Pearl now offers a new series of signature congas and bongos from artist Jesus Diaz. Designed for the seated player, the Thai Oak drums measure 30” tall and from the Quinto to Tumba feature added girth to the belly of each drum for a fuller sound. Seated conga players typically have to tilt the drum to achieve the desired projection, but the Jesus Diaz designed drums feature a 4” port on the front that is strategically positioned to deliver the maximum base frequency while the drum remains flat on the floor.
The drums also feature a newly designed Quick Release lug that is slotted to allow removal of the tension rod without fully removing the nut. Player comfort was also an important ingredient in the design of the hoop. A new ergonomically friendly design reduces the impact to your hands while an internal ring centers the head for accurate placement. The 7” and 8.5” bongos deliver cutting clarity and feature the same Quick Release lug design. The Quinto, Conga, Tumba and Bongos are finished in a matte lacquer titled Brushed Platinum #580 and feature natural buffalo skin heads.
Also new is the Black-To-Color wrap finishes with the Varsity Finish program for Championship Marching Series products. As an expansion of Pearl’s popular Varsity Series finishes, ensembles can now achieve the powerful Black-to-Color look on Pearl’s industry leading marching percussion products paired with either polished aluminum, chrome, or Blackout powder coat hardware. Varsity Black-To-Color Sparkle finishes let players choose top-fade, bottom-fade, and burst patterns fading from solid black to one of seven striking scholastic colors: red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange, or garnet.
Looking Back on 2025: A Year of Controlled Chaos (Emphasis on “Controlled”)