Pearl · Pearl President drum set · 1966 into the mid-1970s
The President Series of 1966 was the first drum set to carry the Pearl name, after years of building stencil kits sold under other brands. Its shells weren't wood. Pearl's 1969 catalog describes them as a unique plastic fiber, smooth and uniform, with no reinforcement ring inside, and the 1975 Japanese catalog calls it a laminated resin shell used on the President line. Pearl's own 75th-anniversary history calls these phenolic shells. The 1969 P-22 outfit paired a 14 x 22 bass drum with a 9 x 13 tom, a 16 x 16 floor tom and a ten-lug 5.5 x 14 snare, each with an inner tone control, and a smaller version swapped in a 20-inch bass drum and a 12-inch tom. From 1969 Pearl's professional drums used the angular C-043 lug that collectors now call the Battleship lug. In 2021 Pearl revived the name with a limited President Series Phenolic kit and the lauan-shell President Series Deluxe, both with recast Battleship-style lugs and modern SuperHoop II hoops. If you want the original, look inside the shells in the photos. A smooth, even interior with no wood grain and no rings is the 1960s President.
Inside the shellPearl President drum set
Pearl introduced the President Series in 1966. The 1969 catalog lists the P-22 outfit with P-numbered drums (P-222 bass, P-213 tom, P-216 floor tom, P-514 snare), a small black rectangular President badge, internal bass drum spurs and a Free Adjustable tom holder. Pearl cast the angular C-043 lug for its professional drums from 1969, so it fits Presidents from that year on. The 1975 Japanese catalog still lists President outfits.
The usual problems are swapped hardware, a lost tone control or tom holder, and holes drilled for later mounts. Coverings on drums this old can lift at the seam.
Buying guide
There are at least 4 Presidents for sale and none is a clean buy yet, so treat the $1,300–2,100 delivered band as a thin read. The one we'd ask about first is the 70s kit from Japan at $2,400 delivered, titled with original fiber shells, though its title says Pearl White and the photo shows gold. The $868 kit from Germany is far under the rest, but its copper ripple finish looks like the 2021 President Series reissue and $28 won't ship a kit, so get inside-shell photos and a real freight quote. On any of them, look inside a shell, because an original President shell is smooth plastic fiber with no wood grain and no reinforcement rings. Skip the $3,200 phenolic kit from a zero-feedback seller with no shipping stated.
$2,399.99est. delivered
The lowest-priced President we'd consider, titled 70s with original fiber shells and shipped from Japan. The title says Pearl White but the photo shows a gold finish, so ask which kit you're getting and for an inside-shell photo.
Perl PRESIDENT 70s Vintage Drum Set Pearl White Original Fiber F/S From Japan
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$2,399.99est. delivered
$2,299.99 + $100.00 shipping
Buy It Now$2,299.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Titled 70s Pearl White with original fiber shells, but the photo shows a gold finish. Ships from Japan.
Seller: gyro-01jp
98.6% positive
Used$868.00est. delivered
$840.00 + $28.00 shipping
Buy It Now$840.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Titled 60s/70s original, but the copper ripple finish in the photo looks like the 2021 President Series Sunset Ripple, and $28 won't ship a kit from Germany. Ask for inside-shell photos.
Seller: cocosydney
100% positive
Used$1,770.00est. delivered
$1,595.00 + $175.00 shipping
Buy It Now$1,595.00
Check the seller
Seller name and feedback didn't show on the card, so check them first. Titled 1960s Japan-made, white tiger eye.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used$3,200.00+ shipping
$3,200.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$3,200.00
Check the seller
Zero-feedback seller, shipping not stated. Photo shows a newer Pearl logo head, so ask if it's the 2021 President Series Phenolic.
Seller: good_deal_07
No feedback yet
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SnarePearl President snare
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