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My latest obsession

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 6:33 am
by karatestu
Trawling ebay for vintage Premier drums. Ooo the level of salivation here is huge. They have to be Premier and pre 1980 - proudly hand made in England. They look so cool and sound amazing compared to the crap which is churned out today by mass market producers. Sadly Premier are in a period of inactivity but their drums are a plenty in this country so lots to keep us drum nerds interested.

I dont want any of those yank drums - Ludwig, Gretsch, Slingerland, Rodgers. Its gotta be Premier. Not bothered for the Jap offerings either - Yamaha, Tama, Pearl. Most is now made in Taiwan or china these days although there is a thriving small custom drum industry in this country.

Been bidding on one of these , if i win it at a sensible price i am going to be very happy indeed :dance:

Image

Late 60's Premier royal ace snare drum. The snare wires are always under tension and then when the snare throw is engaged they are applied to the bottom head. The wires continue past the outer edge of the drum unlike ordinary snares which also dont have the snare wires permanently under tension. This is one of the best snare drums ever made (imo) as the snare wires are so sensitive to even the smallest stroke of the stick.

I could bore people about drums all day long if you want.

Re: My latest obsession

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 9:20 am
by Dr Bunsen Honeydew
I thought you were building some.

Re: My latest obsession

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 10:17 am
by Lurcher300b
What I can remember of the 80's and the drummers I knew, the kit to have then was by Somor and Zildjian, how do they stack up today?

Re: My latest obsession

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:21 pm
by karatestu
Yeah i am building the bass and toms. Snare is a bit tricky although you can never have too many snare drums.

Sonor are made in Germany and their top range stuff is very very nice indeed. Zildjian are of course some of the best cymbals around.

Re: My latest obsession

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:35 pm
by slinger
Of course, the "other" famous 80s drums were made by Linn. :whistle:

Re: My latest obsession

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:39 pm
by Fretless
slinger wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:35 pm Of course, the "other" famous 80s drums were made by Linn. :whistle:
Isn't that a different Linn? American?

Ringo played Ludwig drums - especially his snare sound was famous

Re: My latest obsession

Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:45 pm
by scotty38
My youngest is a drummer in a band, has a gig in Manchester tonight as it happens...

It's music Jim but not as we know it....

Re: My latest obsession

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2019 5:52 am
by karatestu
Fretless wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:39 pm
slinger wrote: Sun Apr 21, 2019 3:35 pm Of course, the "other" famous 80s drums were made by Linn. :whistle:
Isn't that a different Linn? American?

Ringo played Ludwig drums - especially his snare sound was famous
He started out with Premier though.

Who plyed Premier ?Keith Moon, Clem Burke, Nicko Mcbrain to name three

Re: My latest obsession

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2019 2:39 pm
by Dr Bunsen Honeydew
We want more hi-fi madness please.

Re: My latest obsession

Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2019 4:30 pm
by karatestu
Dr Bunsen Honeydew wrote: Mon Apr 22, 2019 2:39 pm We want more hi-fi madness please.
Oh yeah, i promise i will give you some more sound system amusement. My interest in drums (and drumming) has always been strong but it lessened whilst my kids were very young. Now they are not so demanding i am mad for it again. Stiĺl mad for soldering too.

Fixed a Cambridge integrated amp for a mate recently. Cost was two relay's and my time. He now thinks i am god :dance: but i hope he doesn't spread the word otherwise i will be inundated :snooty: