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So I have some Premier's, I'm just not sure which!

Posts: 7 Threads: 1

Good evening guys, I'm hoping to get a bit of help regarding my Premier's. I've had them for a long time; they were my first real kit given to me by my drum tutor and mentor back in 1994-ish, and he'd had them a long time prior to that.

They have had some work over the years, prior to me getting them. I'll try to list what I know/think has been done to them as I go on. I should note, pay no attention to the badges. Pretty sure all these drums have been rewrapped at some point (except maybe the floor tom) and the toms have two badges each, none of which match in age/style.

I'll start with some pics, and sorry they aren't the greatest. The kit isn't set up anymore; I don't have room to keep drums at mine so they live on top of various wardrobes and cupboards at my mothers house until hopefully one day when I do!

The bass drum. 22x14, 8 lug. This has had replacement spurs, the top centre section of the shell has either been replaced or patched, and the whole thing re-wrapped. It's has had two large round internal mufflers fitted, batter and reso, at some point too. Looks to be made from mahogany (thin, I'm thinking 3 ply?) with re-rings, either beech or birch. I replaced all the front tuning rods with square head ones so they matched my second kick, and also to make it easier to which the front head off.

I should mention - the first inside pic (4th pic total I think) is the inside looking at the top of the drum - as if you were laying in it looking up. That's the section that has been replaced/patched, most like for a tom holder delete I suspect

[IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/330r6hf.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/2i22c76.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i66.tinypic.com/zl27fq.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i65.tinypic.com/ebeeqw.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i68.tinypic.com/293bqs9.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i65.tinypic.com/2gtryme.jpg[/IMG]

Posted on 8 years ago
#1
Posts: 7 Threads: 1

Next, the floor tom. I believe this is 16x16, although it might be 16x15, I've never actually measured it. I'm pretty sure this is all original, possibly rewrapped (and maybe the badge). But I can't see any other holes for different leg brackets or different lugs or anything. Die cast hoops top and bottom, slotted tension rods with the short thread, and single internal muffler. Thinking it's birch shell (thin, possibly three ply) again with either birch or beech re-rings.

[IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/14o7n7m.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i67.tinypic.com/jpucye.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i65.tinypic.com/a4bgio.jpg[/IMG]

Posted on 8 years ago
#2
Posts: 80 Threads: 3

Looks like a mahogany kick and if badge is correct and has no serial number it puts them at around early 70's.

Tom looks as if it is birch with beech re rings tho!

Posted on 8 years ago
#3
Posts: 7 Threads: 1

Lastly, the tom. I have two toms, 12x8 and 14x10, and they are identical in every way, so I only took pics of the 12". These have definitely had new tom holders, as the shells have holes for a penetrating tom arm, and a different bolt pattern. Look to be the same construction as the floor tom; thin birch shells with birch or beech re-rings and both have die cast hoops, and the slotted rods with short threads. Both have the same small, rectangular internal mufflers inside, one per drum (batter side only).

[IMG]http://i64.tinypic.com/2j0f53m.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i64.tinypic.com/outchl.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i65.tinypic.com/10n6wsl.jpg[/IMG]

Posted on 8 years ago
#4
Posts: 7 Threads: 1

Originally I thought it might be an Elite, then I realised Elites have ten lugs per kick. So then I thought it might be a B303, as it's 12" and 14" toms, 16" floor and the larger 22" kick. But I'm stumped as to why it has different shell materials, unless it's a mongrel - which is entirely possible I suppose. I know the shop very well it came from, or at least had the work done by (you can see their badge on top of the bass drum - Supreme Drums in East London, sadly closed now) so it's entirely possible it came from them to my tutor as a second hand mongrel kit. Possibly it's the same series, but different time periods, hence the different woods? That's why I'm here, asking for your experience and knowledge!

Posted on 8 years ago
#5
Posts: 80 Threads: 3

Top tom is older and from the early/late 60's due to different badge.

Posted on 8 years ago
#6
Posts: 7 Threads: 1

Ignore the badges Gary, like I said I'm pretty sure the entire kit has been rewrapped and the badges on the toms don't even match themselves, let alone the other drums. The tom holders have definitely been changed as can be seen from the pics of the tom in my third post.

Posted on 8 years ago
#7
Posts: 80 Threads: 3

If the badges aren't original then it could be a made up kit but dagger mounts are late 60's to early 70's and mahogany is early 70's so it could be a hybrid or even had an earlier rack tom added to a 70's kit.

Posted on 8 years ago
#8
Posts: 249 Threads: 3

Plenty of transition kits had a mix of African mahogany and birch drums.

The 14 x 10 should be mahogany as that size wasn't released till 1971

Badges with serial numbers began in 1970

Posted on 8 years ago
#9
Posts: 7 Threads: 1

I'll have a look at the 14x10 next time, but I'm pretty sure it's birch?

Posted on 8 years ago
#10
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