is it the new maple export or discontinued poplar shell. either way the tama may be the better value. it is a birch/basswood combo and comes with strong die cast hoops. the hoops are almost enuff to be the selling point for me as pearls export uses thin 1.6mm flanged hoops.
for same price you might be able to check out pearls new vision series, wich replaced the export. it is also a birch/basswood and comes in some nice laquor finishes, i like the new lug design with brass inserts. it also carries the new lifetime warranty on the shells. unfortunatly it comes with the same crappy hoops. if it at least came with 2.3 superhoops it would be near the top of my list for intermediate kits.
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