I've owned quite a few vintage Premier kits. Of course, when describing and discussing "sounds" we're in a rather nebulous study hall, all opinions being very subjective. My opinions below are directed primarily at the bass & tom setup comprising a full outfit. In general the wood shell Premier snare drums share the same characteristics I describe below, but a side by side comparison of vintage Premier parallel mechanism snare drums with Ludwig Supersensitive models or Rogers Dynasonics is best left for a separate post.

Early to mid 1950's Premier - with all calfskin heads - beautiful tonality and clear attack, with markedly reduced volume.

Premier mid 1960's kit - with original Everplay Extra heads - dry, with a sharp attack but 'round' tonality, and remarkably good long range projection. I believe they sounded better from a distance than they did up close. The metric sized floor toms in particular sounding in the higher range with sharp attack - more tympanic than U.S. A. floor toms. I recall that most of the vintage Premier shells of this vintage carried an innate overtone that almost demanded use of the tone controls or other muffling to quell.

I once owned quite a few 1970's outfits, one of them being natural lacquered birch with all birch interiors - the others with mahogany interiors and pearl wraps. All original Premier Everplay heads or Remo. Perhaps a slightly more 'neutral' sound befitting a rock player's kit - Decent but I truly don't recall anything remarkable in their timbre in comparison to some other brands made during the same period. I think that the mahogany shells sounded a bit "hollow" and thin.

Then there's the Premier Resonator Series - a most remarkable exception to all of the drumkits from 1970's/80's, and one of my absolute favorite drumkits. In my opinion one of the best playing and sounding kits of all time. Period. Their response and sound was fantastic - well defined attack with thundering volume, rich resonance yet controlled overtones needing no dampening. Truly unique drums.

Moving on, I gigged with a Signia kit back in 2000. It had superb sound and response but I honestly can't claim that it stood out from all the other top line competition.

I really have a difficult time relating to the modern Premier drums in the same way I once did. Nothing wrong with them, but they no longer have the stunning beauty, unique design, and sound which once distinguished them among the world's drum makers.

For a representation of Premier kits in the early 70's, check out the band Trapeze on You Tube. Although muffling with close micing was in vogue in those days, you might find tracks with a more natural open sound.

I'll agree with BUCKIE on all points, I will add the early Premiers were very easy and quick to tune, British threading on the rods may be a factor, I noticed that there is a slight pitch difference on the angle of the treads. I've used calf and mylars on my kit and snares got to the sweet spot right away. Everplay heads (stock heads for Premier), short collars, 5-7mils, crimp-lock hoops, always played well, couldn't kill them if I wanted to.

Standard, modern, generic rods fits any Premier insert.

Fear of special threads shouldn´t hold prospective buyers back.

Otherwise it is an interesting question - but I think that the difference between even two Premier shells, one being in birch and one in mahogany, will be a lot less audible than the change from coated Ambassadors to Emperors. I hereby also imply that the difference between a thin shelled Ludwig and a Premier will also seem insignificant compared to a change of heads....OR drummer.

The only Ludwig I have had - a late sixties kit - seemed louder and with more deep down punch than my Premier, almost all from the seventies. Mahogany Premiers are warmer and softer, more mellow, than their Birch stablemates.

As stated above - my late-model Resonators are in a class of their own, I think Yamahas quality control did them a lot of good....

Jon

Jon

Not true with the pre standard kits (slotted rods) the threads were different. I've stripped out lug inserts trying modern rods, they are not the same.

http://www.ring-plug-thread-gages.com/PDChart/BSW-thread-data.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Standard_Whitworth

Part of the Premier sound also has to do with the slightly undersized shell. I don't mean the pre-international sizes btw, but that they have always (that I know of) built their drums 3 to 6 mm smaller in diamater to help they way the heads sit on them. I think this is why Premiers really sing, as much as head choices and wood types IMO.

This said, I have to be careful to center heads when changing or they get off center easily and I have to start over, especially with Evans heads, which seem to be slightly larger than Remos.

The modern rods I have fit the inserts for my Premier kits from the early and late 60's. Not sure if this is always the case though

IF there is any difference at all, it has never been a problem of any of the + 50 Premier drums with slothead rods, I have had through my workshop.

A lot of people seems to think the slotted heads are trouble, which I never understood - there´s always a suitable coin or other piece of metal nearby. I have therefore sold drums with the choice, and never had any trouble.

Modern rods fit.

Jon

Just this week i made video of my own Beverley kit (basically an early 70s Premier, but with triple flanged hoops) and a video of my friend's Ludwig Classic maple. Both are on my youtube channel called aaronburrconspiracy.

Listen for yourself, but I think the Premier shells have a characteristic bright sound. Really a matter of taste and application. I was trying for the early Keith Moon sound. Open and bright. Of course, he had die cast hoops.

Here is the Beverley.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o4anMlaEjU[/ame]

From there you can surf to my channel and the Ludwig maple. No adverts on my channel!