Pearl
The Pearl Musical Instrument Co. was the Japanese distributor for UFIP, Paiste, Tosco, and Zildjian cymbals in the 1970's. Pearl's 1976 USA catalog first lists their own cymbals, made from spun brass, available in a limited number of sizes and models. By the 1979 Japanese catalog, there more offerings, but unfortunately nothing is listed in the English language catalog of that year, so it's unclear if this is still the same cymbal line, or a new one. A cymbal series called "Deluxe" is featured in the 1980 USA catalog, but by the 1982 one, only the CX-500 and CX-600 lines are featured.
Pearl's cymbals from the 1980s usually featured a lathed series numbered with a "CX" prefix, and an unlathed version using the "Wild" moniker. Aside from just a couple of exceptions, the models were available only in even sizes. (14", 16", 18" etc.)
Pearl's cymbals were made in Japan, and until more research can be done, most were done using a B8 alloy.
- Spun Brass Cymbals (name needed)
- Deluxe (First appearance in 1980 Catalog)
- 200
- 300
- Wild 300
- CX-500 (First appearance in 1983 Catalog)
- Wild 500
- CX-600 (First appearance in 1983 Catalog)
- Wild 600
- CX-900 (First appearance in 1987 Catalog)
- Wild 900 (First appearance in 1987 Catalog)
- Special thanks to the Drum Archive for their collection of Pearl catalogs.
