[PearlVSX]

Review of Custom Classic Pro Birch Hybrid drum set 10-17-2010

Fit and finish:

The kit is packaged as a 6 pc, 2up and 2 down set with HD double braced hardware. The set can be purchased without the hardware as a shell only kit for $100 less.
The drums are all shallow depth with a 6x10”, 7x12”, 12x14” and a 14x16” (the 14 and 16” are floor toms with legs) The bass drum is an industry standard 18x22” and is virgin (No holes drilled for tom mounting bracket) and the snare drum is a standard sized 5.5x14”

The shells are 7ply 100% Asian birch with 45 degree bearing edges. The grain quality is outstanding and the edge work and interior sanding very -very nice. Unexpected at this price point. I set the drums on a flat surface (without heads) to check for shell trueness and was very happy to see that the shells were all nice and flat.
I ordered the CC PBH in the new Sunset Burst lacquer that apart from a couple very tiny air bubbles here and there is absolutely stunning. The gloss clear coat is brilliant and the high tension (long) lugs are very nicely chromed and attached to the shells with black mounting hardware. A nice touch that adds some more class to the great build of these drums! There are also rubber gaskets under all the shell hardware.. Nice. My wife comments on how beautiful these drums are and I have to agree. They look like they should cost a lot more than their $500 price tag!

Tuning ease:

I was impressed how easily this kit tuned up! The toms seem to hold their tuning quite admirably as well do the kick and snare drums. The range of tuning is fairly wide but seems to favor a medium tension on the toms and medium to low tension on the floors and kick. This is not to say that this kit won't sound good with a more cranked up tuning..it actually does sound mighty fine tuned higher for a fusionesque sound.

The Sound:

Being that these shells are 100% birch they are, by the cellular structure of the wood species, going to be higher pitched with a natural eq'd sound that is heavy on the low frequency and lighter in the mid/mid lows. I swapped out the kinda crappy stock single ply heads and decided to try some new Evans EC2 (SST) heads on all the tom batters with EC resos. As mentioned earlier, the drums tuned up effortlessly and once tuned up the ear to ear grin began. The birch shells coupled with the short tom depths produced a attack and punch laden tone that to me, is out of this world! The initial “snap” of the birch shells (with 45 deg edges) followed by a super fat tone with a nice short sustain that resonated just right. This kit would KILL for metal drummers as well as rockers or jazz players. The kick drum performed equally as well. Just fat and punchy as you'd expect from a good birch shell. I haven't experimented with different heads on the kick other than a REMO Powerstroke 3 (smooth white).
I imagine that an EVANS EMAD would be killer on this drum as well. I am generally not a big fan of stock snare drums, but this 5.5x14” birch snare sounds really good! It has a pretty decent tuning range and would be fine to use as the main snare drum or move it to the side and use it as an aux drum.

Conclusion: All things considered with the missing t-rod, a couple small blems in the finish and HW that needed some lubing, the Custom Classic Pro Birch Hybrid is a winner! For $500 and free shipping, you are getting a kit that is not only affordable for beginning drummers, but a kit that ANY drummer could be proud to play. In the studio this kit would be a star! Live, I think it would be equally at home. There are going to be those who will turn their noses at these kits. But for drummers on a budget who are looking for a quality kit in fit, finish and sound..to me the CCPBH is a no brainer!

I will be recording a you tube video showcasing this kit and will also be in the studio with a prog rock band sometime in the near future so I will be putting these tubs through their paces.