Please help: Is this a used Pearl Export or am I being ripped off?

[erizzlerock]

I've been looking for a decently-priced, used, entry-level drumset for a while, and I found a $150 steal on craiglist (if it's legit). It's a Pearl Export series drum kit that includes three toms, a snare, a bass drum, high hat, crash, splash, ride, and a single and double bass pedal. Apparently, I might have to buy new heads, and the hardware might need replacing, but it's used, so that's to be expected. Trouble is, I'm just buying this to try and supplement my guitar playing with some drumming on the side (learning multiple instruments is always cool), so I don't know much about drums. And the kicker is, the pictures he sent leave me wondering if this IS a Pearl Export. Especially since one of the drums says YAMAHA on the side. Are there any distinguishing signs that this is the drumset he claims to be? What should I look for?

The following are the pictures he sent. The third picture is the one that says yamaha, and the bass drum seems to have something written on it too, but it's so blurry I can't make it out.

[Pavlos]

Not sure if those are exports or not (obviously the Yamaha drum isn't) but for $150 and some new heads it could get you up and running. Try talking him down to $100 or $125. That looks to be worth about $150 so I don't think it's a ripoff.

[MikeM]

That floor tom looks to be the only Yamaha based on those pics. It's perhaps the best drum of the bunch. And the others do look like exports to me. With the cymbals and hardware that go with it, it seems unlikely that $150 will be a rip off.

[erizzlerock]

you think the yamaha piece will still sound good (if not better) with the exports?

[GRUNTERSDAD]

that's the advantage of Craigslist.. Usually they are close so go over and take a look.

[MikeM]

Originally Posted by erizzlerock

you think the yamaha piece will still sound good (if not better) with the exports?

Yeah, for what you're going for, they could all be from different makers and it wouldn't matter at all, IMO. But I would check to see if he has the hoops and tension rods for the bottom heads, though. Toms with bottom heads sound much better so you'll need those pieces for sure. If he doesn't, you should consider what it'll cost you to replace those and suggest an appropriate price readjustment.

[DrumEatDrum]

Looks like an early 80's Pearl Export.

Except for the drum that says Yamaha.

$150 is fair.

Keep in mind, Exports improved a lot in quality over the years. An 80's export is not the same as a more modern export kit.