I've got a neat little kit that I'd like to trade or sell to get something else. In the long run, it would probably be easier to sell outright and then use the proceeds to shop for another kit (or partial kit). But since I'm not in a huge hurry to sell, and since everyone seems to be cash-poor these days (myself included), I thought going the trade route might be more fun/economical (or not, depending on shipping). LOL
I believe these Premiers are from 1972. I am the 2nd owner and these drums are super-nice. The original owner took great care of the drums... had them stored away in fiber cases for years.
[IMG]http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3766/img3283pe.th.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/425/img3284q.th.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/3204/img3285r.th.jpg[/IMG]
Premier had several levels of drums available in the early-70s and these are actually the nicer African Mahogany. They also have maple (?) reinforcement rings, so both of these attributes make them sound very similar to Slingerlands. I'm currently using a '65 Slingy Hollywood Ace with the kit and sounds great (but is not part of the kit). It is also wrapped in WMP, but is much more yellowed than the Premiers.
The rims are diecast and chrome really shines on all the hardware. There is no pitting on any of the chrome and all of the bearing edges are in fantastic shape.
The kit has all new Remo Ambassador heads top and bottom and I have the original Premier logo resonant head for the BD as well. The BD also has a cymbal arm (that telescopes out of the drum). I also have the hardware to mount the rack tom to the BD (I haven't used it at all for my current gig).
Here's a photo of the split wrap on the BD. The shell itself is perfect. The wrap on the other drums has tight seams and no cracks at all. I simply used some packing tape to make the wrap lay flat on the BD At one point I thought of rewrapping the entire kit (including the Hollywood Ace), but snare matches "close enough" and the kit really looks great as-is.
[IMG]http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2113/img3286gr.th.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5446/img3287b.th.jpg[/IMG]
The kit also came with a Premier flat-based high-hat stand (also in fantastic shape). The FT is missing all three legs and one of the set screws. I have several sets of FT legs from other kits, but the diameters are all too large. Does anyone have a source for these legs? Since I am playing the kit standing, the FT is actually in a snare stand, so I haven't missed the legs. :-)
Because there is a split in the BD wrap, and since the Hollywood Ace is yellowed, my current plan (unless a trade pops up) is to rewrap the three Premier drums and the Hollywood Ace to match. Before I invest $300 in wraps (and possibly ruin the Premier kit for a hardcore Premier collector), I'm wondering if someone on the board has some drums they might be looking to trade. I could trade the Premier kit with or without the Hollywood Ace, depending on what folks are interested in. I'm also fine with cash being used to even things up (from either end of the trade).
What I am looking for...
I really love playing my old Radio Kings. But the 24" BD (with clip on spurs) and 16" FT is just a lot of bottom end to lug around for such a minimalist kit. I'd love to find a RK 20" (maybe 22"?) BD and matching 14" FT. I don't need a rack tom, but if it's part of a kit that should stay together, I can work with that. I'm totally fine with two orphans that have been brought together. If there is a snare, great, if not, I'll keep the Hollywood Ace and can rewrap as needed.
There's actually so many possibilities, I'll just quit while I'm ahead and see if there's any interest in the Premiers. They really are fantastic sounding drums and the rims/lugs are shiny as new. If it weren't for the BD wrap being split, I would probably just keep them and leave well enough alone.
Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long read! I can snap additional pics and answer any questions (hopefully). :-) Here's a shot of the kit in action at a recent show (opening for Junior Brown at the Haw River Ballroom):
[IMG]http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5631/57820810150679787747756.th.jpg[/IMG]
-murph
