In 1988, my drum kit underwent a serious change when I traded my Export and Simmons SDS9 kits for a Pearl BLX Pro Series drum set in a gorgeous Sequoia Red lacquer finish. The BLX (birch shells) and its relative the MLX (maple shells), were Pearl's top of the line drums between 1986 and 1995. In 1996, Pearl phased them out to introduce the thinner-shelled Master Series. At first, Pearl only offered a 4-ply birch set, the MBX model, but by popular demand, the original six ply BLX birch shell recipe was reintroduced as the BRX model.
The BLX was a favorite in Pearl's line up, competing with Yamaha's revered Recording Custom series. It's tonality was very similar to the Yamaha and the two kits had similar looks in terms of it's hi-tension lugs etc. Research and Designed by Pearl Japan, the BLX was one of the first kits to be produced in the new Taiwanese facility which went on to produce all of Pearls drums across the series (with the exception of CZX)
The BLX and MLX put Pearl on the map with its hardware innovations, improved shell design and finishing techniques, striking looks, and solid sound. Even to this day there are drummers who opt for these kits in both studio and live settings. If you've ever had a chance to sit behind and play one of these kits, you know why. My kit included a 10 x 8 rack tom, a 12 x 10 rack tom, a 13 x 11 rack tom, a 14 x 12 floor tom, and a 16 x 16 floor tom. The kick was a 22 x 16 Bass Drum, and the snare was a 6 1/2" x 14" steel shell "Free Floating" snare. The concept behind the Free Floating snare is that the shell itself has no hardware mounted directly which constricts its resonance. Also, shells could be interchanged without affecting the tension of the snare wires, or detuning/removing the bottom head.
I have always preferred birch shells over maple. Birch and maple are two of the most common woods used for drum shells and the differences between the two are subtle but noticeable to a discerning ear. Maple shells have a warmer sound with more bass and sustain, making them a good choice on stage. They're also the preferred choice for softer styles of music. On the other hand, birch shells have a brighter and crisper sound with a faster attack and less sustain. That makes them easier to control, well suited for recording, and are preferred for playing more aggressive styles of music.