to and I think I will buy this

[@FragmentedNightmare]

I'd go for a maple kit if you want to play metal. maple gives it a deeper sound.

[@oscaralmada1843]

I use this kit as a 9 piece for metal and it sounds amazingly good for a kit on this level, I also own a master's mcx and I gotta tell you I really couldn't choose between them. Don't get me wrong the Masters are really worth the price, it's just that these are so good.

[@dedebellavita14]

AUSS13KA0S yes

[@roybeckerman9253]

Isn't the 5.5" Sensitone snare , a Custom Alloy.

[@yeftachristian3912]

Which one is better pearl vision vs tama imperialstar ??

[@Grit489]

Pearl is better but they don't make the vision series anymore.

[@thodoris3790]

of course visions dude.if you find used the vmx buy it immidiatly

[@Marreroortiz]

Which one is the best between the VBL and VBX?

[@mitchellhughes5180]

Why can’t they just tell you how much it is?

[@ismael3867]

I've seen a lot of reviews and by the looks of it it breaks kind of easy ._. ( compared to other drums)

[@MattDeloff_Online]

Ya, if you trash your kit. I've had a vision kit for the last 6yrs and I've never had an issue with it. I suppose if you like to throw your drums around it could break. Same with any type of drum kit. If you treat your kits with respect you'll be fine.

[@dynamitekid8967]

Well said and spot on Sir!

[@SlippinJimmy22]

0:23 Its okay man, it happens to all of us. RIP

[@travisjohnson7065]

Haha, I think he actually meant to do that. I've seen a lot of his drum kit demos and he seems to end a lot of fills with just a kick drum on its own.

[@embryo_cdeplorable7488]

My school has a red vision kit. They hardly use it. Bass drum sounds Superior to anything I've ever heard.

[@nielsurban6392]

Josh Steffen anyone?

[@MultiMikey81]

Josh steffen plays a taye kit

[@johnca45]

Looks like Pearl has discontinued this series...

[@clarkcant4818]

will never understand why... i have a maple vision 3pc and they're some of the best sounding drums i've ever played

[@thebeast7010]

I believe they "replaced" with the pearl decade which is imo worde

[@qwerrewqqwerrewq315]

He doesn't like a steel snares)

[@thodoris3790]

Iss is the worst mounting system ever.specially fot the thin hoops of these drums.and this is the only problem with the vision series.that you have to buy the optimounts.otherwise its really great drums

[@georgeb6300]

True the mounting system just deadens the toms it happens on my pearl roadshow kit

[@doc2earth]

The mounting system is horrible IMO

[@tagusan8999]

It is. Damages your rims and the warps the head. Replaced them with optimounts. Other than the suspension, they sound good with the stock heads.

[@drumcatfairy77]

I have those same mounts on my Pearl EXR kit and haven't ever had any problems with it...Got my kit NEW in 2006 and I use large rack toms (11x13 and 14x15) with 16x16 and 16x18 floors with an 18x22 kick...

[@TheNuncFluens]

why pearl still uses that cheap drums mounting system? It's awful.

[@Grit489]

because they would have to change all the tooling and retrofit every kit they ever sold. They are stuck with it. Tama had the best mounting system because they took the Rims system and made it better.

[@MathewxThexHuman]

NuncFluens probably there biggest flaw

[@MSpradling13]

To be fair.. The optimounts combined with the heavy duty L-arms actually make the drums sing super well. It's really just an aesthetic thing for me. That being said, I'd still buy a Pearl with a virgin bass drum because they do sound great. All preference.

[@vladimirlopez7840]

I can't get past the hideous tom mounting system