Pacific Drums & Percussion 805

Unless you are incredibly new to the captivating world of drums and drumming, or you have just been beamed down from some distant galaxy (maybe even both!), then Pacific Drums & Percussion (PDP), and in particular Drum Workshop (DW), will need little or no introduction. For those entering into this fascinating arena, you may like to know that DW (one of the world's top drum manufacturers) created PDP to apparently "provide every drummer with a full line of quality, custom-inspired drums", but, of course, without the associated wallet-wrenching price tag. Although Pacific were formed as recently as 2000, the company have, in their own right, garnered a worldwide reputation, boasting a wide range of drum products from humble starter kits right through to top professional-standard models.

PDP also produce a surprising array of accessories, including drum racks, stands, pedals, additional drums and snares, and just about everything a drummer would need to build up their chosen kit into a significantly large setup. Though PDP's parent company is American, they have manufacturing bases around the globe, while many of their wares are produced in Mexico. Some, though, like the all-maple Platinum Series for example, are manufactured in DW's Californian factory. The subject of this month's review is an example from PDP's mid-range 805 Series, which is tailored more towards the rock player. All the 805s are made in China, as is the X7 Series (on a par with the 805s), and so too are the PDP starter kits, the FS Series and — it may surprise some to learn —DW's line of hardware.

Up on the review rostrum this month is a striking black and white chequered 805 kit, available in two size configurations with a similar five-piece 'one up, two down' tom arrangement and two choices of the overall drum sizes in each kit. This month's review model is the smaller version of the two, featuring a 13 x 7-inch rack tom, 14 x 12-inch floor tom, 16 x 12-inch floor tom, 13 x 7-inch snare and a 20 x 18-inch bass drum. Also included here is the obligatory drum key, a pair of sticks and a small collection of handy spares, which consists of nut box inserts, tension rods and so on. For the purpose of this review, Morico (the UK distributor for DW and PDP), have also sent an 8.155 hardware set to check out.

Each shell is constructed from six-ply 100% birch, which, when making comparisons to maple shells, offers a slightly brighter overall sound and a punchier attack, but with a little less overall sustain. All of the drums here have a wealth of features most usually found on the more upmarket DW kits. This includes the STM tom-mounting system, which is suspended in rubber. The True-Pitch Tuning System has very finely threaded and engineered tension bolts and nut boxes for precise and accurate tuning. All of the drums here have been fitted with Chinese-made UK Remo heads, which are quite reasonable as a first set of heads, but are likely to receive a few dents and would need replacing.

There is a huge catalogue of interesting, varied and sometimes outlandish choices of wraps in weird and wonderful colour combinations — blue shell and orange hardware being one example. As a result, this chequered wrap might seem a tad ordinary in comparison. However, the first time the eyes are cast upon the kit surface, that investigative glance simply sees a black and white 'harlequin' type pattern, but get down close and you can see silver strips breaking up the individual squares, and these should illuminate nicely when caught by stage lighting.

The 13-inch snare drum has a depth of seven inches, and there are only six tension bolts per head.

Echoes of DW drums are to be found at various points around the kit and this drum is no exception, with the metal PDP badge offset to the right-hand side. Also, the bass drum rim is plain birch to the inside, while the outer is finished in black. Each of the rims is held in place by a set of eight claws, and protected from the possible gouging of the metalwork by a rubber gasket fitted to each claw. The heads are tensioned by PDP True-Pitch tuning bolts, which thread very smoothly into the familiar oval nut boxes (also isolated by rubber gaskets), and these are found on all the PDP drums here.

As usual, we find shiny black ebony to the front, which proudly displays a white silk screen PDP logo, while at the lower portion of the front head there is a tiny DW logo, also in white. Coming up to the rear is a clear Remo head, and peering through I can see that both examples have a built-in dampening ring to reduce overtones and create a punchier sound. PDP have also included a soft dampening pillow, which neatly nestles into the bottom of the drum and presses gently against both the front and back heads, to further reduce possible overtone. Bearing in mind the dampening already around the head perimeters and the fact that this is a 20-inch model, I think I am going to try the bass drum with and without the pillow to see what effect this has.

Large, black-coated spurs provide more than adequate stage anchoring by the telescoping and quite intimidating large spikes. Although the length of the spurs is fully adjustable, slots into the fitment on the bass drum preset the actual spur angle.

Having a 13-inch diameter with a depth of seven inches creates a chunky-looking drum that looks the biz, especially with the contrast of the wrap against the black, triple-flanged hoops, nut boxes and snare throw-off. The batter head is a UK Remo white-coated model and clear model for the snare head. Around the outer edge of the batter are numbers representing the head-tightening sequence — an aspect that is found on all DW snares too! This is handy for those newcomers who would benefit by learning how to correctly apply pressure to the heads, and the same principles could be applied to other drums in the kit. There are only six tension bolts per head, and as both sets of rods stretch into central, oval-shaped nut boxes, I think this drum would have benefited from nut boxes top and bottom of such a deep shell. The rack tom is only an inch larger, and that has lugs top and bottom, so why not?

The simple snare throw-off mechanism has a single fine adjustment for the snare wire, and the whole unit is very smooth and positive. The bearing edge of the batter looks fine and is well finished, but on this particular model the snare head bearing edge is not finished at all well. Fragments of birch from what looks like the horizontal-running plies probe into the actual snare head and could present a problem unless sorted. I believe this could just be an isolated instance (built on a Friday afternoon, perhaps?), but a reputable dealer would be able to assist in getting this type of problem sorted.

All of the toms are fitted with (or at least supplied with) clear, singly-ply, PDP-badged heads for the batter and resonant sides. These are once again Chinese-manufactured 'UK Remo' models and are held in position by six lugs on each particular head, which will be ample for all of the toms here. Again, there is much in the way of black metalwork from the mounting brackets, triple-flanged hoops and the familiar oval lugs — the only metallic items to remain untouched by the black coating are the True-Pitch tension bolts. Both of the floor models here feature three robust mounting clamps each, which grip the knurled tom legs beautifully. I nearly didn't notice the knurling on the tom legs, as the black paintwork is so thick and hid the sharper aspects of this engineering.

As with many features of this kit, the tom-mounting hardware is very similar to DW kits. The clamp for the floor tom legs and the suspended tom is exactly the same. This mount is suspended by large rubber gaskets, which encompass two of the tom lugs — again, in a similar way to DW (only theirs are round and not oval).

It's double bracing all round for this shiny selection of examples from the Pacific 800 Colorware hardware range. Each nicely chromed model is adorned with sexy red components, such as the rubber feet, snare basket grips, hi-hat tilt and matching red pedals of the bass drum, and other less obvious metal parts.

The stands are light, but feel robust enough for any regular gigging, and the supportive leg-spread of the cymbal stands is particularly huge and will keep these models upright, no matter what size ride is going to be placed on them. The extra-wide gate will provide grateful support for the suspended tom. Wherever there is any possibility of metal-to-metal contact — around tube joints, snare basket assembly sections, triple supports for the legs, and so on — use of nylon bushing helps make a very smooth setup operation. The only disappointing aspect is that each of the cymbal stands only has one telescoping tube, which will mean the setup won't be quite as flexible, and I already found this a little frustrating when trying to find the optimum height for the suspended tom — the height adjustment (winged nut\bolt) just seems to be in the most inconvenient place.

Closer inspection of each hardware component shows that wherever a nut and bolt is present, there is no evidence of white metal threaded bolts (which might have presented problems in the future), just robust and long-lasting metalwork of brass and steel, which I'm sure will give many years of service. A great feature that I feel is worth mentioning is the eyebolt clamp design of the hi-hat clutch, which locks onto the pull-rod and will not slip from its chosen position. Also, the threads have a cutaway section to stop the keyhole effect on the upper hi-hat cymbal. While the tilt top features the bright red colour scheme, so too does the hi-hat pedal and a colour-matched bass drum pedal.

To help get the masses of packaging down to a minimum (and to be kind to the courier), both of the floor toms have been delivered with the heads detached. Fitting them proves to be no problem, as the component parts are of a high standard and well engineered. The precision-cut, 45-degree bearing edges of the toms appear well finished, and the heads go in place at either end of the drums. Each of the rods is finger-tightened diagonally until the wrinkles just start to level out. After only one or two turns of the drum key, the heads are bedded in, re-tightened and are ready to play within minutes. Each of the other drums in the kit is subject to a tweak here and there, and all of the drums here are able to come up to the required pitch with ease.

As I have a bash around the kit, listening from my usual playing position is a real treat, but I have found it is great to be able to hear the drums out front from an audience perspective. This can be quite revealing, and has made me think once or twice about changing my own kit or heads, or both! Fortunately, a visiting drummer mate comes in handy as I press-gang him into playing a few grooves on this setup. The bass drum projects out like crazy and I can feel each beat hitting, entering and then passing straight through my chest, projecting way past me. The suspended tom is beautifully focused and punchy, but also surprisingly rich considering the shell material. We often hear about the 'birch bite', and the snare cracks it out by dispensing sharp shocks from that mouthful! The two floor toms pack power with punch, and this is one surprisingly loud kit!

I have no doubt the single-ply heads help produce as much of the initial attack as the shells provide, but I can't help wondering what this kit would sound like with a set of US-made Remos. Although the ones supplied are reasonable, like always these will not last for more than a few gigs before they dent like mad.

With the exception of one or two minor niggles, the overall standard of manufacture is really very good. I am really surprised at just how good these drums sound, especially the bass drum (and I don't usually like the smaller-diameter models). I know the red bits and pieces of the hardware won't be to everyone's taste and neither will the wrap, but the contrast of the rubber feet and chromium plating on each of the stands gives an overall custom feel, which, I imagine, puts the whole ensemble into a 'Marmite' category — you either love it or loathe it. But no matter what your taste, it certainly makes a change from the boring old black rubber components on most kits we see, and you certainly wouldn't miss the feet on a dimly lit stage!

The 'one up, two down' format of this kit is one that I prefer when playing rock stuff, which simply oozes the sort of attitude associated with this potentially aggressive playing style (at least it should if you do it right!). This kit just begs to be struck, and country and western it ain't! However, I do like the balanced look of two toms up front, and often prefer some sort of symmetry to the overall appearance, but it can make access to the ride a tad awkward, so this represents the optimum playing position for many players.

This kit isn't a cut-price alternative way of buying a highly professional DW kit, but don't be too disappointed, as the many features that make it a notable set of drums sound like they could easily cost much, much more. So for those of you who would like to own one, it's lucky that they don't! 0

Options

You could opt for the other kit size, which comprises a 24 x 18-inch bass drum, 14 x 7-inch snare drum, 13 x 9-inch rack tom, 16 x 14-inch floor tom and 18 x 16-inch floor tom.

The PDP 8.155 Colorware pack in red retails at £155 and includes the CB800 boom stand, CS800 straight stand, HH800 hi-hat, SS800 snare stand and SP450 single pedal.

Pacific Drums & Percussion 805

Drum kit