Pearl Roadshow Review: A Solid Kit for Beginner Drummers

By Contributing Author Dango

If you’re considering a Pearl Roadshow kit, our comprehensive review can help you decide if it’s a good fit for you.

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Pearl was one of the early pioneers of entry level kits back when they put out the Export series in the early eighties.

As time and technology have progressed, they have stepped up their game to compete with the ever growing market.

Enter the Pearl Roadshow Series, which is a complete beginner kit, including cymbals and hardware, and is available in a few different size configurations.

This is a sharp looking kit for a beginner and it comes in at around $500. 

At a Glance: Key Features of a Pearl Roadshow Drum Set

The Roadshow kits feature 9-ply Asian White Poplar shells, five different wrap finishes, three 5-piece configurations, as well as a Junior 5-piece set.

Each of the packages includes a throne, pedal, hi hat stand, snare stand, cymbal stand, a set of hi hats, and a crash/ride cymbal.

It features clear heads on the kick and toms, and a coated head on the snare. 

The Configurations:

• The Junior Setup features a 16×10 kick, a 13×8 floor tom, 10×5.5 and 8×5 toms, and a 12×4 snare drum. ($299)

• The Small 4-piece Setup features an 18×12 kick, 14×10 floor, 10×7 tom, and a 13×5 snare.  ($419)

• The Mid Sized / Jazz configuration features a 20×16 kick, 14×14 floor tom, 12×8 and 10×7 toms, and a 14×5 snare. ($499)

• The Standard / Fusion Setup features a 22×16 kick, 16×16 floor tom, 12×8 and 10×7 toms, and a 14×5 snare. ($499)

• The Rock setup features a 22×16 kick, 16×16 and 14×14 floor toms, 12×9 tom, and a 14×6.5 snare. ($499)

You can check out the different configurations and options here.

The Pros OF THE ROADSHOW KIT

Let’s take a look at the benefits of this kit.

1. One-Stop-Shopping

The biggest highlight of this kit is truly the one-stop-shopping for any parents or first time buyers.

The kit comes with everything you need to get started, and that is a huge plus when you understand how much goes into buying a drum kit.

The hardware is double braced, and though fairly light, it’s still solid. 

2. Multiple configurations

The second biggest advantage is the different setup options based on the player. 

Most companies only have one beginner setup, but the Pearl Roadshow kit has four options based on the player’s size, as well as music type.

If you’re shopping for a smaller child, the junior model is perfect. If you’re shopping for a taller student, or an adult, any of the other three will be great.

The smaller sized fusion kit will be preferred for some, while the Bonham one up, two down on the toms would be my personal choice.

They even have a deeper snare for the rock pack and a shallower one for the standard and the jazz configurations. The options are downright impressive for $500.  

3. Different Wraps to Choose From

Finally there are 5 different wraps to choose from, which is amazing at this price.

The four solid colors have all been Pearl standards for years. The one that impressed me the most was the Aqua Blue Glitter, as it definitely looks like something you’d see on more expensive kits. 

The Cons of a Pearl Roadshow Drum Set

I hate to point out weaknesses on an entry level kit, because the reality is, this set will make any beginner player excited to play, and it’s certainly a solid kit for the price.

However, price does impact quality, so let’s talk about that for a minute.

• The sound of these drums is good for what it is. I wouldn’t take them on tour, and I wouldn’t even want them for a kit in clubs. I’m sure mic’d up and tuned well, they could pass. But they are inexpensive shells, made in a factory very quickly. You’ll definitely want to focus on tuning them well to get the best sound.
• The cymbals might be the least impressive part. It’s amazing they’re included in the set, but they’re little more than targets while a player is learning. These will never make it to a gig, even if the kit does. Once you can afford to, and certainly once you’re performing on stage, you’ll want to invest in new cymbals.
• The heads are fine for a beginner, but if I was getting this kit for a student, I would change all the heads with new Evans or Remo heads, and that alone would improve the sound significantly. Check out my recommendations for the best snare drum heads.
• The pedal and throne are Pearl’s cheapest, but they will do the job unless you’re putting a lot of weight into them. You may get away with them for a few years for a child. An adult will probably need a new throne pretty quickly, especially if playing significant hours. 

So while this kit is definitely more than adequate for a beginner, and can be a great cost-effective way to get started, just know that it’s a good idea to eventually upgrade some of the equipment over time, particularly if you start performing.

Who is the Pearl Roadshow Kit Best Suited For?

The Roadshow is a great option for any beginner at any age. There is a size that will work for you and there is probably a color you will like.

This is an entry level kit, so it isn’t for pros, or even regular gigging drummers.

If you’re a weekend warrior playing clubs or weddings, I would suggest a higher-end kit for obvious sound reasons.

But if you want a budget-friendly way to start and want to try one of these out, you can hot-rod it out with better heads and work on your tuning to get the best sound from it.

Pearl Roadshow Drum Set Pricing

The Roadshow kits are around $500 for the 5-piece setups, and $429 for the 4-piece.

You can find a lot of $400 kits on the market, but those don’t feature cymbals and hardware. This set really has what you need to start today.

The Junior model is only $299 and this is the real deal for a small child. To get a real drum set for $300, that isn’t like the Wal-Mart quality, is unbelievable. 

Pearl Roadshow vs. Pearl Export Kit

The Pearl Export was the best selling drum kit in the world for so long because of its price point and accessibility when it came out.

When you compare the Roadshow to the Export, there are some significant differences.

The Export is really more of a mid-level kit that is meant to be played on gigs and have a decent sound. The shells and the hardware on the drums are higher quality.

The Export features poplar and mahogany shells, versus the all poplar Roadshow.

The Export features Pearls Opti-Lock mounting system, and also a pro level badge. With that comes a higher price tag–a standard 5-piece Export comes in at around $949 and the difference in quality between the two is definitely noticeable. 

You can read our full Pearl Export review if you’d like to learn more about that series.

Alternatives to a Pearl Roadshow Kit

There isn’t much competition in the entry-level drum kit world that includes everything the Roadshow includes.

Ludwig offers the Accent kit, which is a similar 5-piece set with cymbals for about $429, but it only has one configuration.

PDP Drums (Made by DW) offers the Center Stage Series, which is a 5-piece configuration with cymbals and hardware, and a few more finish options, also for around $499.

Tama and Gretsch don’t offer this setup without adding $200, and Yamaha doesn’t even have anything close.

So you’re really only considering Pearl, PDP, or Ludwig at this level and price. 

Final Verdict on the Pearl Roadshow

The Pearl Roadshow is a sweet kit at a sweet price. Any kid would be excited to start on this, and I would also recommend it to any of my adult students if they were just beginning.

The size options are really the selling point of why this stands out compared to the other brands on the market.

Pearl has done the entry level drums since the early 80’s and they’re always figuring out how to make a better product while trying to keep prices reasonable for the customer. 

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