Pearl Roadshow RS525SCC706

If you are on the lookout for an out of the box ready to play 5-piece drum-kit, you really can't go far wrong with the Pearl roadshow model.

They come in four slightly different gig-ready set-ups; the Jazz, the Rock, the Fusion and the New Fusion which we have chosen to focus on today.

Each makes for an excellent entry-level option which comes pretty well tuned to play straight away from the get-go.

The 5-piece drum and cymbal combination consists of a pretty decent snare, a smaller than average bass drum that still packs a punch, a floor tom, and 2 mounted toms.

All of them are well-manufactured from 9-ply poplar which gives them durable shells with good tonality. They are a great sounding-board for seating the skins and give off a powerful tone.

First-off the bass drum has a great presence which is essential given that it is the heart of any kit. It has been designed with an extended tension/tuning to help it provide a lower bass register despite its smaller circumference. It has anti-slip spur-feet which are lockable so that it stays put and is a rock-solid foundation for sporting the tom mounts.

Our only real gripe is that the single-chain pedal is a little on the flimsier side, with some users reporting a pretty disappointing shelf-life.

Fortunately, we haven't been so unlucky whilst putting it through its paces but if you are keen to play particularly heavy genres you might want to consider a hardier upgrade.

The snare measures 14" x 5.5" and makes for a good solid starting point, though it is not quite as impressive as the higher range Export or Decade series Pearl snares. It has good sensitivity and responds well to how it is played like their Jazz-kit models allowing for a good range of playing skills to be demonstrated.

It has good playability, the sticks roll well off the skin and it has an impressive attack- perhaps too powerful. If we are honest, we don't love the sound, but given that it is an entry-level snare it is forgivable but it could do with a quick head upgrade.

The floor tom has a much better tone with good rich depth, it is16” x 16” and given a quick adjustment has surprising resonance. The other toms are 1” x 8” and 12” x 9” respectively and compliment the rest of the set-up, giving that familiar Pearl Sound we know and love.

The skins are held with triple-flanged hoops which give them better dynamics and a more open sound. They also provide better durability in the long-run as they are much harder.

In addition to the drums we, of course, have a 14” hybrid Hi-hat which when set-up correctly has a lively spring in its step and is very comfortably controllable. It has good bounce and we have no qualms with the pedal.

On top of that you also have a sweet 16" Crash-Ride cymbal made from brass that has a great ring to it.

The Pearl Roadshow New Fusion kit represents great value for money especially as it comes with a fairly decent, comfortably cushioned throne, Pearl drumsticks, and all of the necessary mounting hardware to boot.

Pearl hasn't scrimped on the Hardware department, it is pleasantly very heavy-duty for an entry-level set with the exception perhaps of the chain-drive pedal we already mulled-over.

You can tweak the height and angle of the dual-reinforced stands. They are supported by strong double-braced legs and benefit from interlocking tilter adjustments. The hi-hat and snare drum stands have tripod bases to ensure they are sufficiently balanced no matter how you hard you thrash.

Each has rubber footings to help them to maintain their position whilst you play. All in all, it is an undeniable starter kit, which has been well constructed. It comes is four wrapped finishes, each of which adds character.

Pearl Roadshow RS525SCC706

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