Premier Drums Discussion

**naikon** · 01-06-2009, 08:14 AM

We should not forget about Premier Drums - the best drums in my opinion! Really love the artist maple series, sounds LOVELY!

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**mkennedy** · 01-06-2009, 08:25 AM

LOL. These dedicated threads are great. Premier definitely deserves it's own. I've never played any Premiers but I will say that for the most part all the kits I've seen by them have been very classy looking.

**kay-gee** · 01-06-2009, 08:34 AM

Keith Moon of the Who played Premier. Back home the pipe bands used premier equipment exclusively. Really crispy snares. I'd take a vintage set if I found one.

all the best...

**AndyC** · 01-06-2009, 09:00 AM

Never heard a Premier Bass Drum that didn't sound GREAT!

Used to have a Premier 12x6 Snare that was brilliant. Great backbeat, and if you cranked it up, the funk sound was awsome.

Their hardware was always good too.

Andy

**Norske** · 01-06-2009, 11:26 AM

My very first kit was a Premier 4pc back in about 1968, in white pearl. All my friends had Ludwig kits and they had never even heard of Premier, but they sounded as good as anything on the market.

I currently own a 1984 Premier 4pc kit, which I believe is an early APK. It is finished in a white wrap.

I also own some newer Premier hardware, and it's some really heavy duty stuff!

**naikon** · 01-06-2009, 03:28 PM

I use the Premier 6000 series cymbal stands, they are awesome, really takes care of the cymbals

**quikstang2** · 01-07-2009, 01:25 AM

I've got a 4-piece pre-international sized kit from the early 1960s. It was my first kit and I got it for my 13th birthday. I found a matching second bass drum and got it on my 23rd birthday. I occasionally look for the other sized toms and a snare. They're in mid restoration... funding and space have halted the process... :(
Anyways, they're 3-ply 4mm thick birch shells with beech reinforcement rings and bass hoops. The sizes are roughly 12x8, 16x16 and 22x14(two).

I've also got a Premier 2000 snare. I believe it's from the 1970s. I finally got the snare wires for it from Puresound but I think I'm going to sell it and wait to find an exact match to my other ones (I thought this one matched when I first saw it). I believe it's an aluminum shell with the parallel throw off system.

They are great drums, this thread needs to be a sticky for sure!

**=^-..-^=** · 01-07-2009, 09:13 AM

I have a soft spot in my heart for Premier because the first two kits I spent any time playing were Premiers - my instructor's kit, and the kit at the church I used to attend.

I have an ancient Premier floor tom that was part of my old kit for a while as the result of a bad trade. No fault of the drum; it just didn't go with the Tama's very well. This thing has round-topped screws for tuning lugs.

**kay-gee** · 01-07-2009, 09:14 AM

What is a sticky?

all the best...

**kay-gee** · 01-07-2009, 09:16 AM

That was a premier uniqueness I believe. Slotted tension screws you could tune with a coin. No key needed.

all the best...

**jack's_art** · 01-08-2009, 11:21 AM

i'll start.
this was my beginner kit. came in a black wrap and turned it into a natural finish. voila! sorry for the crappy pic....

**naikon** · 01-08-2009, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by jack's_art

i'll start.
this was my beginner kit. came in a black wrap and turned it into a natural finish. voila! sorry for the crappy pic....

nice! what series is that?

**jack's_art** · 01-09-2009, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by naikon

nice! what series is that?

olympic... as i said; beginner kit...

**ironfist** · 01-08-2009, 02:52 PM

I play Premier Genista , and I recommend them highly

**naikon** · 01-08-2009, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by ironfist

I play Premier Genista , and I recommend them highly

No underskin? Nice set btw

**Norske** · 01-08-2009, 10:21 PM

Here's my lil ole APK kit.......

**almostmatt1** · 04-16-2010, 05:04 AM

to ironfist. dude, small bass drum! what size is that

**jack's_art** · 01-08-2009, 11:15 AM

no pics anyone? i started out on a premier...

**fiacovaz** · 01-08-2009, 03:11 PM

Do any of you remember Premier H drum sticks? A drum solo adjudicator I had performed for when I was in high school urged me to use them. So, I did. As I recall, they were pretty good sticks for marching band and rudimental playing... had a nice balance and weight to them. Wow! I forgotten about those untill this Thread popped up...cool!

**quikstang2** · 01-10-2009, 12:29 AM

The other kit was a super early 1990s, if not 1980s, Mapex Mars kit. All I did to my Tama Rockstars was tung oil the insides. Thanks for the compliment!
As for the Premiers... I ran out of cash half way through. I think it'll work out well in the end though as I changed the direction I'm going with them. Since I have the VX to play I decided to take my time and have all the original hardware rechromed. It needs it badly. The hardware I bought for the "resto mod" will get used on another project down the road. I'm also going with a black pearloid finish (or whatever the appropriate version of that was for the time period). Right now I'm debating having the hardware done in black chrome. I think it would look great with the finish and add a little of my personality to it while still keeping it "original".
I still need to find a replacement bass hoop, claws and tension rods for the second bass drum. I'd like to do that before refinishing the hardware, especially if I happen to find more matching drums in different sizes along the way.

**quikstang2** · 01-17-2009, 12:09 PM

I found a snare that matches my kit on eBay last night. I'm debating it... the parallel action thing doesn't work and looks to be missing a few pieces. I hate that lousy throw off system...

**MetalMan1992** · 01-30-2009, 02:30 AM

My kit i currently have is a piano black mid 80's to early 90's Premier APK. Best kit i have ever had.

Premier FTW (for the win)

**kona** · 01-30-2009, 02:05 PM

I have a Premier Signia Marquis snare drum. I like it very much - a solid snare, looks and sounds great. I bought it second hand in a local drum shop last year. From the information I received about it on the internet it was made in the Premier factory in Leicester, England. I was told they are now made offshore?

In 1973 I bought a Premier 2004......sold it with my Gretsch Round badge in 1976 saddly to say. This is what it looked like...........a beauty of a drum. Snares on bottom and under the batter head. I remember paying about $100 plus trading in my Gretsch snare......to Ray Ayotte at Drums Only! in Vancouver, BC. http://vintprem.moonfruit.com/#/unus...ums/4513489088

The only photo I have of the Premier 2004 snare is this shot of my Gretsch in 1975 (the bass drum is from my first kit in 1965 - some Japanese drums).

**stealthdrummer** · 07-28-2009, 03:55 PM

Premiere Signia.....I really miss this set.

**vintage rocker** · 01-14-2010, 07:17 PM

i guess its ok for me to ask here ..what would this set be worth used condition ? i found one for sale and im looking to buy one like this..
Premier Signia Maple Custom 6 Piece Drum Kit

-Finish: Burnt Orange Satin

-Drum Sizes (width x depth):
Kick Drum (22" x 18")
Snare (14" x 5 1/2")
Low Floor Tom (16" x 14")
Second Low Floor Tom (14" x 12")
Second High Tom (12" x 10")
High Tom (10" x 8")

-Cymbals (size)
Zildjian A-Custom Ride (20")
Zildjian A-Custom Projection Crash (18")
Zildjian A-Custom Splash (10")
Zildjian K-Custom Dark Top Hi Hat (14")
Zildjian Quick Beat Bottom Hi Hat (14")

-Hardware (All Double-Braced)
Premier hardware throughout
Sound Percussion Cymbal Stands
DW 5000 Hi Hat Stand
Pearl Kick Drum Pedal
Roc 'n Soc Throne

-Cases
Hardware: Enduro Hard Case w/ Casters
Drums: Beato Soft Cases
Cymbals: Zildjian Soft Case

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Thread: Premier Drums Discussion

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