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Premier Super Ace snare wire restoration

Posts: 186 Threads: 11

I have this this old (50's) Premier Super Ace for some time now and finally managed to get new working wires for it.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/Premier14x55.jpg[/IMG]

it came with the original wire set missing 5 of the original 16 wires and the ones that were present were completely oxidized giving it a nasty snare sound.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/premier50ssnares1.jpg[/IMG]

Since day one I wanted to get new wires for it but these are rare... and I mean rare. These are long wires (even longer than Gibraltar extend wires currently in production) and with a special end metal tab that makes the wires curve a little bit when in tension. That little effect is crucial as these drums have the smallest snare bed. If you use a standard snare wire set with some cord it simply won't work.

Last week I managed to find a set of wires that had the right wire length (15"1/8) and was affordable (€9). Puresound is making reproduction wires for the Premier 2000 and the Royal Ace models but those are 1/8 of inch sorter and expensive (£45 ~€50 + shipping from the UK).

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires003.jpg[/IMG]

All I had to do was replace those metal tabs for the correct ones.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires004.jpg[/IMG]

myspace.jcymbal
youtube/jkcymbal
Posted on 15 years ago
#1
Posts: 186 Threads: 11

I needed to dissolder (is that a word?) those wires but have'em stay put before soldering the Premier tabs. I just grab some pieces of wood and some clamps.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires007.jpg[/IMG]

I'm leaving 4 wires out as I just need 16 to rebuilt the Premier set. Here's a close up.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires006.jpg[/IMG]

Got a soldering iron and a some pliers.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires009.jpg[/IMG]

Let the iron heat the whole metal plate and pulled the metal tab away with those pliers.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires011.jpg[/IMG]

myspace.jcymbal
youtube/jkcymbal
Posted on 15 years ago
#2
Posts: 186 Threads: 11

Got the old metal tab under those wire ends and solder it all.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires010.jpg[/IMG]

Did the same procedure for the other end.

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires012.jpg[/IMG]

and reassemble the whole thing

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires014.jpg[/IMG]

and it works! :) See the little curve that I was talking about?

[IMG]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f249/jcymbal/snares/Super%20Ace/PremierSuperAceWires013.jpg[/IMG]

myspace.jcymbal
youtube/jkcymbal
Posted on 15 years ago
#3
Posts: 2628 Threads: 40

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Just wanted to offer my applause on this one...heckuva job and probably took a lot of patience to do it, too....

Now, the Q...does it sound different ?[/COLOR]

www.2ndending.com
Posted on 15 years ago
#4
Posts: 186 Threads: 11

Yes Sir

the original snare wires didn't work at all. The drum had been "snareless" for... I guess more than 6 years now. So it did make a difference as now I have a fully functional snare drum!

Now I just have to find a way to make that solder look better. :D

myspace.jcymbal
youtube/jkcymbal
Posted on 15 years ago
#5
Posts: 10 Threads: 7

Hi,great pic's of your snare restoration.Can you tell me where you managed to get the long snare wires you used?I have an early 1960's Royal Ace,i managed to get a new set of snare wires for it but would like to try your restoration method on the old set of wires.

Many thanks,

Phil Martin

Posted on 14 years ago
#6
Posts: 170 Threads: 46

Bravo! Great idea, perfect execution, and great explanation and photos. This type of post is exactly why I love this forum.

BTW, that is one cool snare drum - I love the throw-off, with the handle going through a slot in the drum. I don't know how well it works, but it's a beautiful design!

Scott

Posted on 14 years ago
#7
Posts: 1071 Threads: 128

Hey dude that was amazing great job. it just goes to show when your stuck there is allways a fix. and a positive one

80's 13 pc sonor signature
1979 12 pc ludwig power factory
Posted on 14 years ago
#8
Posts: 1118 Threads: 30

OMG! Mind Blowi

Nicely done! Eye Ball

Truly inspiring! Thanks for the informative show and tell!

1970 Ludwig Downbeat
1965 Ludwig Hollywood
1970 Ludwig Jazzette
Posted on 14 years ago
#9
Posts: 635 Threads: 33

From checker758

Bravo! Great idea, perfect execution, and great explanation and photos. This type of post is exactly why I love this forum.BTW, that is one cool snare drum - I love the throw-off, with the handle going through a slot in the drum. I don't know how well it works, but it's a beautiful design!Scott

I couldn't have said it any better. Fantastic!

Posted on 13 years ago
#10
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