Hi everyone,
I'm a huge Premier fan and I have been in contact with a fellow who has a vintage kit up for sale. He believes it to be a 1958 year.
Seems to be in very good condition and is asking $1900 Cdn for the 4 piece kit plus cymbal stands and hi-hat stand.
I'm excited about the snare in particular as i think it's a Royal Ace?
Maybe someone could give me their opinion on the kit, and what wood material it's made from. Birch?
Cheers
Phil
Very nice drums! I think all of the Premiers of this era were birch with beech re-reings. I'm sure an expert will come along and straighten out BOTH of us soon.
My bpd kit has the same badges as yours, as does my Super Ace snare. I have seen similar kits on eBay, with modifications or in poorer condition, and with no snare, offered for around $800 USD. Hope this helps.
Looks like the 54 outfit (the model number, not the year) but likely late 1958 or thereabouts. Pre-international heads so you'll have that hurdle though not as much of an issue as it once was.
http://vintprem.moonfruit.com/#/1958/4533079923
Sparkle seems a bit shot on the snare (can't remember if they're Royal Ace or Super Ace on these outfits) but everything else looks pretty intact.
Pricewise it's the sort of level I'd be expecting to see here in Oz (where Prems are probably as plentiful as they are in Canada). You could argue marginally too expensive but there's not much in it, given the market.
They're great drums. A mate of mine here just got one and he's in love. Certainly in Australia, as vintage US drums all but dry up, the Premiers are much in vogue.
If you could get a picture of the snare that shows the throw-off, it would be easier to identify. The Royal Ace has a clam-shell type throw, while the Super has a handle (which is prone to breaking, as it sticks out perpendicular to the shell, which is why I had to replace the whole parallel lift system in mine).
AFAIK....Prem only offered 2 internal BD mufflers (like inyour pics) till 1963.......
Looks like the 54 outfit (the model number, not the year) but likely late 1958 or thereabouts. Pre-international heads so you'll have that hurdle though not as much of an issue as it once was.http://vintprem.moonfruit.com/#/1958/4533079923
Great link! Leaves me a bit confused, though. My kit has the same tom arm in the same position as shown above, but the pictures in the link you posted shows the tom arm lower on the kick. Also, on the 1960 page of the link, it shows a disappearing tom holder (which I don't have) and the kick spurs that I DO have.
Sorry if I seem to be hijacking this thread. I am as anxious to learn about this kit, since it is very similar to my own. I am awaiting the arrival of a ft for my kit today. When it arrives, I will start a thread of my own, as there are many questions I have.
Thanks for all your input folks. I guess my main concern is the price. Is this figure of $1900 with hardware or $1800 without in-line with what one would expect to pay for this model and age.
He says its a 13/16/22 combo along with the snare, but i think it must be a 12" rack tom. Don't think Premier made a 13" at that time.
Cheers, Phil
Just looked through the catalogs on the Identification page and you are correct. Even into the '70s, mounted toms were all 8X12 or 8X14. Might be a metric 8X14, but judging by proportions in the pic, looks like 8X12.
Great drums. Premiers of that era are indeed birch with beech re-rings, and that is definitely a Royal Ace. Now $1900 is on the pricey side, but then again European drums are much harder to find over there. Up to you man...
Alex
I must've sold my kit too cheap ($1000):). It had nearly all original hardware, bongos, Zyn cymbals, Hi-Fi snare and new heads all round. And it was absolutely mint. The WMP FT may have detracted a bit though, even though it came with the kit from new.
The earliest 54 models seem to have had the tom mount on the BD fixed further around the shell rather than on top so I'd say this one is very early 60s
