Pearl
Description
The Pearl VPX Snare features a 14 x 5.5 in. birch-ply shell for exceptional power and snare attack. Its Duo-Motion snare strainer assures exceptional sensitivity with smooth switching action, and can convert from a side lever to front-facing “Gladstone” action. Available for a limited time only at a special price, this is a workhorse of a drum that delivers solid performance and value.
Pearl VPX Strata Red Birch Snare Drum 14 x 5.5 in.
Features
Configuration
  • Snare Size: 14 x 5.5 in.
  • Total Pieces: 1
Extras
  • Case or Bag: Not Applicable
  • Stand: Not Applicable
Shells
  • Shell Material: Birch
  • Shell Construction: Multi-Ply
  • Shell Thickness (mm): Info Not Available
  • Bearing Edge: Info Not Available
  • Reinforcement Ring: No
Hardware
  • Hardware Material: Steel
  • Hoop Type: Proprietary
  • Lugs: One-piece dual-sided
  • Throw-Off: Duo-Motion convertible 
  • Internal muffler: No
  • Snares: Steel Carbon
Other
  • Heads: Branded
  • Finish Type: Wrap
  • Country of Origin: Taiwan
warning

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Warranty
Warranty Information
The Pearl Lifetime Warranty is a statement of confidence to our customers to the reliability of Pearl products. Pearl drums, stands and hardware are designed and manufactured to the highest standards in quality, style, appearance and playing performance. This lifetime warranty reflects a tradition of excellence and a commitment to superior engineering and craftsmanship dedicated to you, the drummer. The Pearl lifetime warranty is our pledge to you that we will proudly stand behind our product for as long as you own it. Buy it once, play it for life.
WARRANTY COVERAGE/WARRANTY PERIOD:
General: Pearl drums, stands, pedals, parts and accessories except as noted herein, purchased from an authorized Pearl dealer are warranted to the original retail purchase and shall be valid by item as indicated below and is not transferable.
DRUM SET HARDWARE - LIFETIME WARRANTY:
Pearl warrants foot pedals, hi-hat stands, cymbals stands, boom cymbal stands, snare drum stands, floor-standing tom stands, floor-standing cymbal/tom stands, racks and rack accessories, cymbal holders, multi-clamps, claws, tension rods, swivel nuts, spurs, tom brackets, tom holders, strainers, and nuts and bolts to be free from defects in material and workmanship to the original owner subject to the conditions and limitations set as follows. Pearl will, at its option, either repair or replace any of the aforementioned Pearl pedals, stands, and drum parts purchased from June 15, 2009 that proves defective by reason of improper workmanship or materials. Replacement pedals, stands, and drum parts will be provided by Pearl on an exchange basis and will be either new or refurbished for the exact model under warranty. This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear or any damage to this product that results from improper installation, accident, abuse, misuse, natural disaster, repair or modification. This warranty also does not apply to any product on which the original identification information has been altered, obliterated or removed, has not been handled or packaged correctly, has been sold as second-hand or has been resold contrary to the US export regulations. As a condition to the obligation of Pearl to repair or replace such product, the product must be returned to the original authorized Pearl dealer where purchased together with proof-of-purchase satisfactory to Pearl. The warranty applies to the original purchaser and is non transferrable. All freight to and from Pearl is to be paid by the customer.
EXCEPTIONS:
Cables for cable hi-hats are guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of the original purchase. Any electronic devices are subject to their individual warranty.
DRUM SET SHELLS - LIFETIME WARRANTY:
Pearl warrants drum set wood and metal shells to be free from defects in material and workmanship to the original owner subject to the conditions and limitations set forth below. Pearl will, at its option, either repair or replace any drum set wood or metal shell purchased after January 2007 that proves defective by reason of improper workmanship or materials. Repaired or replaced drum set wood or metal shells will be provided by Pearl on an exchange basis, and will be either new or refurbished to be functionally equivalent to new or in the event Pearl discontinues the product model, a comparable current model shell will be substituted at the discretion of Pearl. Colors often fade with age and/or can be affected by sun, smoke, or other factors; therefore color matching cannot be guaranteed. Discontinued colors cannot be reproduced. This limited warranty does not cover normal wear and tear or any damage to this product that results from improper installation, accident, abuse, misuse, natural disaster, repair or modification. This limited warranty also does not apply to any product on which the original identification information has been altered, obliterated or removed, has not been handled or packaged correctly, has been sold as second-hand or has been resold contrary to the US export regulations. As a condition to the obligation of Pearl to repair or replace such product, the product must be returned to the original authorized Pearl dealer where purchased together with proof-of-purchase satisfactory to Pearl. The warranty applies to the original purchaser and is non transferrable. All freight to and from Pearl is to be paid by the customer.
LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
Shells (Marching): Wood marching shells are guaranteed against material failure or going out of round for a period of three (3) years from the date of the original purchase.
Drum Hardware (Marching): Drum hardware such as lugs, claws, tension rods, swivel nuts, strainers, and nuts and bolts are guaranteed against material failure and manufacturing defects for a period of one (1) year from the date of the original purchase.
Drum Hardware (Concert): Drum hardware such as hoops, lugs, claws, tension rods, swivel nuts, tom brackets, tom holders, strainers, and nuts and bolts are guaranteed against material failure and manufacturing defects for a period of three (3) years from the date of the original purchase.
Marching Carriers: Marching carriers are guaranteed against material failure and manufacturing defects for a period of one (1) year from the date of the original purchase.
Marching Cases: LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY! Pearl rotationally molded marching cases are covered by a LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY and are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship to the original owner. Pearl will, at its option, either repair or replace any rotationally molded case that proves defective by reason of improper workmanship or materials. Replacement rotationally molded cases will be provided by Pearl on an exchange basis and will be either new or refurbished for the exact model under warranty.
Educational Percussion (Snare Kits/Bell Kits/Percussion Learning Centers): Pearl Educational Kit products are guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase.
Adams Products: All Adams Products are guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. Mallet bar sets are entitled to one (1) free tuning during the period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. Individual bars may be exchanged as often as necessary during the period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase. For rosewood and padouk bars, Pearl/Adams highly recommends waiting for nine (9) months from the date of original purchase before exchanging or tuning the bars.
Pearl Percussion Products: All Pearl Percussion Products are guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship for a period of two (2) years from the date of original purchase with the exception of rims, lugs, tuning plates which are warranted for one (1) year. Cajon shells are warranted for two (2) years excluding the playing surfaces which are not warranted. The head on the Fun Drum is not warranted.
Pearl Taiko heads are warranted to the original owner for (1) one year from the date of purchase. Breakage prior to (1) one year is covered under warranty. It is the owner’s responsibility to adequately package the drum and send it to a Pearl authorized service center for repair at the owner’s expense. Pearl will repair the damaged head(s) as quickly as possible and prepay the return shipping. Breakage due to normal wear and tear or abuse is not covered under warranty.
Finish: Except for “special finishes" (see below), both the lacquer finish and covered finish on Pearl drums are guaranteed for one (1) year; however, Pearl does not guarantee against deterioration by reason of corrosive atmosphere, extreme temperature or other external causes.
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF WARRANTY
This Warranty Does Not Cover: This warranty shall not apply to the following: sticks, brushes, beaters, springs, straps, slings, heads, wire snares, cable snares, gut snares, snare cords/straps, cymbals, bass drum hoop protectors, or damage resulting from misuse, negligence, and/or alterations or additions to the product after acceptance. Pearl’s warranty does not apply to failures caused by the following: a.) Improper maintenance or repair, including the installation of parts or components that do not conform to the quality and specification of the original. b.) Instruments that have been altered, modified or have been damaged through misuse, negligence or improper operation. c.) Instruments whose trademark, name or identification number has been changed or removed. d.) Instruments subjected to abnormal strain, neglect, abuse, modification or exposure to extreme variances in temperature or humidity. e.) Special Finishes - Drum hardware and stands ordered with Black Chrome plated, Gold plated, Satin Chrome plated, Black Nickel plated, and lacquered finishes are highly sensitive to cosmetic damage that can occur during normal handling and use. Therefore, no warranty of any kind, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, is provided against cosmetic defects or appearance damage to these finishes. The obligation created by this warranty is limited to repair or replacement of the defective item at Pearl’s sole discretion.
Owner’s Responsibility: It is important that the owner/user be familiar with the proper maintenance and use of their Pearl instrument. Keep this warranty and proof of purchase in a safe place. Be prepared to provide purchase information to avoid undue difficulties in determining eligibility for warranty protection. If any service is not performed by Pearl, it will terminate this warranty.
To Obtain Warranty Service: Warranty service may be obtained by first notifying the Pearl dealer from which the product was originally purchased. Upon notification, the Pearl dealer must obtain Return Authorization from the Pearl Customer Service Department. This number must be written plainly on the outside of the package or the returned shipping carton will be refused. Returned merchandise must be accompanied by a copy of the original sales receipt. All freight and insurance must be prepaid by the original owner. Pearl will stand return freight, provided the defect is adjudged to be covered by warranty. Merchandise found to be not covered by warranty will be returned freight collect.
Warranty Limitations: This Limited Warranty is exclusive and made in lieu of all other warranties, and all implied warranties, including without limitation any warranties of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose which are hereby expressly disclaimed. In no event will responsibility be accepted for incidental or consequential damages of any nature whatsoever. Some states do not allow limitation on how long an implied warranty may last. Therefore, the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
Note: This WARRANTY applies to the United States only and may vary in other countries.

Featured Articles

Reviews

4.25

4 Reviews

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Small Venues4
  2. Accompaniment1
  3. School Bands1
  4. Nice intermediate Snare Drum1
  5. Practice1
Cons
  1. A couple of very small flaws on the bearing edge1
  2. Some Hardware Issues1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced3
  2. Novice1
Pros
  1. Great Sound4
  2. Sensitive3
  3. Versatile3
  4. Responsive2
  5. Huge Tone1
  • Awesome snare drum!

    5

    Verified Buyer

    submitted5 years ago

    byMichael R.

    fromThomaston, Ct

    Awesome sound! Incredible finish....looks fantastic! A good, versatile snare that doesn't break the bank!

  • Thoroughly impressed.

    4

    submitted6 years ago

    byJames

    fromGrand Rapids, MI

    In need of a decent replacement snare, I began to view my options for an extremely budget friendly replacement. I decided on this Pearl over the Yamaha & Mapex snares in the same price range due to the wrap & lifetime warranty. Removing this from the box, I was not only surprised on the weight of this snare, but how beautiful the wrap is as pictures do not do it justice. I tuned the heads a bit and was impressed by the sound, however there was quite a bit of reverb. Having previously purchased an Evans ST head last year for my old snare, and an Evans snare tune-up kit from an independent shop this year, I went to work to discover the potential of this budget friendly snare. Upon removal of the Remo's, I discovered two very small nicks on each bearing edge, along with a bit of roughness on the snare beds. I do not believe this is something to be concerned over, however still a bit disappointing. Come on China! I then installed the Evans ST batter, a clear Snare 300 resonant, as well as a set of Puresound Custom 20 strand wires. I tuned the heads to the best of my novice ability, and set the snare wires where they sounded the best. Initially, I had the batter tuned a bit low, but upon a good wallop, this snare delivered a deep thump, and when the wires were on, a sizzle that sent a shiver up my spine. All of this is something my old snare could never accomplish. After playing for a bit, I decided to revisit my tuning by slowly moving up to a higher pitch, similar to the one I heard in the only video on YouTube of this exact model. I was rewarded with a snare that sounds far pricier than one would believe. The ST removed the majority of the reverb I heard which I contribute to the Remo UT heads, while the PS Custom wires provides that perfect sizzle making this snare sound incredible for the price of entry.

  • Very nice birch snare drum for a great price

    4

    submitted7 years ago

    byBill S

    fromWest Warwick Rhode Island

    While at Guitar Center tried out several difference Snares line them up one by one and played with four different ones the Pearl a Tama(and I love Tama's) and a couple other ones. This one sounded really nice had a nice crack to it Took it out of the box it was pretty much already set up will replace the batter head though for an Evans right now out of the box sounds good but the price and when I looked at the price of dropped even better. The Burch as a really nice warm Santo it

  • Great First Upgrade Snare

    4

    submitted8 years ago

    bydbert1024

    fromKnoxville, TN

    I've had my drum kit for around 9 years now, but only recently have I thought about upgrading my snare. On the fence of whether upgrading was worth it or not, I went to Guitar Center (not many other stores around me that sell drums) to pick out a cheap-ish snare. I compared this one to a Tama 14x8 and went with this one based on price and personal preference to the sound. The snare sounded okay with the stock heads. It gave you enough crack for high-energy genres like punk or rock, but enough dynamic range to play ghost notes or rolls in genres like jazz and ambient. After upgrading my heads to an Evans G1 batter & an Evans Snare Side 300, as well as some 20-wire Puresound Blasters, this snare really shined, and aforementioned sounds really came through. On top of that, the finish is beautiful, and if you have a window in your practice room or stage lighting that points at this thing, the mother-of-pearl finish really comes through. However, you do get what you pay for. The overtones of the drum really stand out. I understand that feelings on overtones come down to personal opinion, and they're not really present when I practice, but when I record, the overtones really come through on the DAW and are hard to EQ out. On top of this, the throw-off for the snare wires feels really loose, and I worry that if I play too hard, the lever is going to collapse and lower the wires in the middle of my practice. Has this happened yet? Not at all. However, the lever doesn't stay in place when you flip the snare upside down, making tuning and changing the snare wires a pain. Otherwise, this is a great-sounding drum for the money, and once I get some more money, I'll be looking to upgrade it again, but this is a perfect snare drum to upgrade to from a stock snare (if you're on a low-end drum set, that is).

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Q&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • asked byDennis

    fromMt. Olive, Illinois

    Squier Strat Pack SSS Electric Guitar with Fender Frontman 10G Combo Amplifier, specs, state that it has a tremolo bridge, but it does NOT. Also how do you restring the instrument?

    Open Reply -
    I would recommend going online for a tutorial on restringing your instrument, or going into a Guitar Center store and a tech can assist you with this.