It's a cool set!

You may easy send your request to REMO on heads with pre-international sizes.

Some guys already discussed this problem:

http://www.remo.com/forum/post/view?bid=1&id=56366&sty=1&tpg=2&age=0

Lucky drumming!

I found the part numbers below on Remo's web site for heads they regularly produce for pre-international sized Premier drums. A Remo dealer can order them just like any other head.

BA-0110-PR- AMBASSADOR®, Coated, 10" Diameter,9-5/8" Actual Dia.

BA-0112-PR- AMBASSADOR®, Coated, 12" Diameter, 11-7/8" Actual Dia.

BA-0116-PR- AMBASSADOR®, Coated, 16" Diameter, 16-5/16" Actual Dia.

BR-1120-PR- AMBASSADOR®, Coated, 20" Diameter, 19-5/8" Actual Dia.

PS-0310-PR- PINSTRIPE®, Clear, 10" Diameter, 9-5/8" Actual Diameter

PS-0312-PR- PINSTRIPE®, Clear, 12" Diameter, 11-7/8" Actual Diameter

PS-0316-PR- PINSTRIPE®, Clear, 16" Diameter,16-5/8" Actual Diameter

PS-1320-PR- PINSTRIPE®, Clear, 20" Diameter,19-5/8" Actual Diameter

Remo is willing to make just about any head in those sizes, but heads other than coated Ambassadors or clear Pinstripes would need to be a custom order. You can call Remo customer service at 800-525-5134 to inquire about the custom order process.

Good to know !

I had a premier set the same age, and I found that all the drums (12,13,20) bar the 16 floor tom would take modern heads. I'm not sure why, but the kit was certainly of the same vintage as yours. I've heard that by fitting gaskets beneath the lugs, moving htem slightly further away from the shell can help too. As others have said though, old style heads are available, but there's no harm in trying regular heads and/or gaskets before you buy the vintage heads.

Some shells also have on the inside the stamp 'PRE-INTERNATIONAL' indicating that the so called 'metric' heads are necessary.

Don't worry, it doesn't lower the price due to the 'strange' head size. As mentioned before, REMO has them and they're accessible.

It confuses me that you say it's a fusion kit. 'Fusion' means 10/12/14 toms, right? But a 10" Premier toms was not produced back in the 60s, as far as I know.

If you have pics, we may judge about it to estimate what it's worth.

Ralf

Thanks fellows. As to the Fusion comment, I guess I need re-educating, I thought that a Fusion set was a 20" bass, 14" floor tom, and a 12" side tom. Anyway, that's the sizes of the drums, along with a regular 14" snare drum. So you all think they are great drums. What kind of ball-park price would you think was appropriate? I haven't seen the drums yet, but I'm assuming they are in fair condition. I've known the guy for 40 years, and I don't think he has played them very much.

Yeah, the 12/14/20 configuration is commonly known as a jazz kit. As Ralf said, "fusion" usually means 10/12/14/20 (often with a 12x14 hanging tom instead of a floor tom).

I wish I'd known that Remo still made metric heads! Years back, I picked up a nice BDP Premier kit in pre-international sizes for about $100, but they came without heads. I couldn't find heads at my local shop, so I returned the drums a couple of days later. If I'd only known...

I'm certainly not the vintage Premier expert, but then why would Remo make a 10" head to fit Premier pre-international drums?

If Remo makes a 10" pre-international head, it surely will be dedicated for Premier's bongos of that era.

Concerning the price, donothorpe: not only the conditions of the drums are relevant, also the type of snare (wood/ metal/ Aluminium, even a 2000 version?) is important to know ...! And what kinds of hardware are included?

If you'd offer me a cardbox stating 'there's a Premier's kit inside': I'd buy it blind for 100 US-$ and not one cent more.

If you open the box and let me have a detailed look inside, well ... then we might have to discuss seriously about US-$ 400 or 600 or even more.

Pics tell more than thousand words.;)

Ralf