I have found no position the Yamaha "type" ball thing is capable of that my Pearl tom arms can't do. Plus Pearls arm will hold the tom angle and still allow you to rotate the tom 360 without changing the height or angle! You cant do that with the Yammy! And there's less bulk on the Pearl's knuckle than the Yamaha so it fits in smaller space. I don't understand what the question is! Why do some of you think the Pearl tom arm is limited or less articulate than the Yamaha? The Pearl is most certainly MORE articulating. I just fail to see how you come to that conclusion! This is almost like the argument that Tama drums are better because they have more plys than Pearl! Pfft!
You know I realize theres a great deal of "to each his own" in hardware and drums and color and cymbals. That's why these "what's the best (bla blah blah) discussions are often fruitless. But I say to you, if you can't get your toms where you want them with a Pearl tom arm, I'd bet dollar to doughnuts it's operator error!

And finaly for Bart and everyone wondering what I'm comparing, here's the Peavey Tom Arms I have made under Yamaha's patent...aka the Uniball!



I currently use the Pearl TH-100s on my gigging kit. They freaking rock for me.

To proclaim Pearl mounts as superior to Yamaha ignores several critical realities of the two systems.

First of all, both systems allow for flexible position of the toms in any practical position. Thus, the difference is not in the product, but in its operation. In terms of software, users unquestionably would prefer a program with an intuitive interface to access its features over a program with the same features, but a more difficult interface. The Pearl arms have a more complicated interface to provide the same practical benefit.

With the Yamaha, you put the mount in the stand to get it close to the right position. Then, you put the drum on the mount, hold the drum where you want it, and tighten the nut. The Pearl requires more steps to produce the same result. You have to position the mount in the stand more carefully because it is your only means of moving the drum horizontally, short of moving the entire stand. Then, you put the drum on the mount. To position the drum at the correct angle, you must now adjust two more factors. First, you rotate the drum on the mount, and then you adjust the angle of the arm itself. This is all one simple step on the Yamaha. The height of the mount in the stand is of equal convenience for the two.

This then leads to the ease of adjustment from an almost comfortable position. The Pearl allegedly allows maintenance of an angle, while allowing rotation or vertical adjustment of the drum. This advantage is both illusory and superficial. On the Yamaha, rather than adjusting the tom at the ball, the entire mount can be rotated or adjusted vertically without changing the angle. The Pearl can be changed by the same means. This benefit is also largely superficial, though. If you want to preserve the drum's angle relative to the throne, neither system can accomodate this. Any adjustment of position automatically adjusts the relative angle to the throne. So, with the Pearl, you then have to return to adjusting both the angle of attachment to the mount and the angle of the mount arm. With the Yamaha, you loosen the nut, and put the drum where you want it.

Thus, this only leaves the disadvantage of the size of the Yamaha mount. This is my only complaint about them. Since their triple tom holders are designed to accomodate this, it really is not much of a nuisance for set-up. Also, the minimal amount of space saved provides only negligible convenience to possible set-up.

Overall, they are both still considerably better than any L-rod system. Each provides a stable and secure hold to the tom, and with correct use, they allow comfortable positioning of the drums. The Yamaha mounts accomplish this with both a more flexible and intuitive interface.

Where is the range of movement that a Pearl arm has the a Yamaha does not have and how does it possibly improve the ability to position a drum? Near as I can tell, you refer to the fact that the Pearl arm allows a greater angular adjustment as you can tilt the arm until it's just a straight pipe. Whereas, the Yamaha lets the arm go up to at most 45 degress. However, angles beyond that are of insignificant benefit, unless you want a drum with the heads parallel to the wall.

Go ahead and like Pearl arms better, but at least do it for reasons that actually affect something. For example, the bulk of the knuckle can be an inconvenience. My mounted floor tom is set-up similarily to the picture you provided. With a little creativity, I have the drum exactly where I want it and I have my ride cymbal exactly where I want it. It might have been easier with the Pearl arm, but I'd still have to go through all the steps to adjust it. Meanwhile, I had no trouble whatsoever with my rack toms.

So, don't be surprised if some day I have a kit that has the rack toms mounted with Yamaha mounts and the floor tom on a Yamaha mount.

Again, Pearl and Yamaha style mounts completely blow away any other system, so the differences between the two are negligible to me. I will not ever buy a kit that uses any system but one of these two, until they develop a means to have the drums hover exactly where I want them without any mounts whatsoever.

Go with whomever floats your boat bro. That's what I said! If you dig it, BUY IT!  I prefer the Pearl arm personally.
And I think it's funny that I clearly said the Pearl allows more movement and is more articulating than the Yamaha, and you agree that it is, only for you it's not necessary!

Near as I can tell, you refer to the fact that the Pearl arm allows a greater angular adjustment as you can tilt the arm until it's just a straight pipe. Whereas, the Yamaha lets the arm go up to at most 45 degress. However, angles beyond that are of insignificant benefit, unless you want a drum with the heads parallel to the wall.[/i]

But thank you for clearing that up! LOL

Percussion you say; One of the biggest disadvantages when using the pearl mount, is that when you put the tom on the mount it doesn't lock onto anything, it is just located on a round arm.

Sorry bro you forgot the memory lock. It does indeed lock into something. The fact that the post is round further prove my statement about range of motion. You can rotate the drum 360 degrees that way too. You CAN'T on a Yamaha.  
Anyway, again you guys, we can go back and forth for days. I'm not selling you Pearl, and you're not going to sell me Yamaha and really, I'm ok with that. Hope you two are as well. Rock on bro!

I'm not offended in the least.   I found it all rather amusing actually.   The fact remains the Pearl arms do indeed have a wider range of movement than the Yamaha. That was my point from the beginning.

I just so happen to have both Yamah and pearl toms on my kit, and i have to say that I think pearl ones are better, plus more versatile, because the arms can also fit in a variaty of cymbal stands, where as i have to use snare stands for my Yamaha because its so aukward

And actually.... I'm a Yamaha hardware salesman!!!   No I'm really not, but it would've been humorous. Since you know you really want that Yamaha hardware.  

Ok, here we go.

With all due respect to Bonham, I would never put a tom on a snare stand.  Try it, take your 12" tom and put it on your snare stand.  Now hit it, listen to the shortened decay.  After that, take the same tom and hold it by the rim, or the suspension mount, hit it, and listen to the much warmer longer decay.

A snare stand mounted tom is not a solution in this discussion, or anytime in my opinion.

OT but you can leave the arms or the snare stand loose and it won't cut the resonance as bad. Just let the snare sit on the stand. Don't clamp it down tight. Most of you know that all ready, I just thought I'd throw that out there. Cuz I'm a helper you know!LOL

That's a frequent problem with bass drum mounted tom arms.  You need the bass drum receiver closer to the resonant side of the kick.  The other option would be a small rack.  That frees the toms to be placed anywhere in relation to the bass drum.