One other point. My 2005 is a traditional thin shell, 3 ply with re-rings... very different from the resonator shell. It has been so many years since I had the opportunity to try a resonator snare that I can't remember how its sound may have differed from my drum.

Ron

Yes. That's an interesting setup if you ever get the opportunity to check it out. He had these large shallow single headed Tom looking drums on one side. It was a Premier Resonator as far as I can recall.

Here's a couple of pics of that tour. You can clearly see the Premier badge and the shells. You can also see those odd shallow drums on the side.

I wanted this kit bad when I was a highschooler. I got a Premier Royale to appease my need for Premier. Ha! What a let down. It only kinda looked a little like that. I love that hi hat stand Supraphonic. Did you keep it? I guess you probably got rid of it along with the kit. That is my favorite hi hat I ever owned. Mine broke at the foot on the single leg side that holds all the weight. I was sad after I found I could not get a replacement. That thing was so buttery smooth. Nice kit.

Incidentally, I thought the Black Shadow was a Resonator with different lugs. If I remember the old pic in Modern Drummer I thought it had split lugs like these floor toms and not a long high tension lugs on the toms like these do. Is Black Shadow just that wood Black finish or was it a special series? I am no Premier expert but I did like those drums.

your premier's are real winner's for sure they sound big and look cool to boot.

I put a 22" aquarian impact 3 bass head on my early resonator, wow what power. hold on to those drums if you ever sell them you will be sorry .

...FYI, the picture of my resonator drums from the previous page was taken in 2005, (hence, why the pic name is premier2005aaa) but I bought the kit in 1986. Sorry if this confused anyone. Doh! ...But like one of you stated, yes, all of the shells with my kit are stained black on the inside. Also, one of the floor toms I ended up selling, did have the split tuning lugs like was also mentioned. Back then like 1987 or so, I bought a 16x16 and my current 18x16 at seperate times, about 1 1/2 years apart. Funny thing though, I was even confused at the time because of the differences with the two. My 16" had split lugs and did not have the "resonator" tag, where as my 18" had the full lugs!! hahaha. But yes, they BOTH are/were resonator. ....My deep shell snare (14x8) in this second pic however, is NOT a resonator. I think it's 8ply, with the reinforced hoops at both ends. It also has a "brace" on the inside shell (to keep it's ovalation I suppose) and has two seperate snares that are held in place to the strainer with phillip type screws. No strings or plastic straps crap. Built VERY well and sounds AWESOME!! I LOVE this kit.......

PS the rims and lugs on the snare are slightly pitted. Any way to fix this WITHOUT having to replace them?

Most of the Reso shells were painted the colour of the wrap

the Black Shadow is a distinct model not a Resonator because it have some exclusive specifications

it is based on Resonator shells technology but with specific single lugs on toms

black shadow finish and power size shells were exclusive to this kit in 1983

power size shells became available for Resonator in 1985

later the black shadow finish was added to the 1987 catalog for Resonators

it was maybe the first inside painted shells in Premier history

resonator shells are standard size:

12x8

13x9

16x16

22x14

black shadow shells are power size:

12x10

13x11

16x16

22x16

there is 2 matching snares with this kit:

14x6.5 ref 2006

14x8 ref 2008

same finish but without the resonator ply

If you have them for sale let me know please

I love them

I learn something new up here every time.. My education with certain vintage drums is lacking, and with Premier it's no exception. As far as value goes, here in Quebec, they wouldn't go for much, probably in the $400-500 if you're lucky, as there's just not much demand for Premier, let alone a vintage ones.. Only collectors or Premier enthusiasts would be interested in paying top dollar for a kit like that..

But that's just here in this province. I think in Ontario and other Canadian provinces they're more forgiving with the vintage drum market. I put up my Ludwig Piccolo Downbeat snare drum in WMP finish for sale, just to test the waters (with no intention of selling it, just sheer curiosity) and not one offer in a week. I had it at a fair $400 considering the rarity and demand for such a snare drum.. Not 100% original, (tensions rods, snares, and one rim) but the rest was a 7 on 10.. So i think it all depends on your location and demand for that particular drum..

I have a set of these... 8/10/12/13/14/16/22. A friend has the other Kick. All have split lugs except the 8 and the kick. The 8 was a special order later on,finished in black. No res shell, yet it's the only one with the res badge.

I think the kicks never had a split lug. Mine has t-rods as well.

And now I'm wondering if the B. Shadows had slotted tension rods. Mine have regular ones and I see that they are on the O.P.'s kit as well.

The Kit had ho snare. Found a metal Hi-Fi with an inner wooden liner a lot like the Res's. It seems like these snares came without this inner shell for the most part. I've seen one other with, the rest without.

Any extra info regarding these snares and rods?

Re: resale...these kits don't do as well as they should online.Back in the day these drums listed higher than Gretsch. An example from the 1986MD Price Guide...16x16 Res $410. 16x16 Gretsch $337. The Shadows were not present in the guide. I'm betting they would have listed for a higher price.