Just my two cents, but I would stick with newer Premier drums with international size shells. Finding heads you like that fit a pre-international set properly could be hard. I have come close to buying Premier sets a few times, but always passed because of this issue. Last year, I could have scored a turquoise sparkle 60's Premier set for like $250, but I changed my mind. I came real close to buying a Premier set in Canada that was red marine pearl, an international shell kit. They were beautiful drums. The seller would not budge an inch on price, so I turned him down. They must have sold, because they're off Reverb now.

Those Ajax NU Sound drums rarely come up for sale anywhere. I check Ebay UK and British drumshop websites occasionally and they are rare. There's a set up on Ebay UK now, but it seems like most Brits aren't interested in shipping the drums to the USA. All the ads say, "free collection," meaning local pickup. I can't blame them.

I like the raspberry ripple finish on those Ajax drums. There was a set of these a while back on Reverb (they still may be up there for sale), but the seller wanted nearly $2000 for them, which I refused to spend on a special interest kit.

Try finding Carlton and Beverly sets here in the USA. They're non-existent.

Two years ago, I almost pulled the trigger on a turquoise sparkle set of Ajax drums from a guy In Ireland. I loved the look of this set; 22" bass drum, 13" rack tom and two 16" floor toms. I was just too nervous about shipping them. And the shipping charges were prohibitive. I passed on them and regret it now. I could have scored the drums for about $600 USD.

Thanks for the input! I've been reading up a bit and for the style of music I'm doing and tuning, I think the birch shelled Premiers may fit what I'm going for more. I've read the international sets are Mahogany shells with a darker sound, lower sweet spot and I do a lot of mid-higher tuning and generally like smaller drums. The 60s clips of Tony Williams, Blakey and Kenny Clarke playing Premier sets the toms sound amazing (the fact they're also among the all-time greats aside).

I saw that same Ajax on Reverb. $2K is definitely too high considering they've sold for under $1,000 in recent years, but the snare, condition and all the hardware are part of the deal. That said it's been at that price for 7 months and I'm also reading those Nu-Sound kits have lug snap issues similar to Rogers B&Bs. Definitely a no go. The seller of the Premier says he's got extra heads for the toms so I may go for it as it's listed locally at $500 negotiable.

Jay, here's the turquoise Ajax set I turned down. They were international sized shells, so that was a factor.

That sounds like a real good deal, as long as the seller has spare heads. The thing is, if you like specialized heads, like Remo Controlled Sounds or Clear Emperors, you might not be able to get those heads to fit.

In any event, good luck.

Jay, that red marine pearl Premier set is back up on Reverb, and still at the same price of $779. I would have bought those drums, if the seller had been flexible. He wasn't, and I didn't.

Oooof! I'd regret that myself. What a beautiful kit, and the sizes are spot on as well. I love the 2 floor tom set-up.

Great price to, especially considering the big sizes and condition, but the shipping might have been half, or better, than the price of the drums themselves!

You can get remo coated/clear ambassador pre international heads for the premier 12" and 16". Also pinstripes and fibre skin. Thats over here in UK. Sean

I saw he originally had them listed for $130,000. And dropped them to $850. Ooooookay. It could've been an error in listing but I saw an MIJ with an asking price of $2,000 recently so nothing surprises me anymore. I keep hearing that the toms are usually the drums that are pre-international. Are there sets with bass drums that are as well if you go back to the mid-60s? Just want to know what to look out for and what I'm getting into as far as buying replacement heads.

from what I deduce the toms; the 12 is undersized 11 5/8 (why you often see a remo USA riding out side the hoop) (It's mainly (the head fitting into) the steel drum hoop that causes head fit issues with the "12".... And the 16s are oversize 16 1/8" .

Again I suspect drum head ring Fitting into the Premier pre Int. metal beer barrel ear- hoop - being more the issue- than the wood' shell itself ...(maybe on the 16) . Speculation

20s and 22s I don't read too much about fit issues.

So you have 11 5/8" 12s and 16 1/8" 16s..

As seller states here: (see how US heads ride on metric Prem "12" hoops)

https://reverb.com/item/21680312-premier-drum-set-1960-red-sparkle

I took delivery new Sept 1971 of a PD 303 which were mahogany shell /beech ring /International size/ 8x12 8x14 (tuna) / twin dagger tom holders (yikes) 14x14/ 16x16/14x22/ 2000/ in mahogany duroplastic pearl wrap. (owned 1971-1996)

The Birch shell pre-internationals seem to be having a resurgence in interest at the moment- the couple times I've been around them- they are intriguing. Walked away from a set 30 years ago but still remember the time and place.

Like owning a vintage 60s Daimler sedan. Majestic and finicky,,, simultaneously.

https://www.google.com/search?q=60s+Daimler+sedan&sxsrf=ACYBGNTtnr_y72SroU01DDezYpGH5Mpltw:1579646889547&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJ-uKd45XnAhWyrFkKHXMGAXwQ_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1094&bih=486#imgrc=31EvwD6Ort9hwM: