I first saw the mouth watering Pearl MCX, 7 shell kit on the R&D website, researched it.....made 2010, snare included, and after a call to Martin, who assured me that it was in "as new" condition, decided to satisfy my drummers dream of a high-end (for me) maple kit. I've always been a devotee of Pearl, and wow, this kit is the muts!! Not only is it perfect, two of the drums (8"&16"toms)have never been played, not a mark on the batters, tags still attached!! The PR cases were similarly perfect, they still have the new smell and are still shiny. I have had nothing but honesty and excellent service from R&D and will go to them first for my percussion requirements from now on. Oh, and did I mention, they were delivered with TLC by Kevin to my house in Somerset.