Pearl is one of the biggest drum manufacturers on the market today. They have been making incredible solutions for drummers of all levels over the past several years.
I am a fan of Pearl, many because their kits are mostly very affordable. Even though I am using a Ludwig drum set currently for professional work, I still have a Pearl at home for practice.
Pearl Soundcheck is a beginner drum set with some of the best features. It comes complete with everything you need to start playing drums. And this is one of the reasons it stands as a great option for modern drummers.
Most beginner drums set not the best in terms of sound. And this is why one must be very careful with their choice.
Picking a good brand is one way of ensuring you get something good. Pearl is a brand that has established a great reputation on the market. Their drums have been widely accepted and used because of their quality.
In this review, we shall be looking at the Pearl Soundcheck. As the name suggests, this is a great kit to check your drumming prowess.
Features of a beginner drum set
Before we review this kit, it would be nice to determine what a beginner drum set is and what makes it different from any other kit. You must understand what to means to get the best from it.
First, a beginner drum set is one that is made for an entry-level drummer. Anyone who is just learning to drum and about drums need such a drum set.
A beginner drum set is just a regular five-piece drum set. Five-piece means it comes with toms, a bass drum, a snare, cymbals, and a hi-hat. It also comes with all the necessary hardware for easy setup.
A standard drum kit comes with three toms, a snare, a ride/crash, and a bass drum, and a hi-hat. These are all the components a beginner needs to enjoy drumming. But you can add on more items, like a china splash. It all depends on the sound you want to get.
Beginner drum sets are only meant to get you on the right drumming path. You cannot stay with for too long, or use it for professional work. Some of them do not produce the best sounds you need for a good performance.
Do not be afraid to spend more cash than you would like to. The quality of your drum set determines how far you will go.
Besides, it is always good to aim at improving your gear as you improve your skills. The best thing about upgrading is that you don’t have to do it all at once. You can start by replacing the shells on your drums before moving on to something more serious.
Nevertheless, there are some beginner drum sets that are really good. You will be surprised at how good they are, and the Pearl Soundcheck is one of them.
Pearl Soundcheck Drum Set Review
Pearl’s entry-level, Sound Check, is one of the most popular drum sets on the market today. And since Pearl has already established its reputation as a top manufacturer, you can expect this kit to offer the best features at this level.
The first time I saw this kit was with one of my friends, who was a student at that time. It did not strike me as something more than just a regular beginner drum set. I did not even want to look at it twice.
But when he started playing, I realized it was not that bad. I went and bought one for my son, who is also learning drums.
The drums are designed from 9-ply mahogany, which delivers deep mids, enough warmth, and a classic tone. They are then finished with a durable high-gloss covering.
Apart from the shell, this set has good cymbals. Although you may want to replace these cymbals as soon as you get the kit, they are not as bad as many others.
Note also, the cymbals are hardware sold separately unless you make a direct order with them.
Generally, this is one of those entry-level drum sets that will satisfy your needs.
Who is the kit for?
The truth is any drummer can use the Pearl Soundcheck drum set. It only depends on how good you can use them and where you are using them.
The set is designed with beginners in mind. This explains why it’s very cheap, even as a full set.
Students learning to play drums will find this set very useful. It delivers just enough sound to make you feel like you are doing something good.
Advancing players can also use it to improve their skills and learn new moves. It has the features to take your drumming to the next level.
Professional drummers will also find it very useful for practice. You don’t need to take out your expensive kit if you have this one to learn drumming. Besides, it does not sound that bad, especially if you change the heads and the cymbals.
Pearl Soundcheck 5-Piece Shell Pack
The kit I received came as a standard 5-piece shell pack. When someone is talking about a shell pack, they mean it’s only drums without cymbals and hardware. A drum kit is defined by the number of drums it has more than the hardware and other things that may come with the set.
Configuration
The drum kit comes with a 22 by 16 bass drum (s). This is a full kick drum configuration that delivers full sounds, so you don’t have to worry about the feel.
The tomes include 10 by 9-inch and 12 by 10-inch tom-toms and 16-by 16-inch floor toms. The snare measures 14-inch by 5 ½-inch.
Hence, it’s a five-piece drum set with all drums needed in a standard drum kit. It does not include cymbals and hardware, which is the only difference with a full drum set.
Shells
One thing I loved about this drum set is the quality of its construction. The shells are made from mahogany, which is a strong wood, and it sounds great.
Each drum is constructed with 9-ply, with standard thickness. The 45-degree bearing edge on these shells makes a good idea for a good-quality drum set.
It does not come with a reinforcement ring, which could be the biggest disadvantage. But at this price range, there is not much to expect.
Hardware
You will also love the hardware on this drum set. It is made from solid steel, which makes them strong and durable.
Traditional mounts and triple-flange hoops not only make it look good but perform better as well. The lugs are standard, which means you will not have any issues setting up your drums or ensuring they are steadily set into position.
Finishes include factory heads with wrap finish.
Pearl Soundcheck Snare
The snare drum is considered one of the most important and necessary components of a drum set. It is the piece that many drummers play mostly. And this is why the snares inspire most drum sets.
Pearl’s Soundcheck snare drum is a classic 14 by 5.5-inches snare drum. Like other drums in the set, it is made from mahogany, with 9-ply shells. This makes it produce loud tones that will ring through any ensemble.
I have been using it as a spare snare for my gigs. I did not expect much when I bought used from a friend, but I know it does not sound very bad.
However, you will need to change the heads if you are looking for a more focused sound. That one that comes with it seems to produce too many overtones.
Generally, this is a reliable snare drum for a beginner. Its sound is satisfactory too.
Pearl Soundcheck 5-Piece Drum Set with Zildjian Cymbals Black, Black
It would be better to but one component at a time when putting together your ideal drum set. However, many beginner drum sets come with everything, include cymbals, which is a good way to save some money.
Hence, the Pearl Soundcheck 5-piece drum set with Zildjian cymbals is a great beginner option. I find it to have two main characteristics that make it stand out.
The first is that it comes from Pearl, one of the biggest manufacturers, with high-quality features. You can be sure of great service when you buy any Pearl drum kit.
Second, Zildjian is the biggest cymbal manufacturer on the market. Their products are considered top of the line among many users.
These two companies have joined hands to bring you a perfect beginner drum set. This makes its quality above average in this price range.
Hands-on
This kit is perfect for every beginner. Pearl says it’s aimed at changing the mindset of what an entry-level drum set should be, and they seem to have done a great job at this.
Soundcheck drum sets come in red and black finishes. It is configured with 10 by 9-inch and 12 by 10-inch toms, a 22-inch bass drum, and a 14-inch snare.
The snare is my favorite component with its top-notch sound. Also, the 13-inch hi-hats and 18-inch ride (+ 14-inch cymbals free) do a good job.
Pros
- High-quality beginner set
- High-quality Zildjian cymbals
- Better than most beginner sets
Cons
- Only two colors available
Final thought
The Pearl Soundcheck drum set is an ideal kit for beginners. I would not recommend professional drummers, though.
