PREMIER DRUMS?

[pan60]

anyone know much about PREMIER drums?
good, bad, okay, or junk?

[GravityRobert]

Depends on the series, era and material used. Generally speaking, their kits are good thumbsup

[nandoanalog]

Premier was a BIG name a few years ago at Portugal. I don`t remember the model, but I know they have a very good one.

Just for the record.... Not my drum of choice.

[matt thomas]

the drummer in my band is sponsored by premiere.

he used to have a premiere endorsement kit we thought was good, and about two years ago they insisted on giving him their new model, he didn't want it because he liked his old one so much, but then we heard the new one and we couldn't be happier. I don't know the model, its made out of two different woods, the sound is loud with good body, in a similar way that a good violin has body to its sound.

That said, I don't think we've ever used the snare drum

also it should go without saying that they make a large range of drums.

narco

[chetatkinsdiet]

One of the oldest drum makers out there. British company....back in the 20s-30s many jazz players used them. In the 50s through 70s they were up there with the rest of the american companies. I've always thought that their chrome plated parts are the best in the industry. You'll never see a vintage Premier kit with flakey chrome. The story is that they either used, or shared the chrome plating company that worked with Jaguar. So, needless to say, it doesn't get any better. The drums have always sounded great. Most european rock players in the 60s used them. Ringo's kit just prior to their coming to america, Kenny Jones in the Faces, Keith Moon, etc, etc, etc....
The only "classic" line to watch out, or flat out run from, are the Resonator's. This was a really goofy concept that I won't go into here, but trust me, they sound like poo.
Sometime in the late 80s or early 90s, they were sold to Yamaha. Yammy did a great job of turning the company around. Their top line kits are still great....they typically employ a very slightly undersized shell that makes the head drape over the edges...a la, Tama's gong bass drums. It really makes their drums sing.

They have the usual starter and intermediate kits as well. I think most are Asian produced kits. I'd say a bit better than usual, and typcially priced just above their Tama and Pearl counterparts.

later,

m

[pan60]

i was offered a deal on a Artist Heritage Jazz kit.
about half of retail.
but it is not local so i can't set down and try them.
so all info is welcome.

[earldrum]

Originally Posted by pan60

i was offered a deal on a Artist Heritage Jazz kit.
about half of retail.
but it is not local so i can't set down and try them.
so all info is welcome.

Hi Pan:

Personally, I'd recommend a nice maple Gretsch kit, but here is what I know about the artist heritage jazz kit is 6ply/6mm 100% Birch shell construction. The drum sizes are the smaller jazz sizes with an 18" bass drum. If the smaller sizes are what you are looking for then this kit seems like a nice kit and a lot of their endorser use the artist series kits.

I always wanted a nice birch kit like the Yamaha Recording Custom kits made famous in 80s and 90s. Those drums were birch shells, always sounded great, and many great drummers still make hit records using those drums today.

[chetatkinsdiet]

Yep...nice little birch kit. Not the first thing that comes to mind when i think small jazz kits, but really, the type of wood used is a bit overrated (please no flames). As long as it quality wood and everything is constructed up to par, it should sound great.
In addition to the Yamaha RC's, there is also the original 80s Tama Superstars and a host of other fine birch kits. The Premier Genista's were really, nice birch drums from a few years back.

If they're cheap enough and you don't want to try to track down a vintage kit, then I say get em. You probably won't go wrong.

m

[MrVelvet]

I had a Premier kit when I learned drums as a kid. It sounded really bad. But then again, my playing was really sloppy, so there ya go. What goes around comes around, I guess

[pan60]

i have a nice vintage ludwig set now that i plan to keep, it is the older six play maple without the enforcement rings.
very nice sound with the large twelve lug set-up.
it is a basic kit but dose the job and sound's great.
i was just looking at a smaller kit to set up for a different sound, smaller, and these got my attention.

[flail19]

My "go to" snare is a premier signia (maple). For the money it is hands down my idea of good.

[pan60]

here is a link i found
******//www.premier-percussion.com/catalogue.asp?id=299

[GravityRobert]

Originally Posted by pan60

here is a link i found
Premier Percussion - Home

thumbsup Nice looking finish but the Artist series are made in Asia, I believe so they're up there with similair brands. Whats the retail on these things? - Like 1800? So you're paying close 800 for the kit? For that money you might be able to grab one of those small Gretsch catalina jazz kits, they sound pretty killer Plus, Gretsch has a really solid resale value, that's something premier is inferiour in (at least here).

[pan60]

list is : $1,695.00 but they are be offered at 699.00
i do not really need them it just looked like a bargain and as i say i have been looking to get a small jazz set so they peaked my interest.

[GravityRobert]

Originally Posted by pan60

list is : $1,695.00 but they are be offered at 699.00
i do not really need them it just looked like a bargain and as i say i have been looking to get a small jazz set so they peaked my interest.

Good deal. 700 bucks for a killer Premier kit

[earldrum]

Originally Posted by GravityRobert

thumbsup Nice looking finish but the Artist series are made in Asia, I believe so they're up there with similair brands. Whats the retail on these things? - Like 1800? So you're paying close 800 for the kit? For that money you might be able to grab one of those small Gretsch catalina jazz kits, they sound pretty killer Plus, Gretsch has a really solid resale value, that's something premier is inferiour in (at least here).

Hi Pan & Robert:

The Gretsch Catalina Club kit with the 18" kick, 8x12, 14x14, 5x14 snare is a great sounding kit for about $500. But the Gretsch Catalina Club kit is a mahogany wood kit which I think sounds closer to an old Ludwig kit than a Gretsch kit. It is really not an apples to apples comparison with the Premier Artist kit.

Also, I will say that I have been tempted to buy the Greatch Catalina Club kit because it has a really fat "vintage" (i.e., old Ludwig) sound IMHO (except for the snare which is a throw away). Also the kit can be bought for a really reasonable price. I personally don't know about the future resale price of this kit, but for $500 bucks you can't go wrong for a working club date kit and decent sounding jazz studio kit.

[ArnieInTheSky]

I know when Yamaha wanted to make a low end kit, the asked Premier to manufacture them since they weren't too busy doing their own stuff. Remember the Power V's? They Sucked! Yamaha moved manufacturing to Indonesia and changed the kits to Stage Customs which were ten times better. I don't know... The name brand guys, I mean the real name brand guys, Yamaha, Sonor, Tama. They make great kits from top to bottom. My humble opinion.

jl

[cajonezzz]

They can be GREAT drums Pan. like any other drum, you get some variety from kit to kit.

I think chris Whitten would be the cat to ask... i think he's a premeir guy from long ago?

he posts here, maybe hit him w a PM.


I've played some KILLER premiers... especially an old be bop kit.


in the meantime, just find a super 400 ludwig snare in 5.5 and 6.5 and your 70% there on snares.... fill it out with a few other things ( deep wood, shalllow wood etc.) then just invest in aptrigga

[meadowz06]

I have bought and sold many kits, but my Premier Genista kit will NEVER be sold. Look for a Genista birch kit or a Signia Maple kit. Both would be perfect for a studio. Premier drums are top notch. I actually prefer my Premier kit to my new Ludwig Classic Maple kit. Better fit and finish AND sound than my Ludwigs.

[pan60]

well i decided to pass on the set.
but i am still looking for a small jazz kit, not sure what i will end up with.
thanks guys!

[nandoanalog]

I don`t know how small you want it, but why don`t you check out the yamaha Manu Katche junior kit?

The snare isn`t the most stellar, so my kit is complemented with an Elvin Jones 14" snare with wood rims. I don`t think you`ll get more jazzier than that .

Everything else on that drum kit is a must.

You`re reading it from a guy who owns also a 30k$ custom gretsch kit and many others... So, I`m not raving about my only drum set.

[pan60]

thanks nandoanalog
i will keep my eyeopenfor a set.

[lpkyer]

Originally Posted by dylansmale

Phill Collins of Radiohead.

:D !!

[biggator6]

Premier love here.

My kit is a Signia Maple.. 16x22/10/12/14/16 with a matching snare. I also found an old Black Shadow snare (6x14 birch with parallel strainer). Premier stuff is VERY underrated - a Signia or Genista kit will hang with anything out there.

Whoever mentioned the Signia snare as being great... SHUT UP!! Don't let the secret out.
"-)

[Suspects]

Hey Pan,

If you are looking for birch on a budget, check out the new Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kits. I just picked up the smaller sized kit (20x17, 10x8, 12x9, 14x14, 5x14) for my "Wedding Kit" (small footprint/low volume) and the build quality is stunning. They are made in China, but you wouldn't know it if the badge didn't say so. Yess mounts, staggered seams, 6-7 ply birch construction and exactly the same hardware as my RC studio kit. I got the natural wood finish (highly recommended), and the clear lacquer finish is gorgeous. The shell packs show in the catalogs at $699 but I got mine in the SF Bay Area for $550 out the door.

I donated the use of the kit for a low volume show at the Hard Rock Cafe in SF last week, and mic'd up with Audix D-series mics and an SM-81 overhead the kit sounded punchy as hell, and the toms sounded twice their size.

Definitely worth checking out...

Dave/Suspect

[pan60]

so far i am still with my cobbled Ludwig's which are sounding fine, but still looking just not sure as of yet.
i my just look for a nice vintage kit, but then again i keep looking at different boutique makers as well so i do not know yet what way i will go in the end.
for now i think i will just window shop for a bit.

[thenoiseflower]

I have a Signia Marquis maple 20x18/12x10/14x14/16x14 (and an 10x9 I picked up later) no laquer, great jazz kit, not so much for rock. The shells are thin compared to other kits. The "marquis" mark means no re-rings and this is what I was looking for when I was searching for a jazz kit in my teens. they sing and have great open tone, bright, no matter what heads are on it. Pretty much useless for anything you'd want to THUMP on. although I often put the 16'er because it DOES has a thump and open-ness that I just haven't found in any other drum.

I also have a Genista Birch kit 24x18/12x11/14x12/16x14 laquer'd, that sounds much more rock-like - but also sings nice thin-ish shells but these have re-rings which give a bit more body, especially in the smaller toms. still usable for jazz, but not quite as beautiful as the Marquis. this is MY main kit.

Both kits are nice, but for pure jazz tonality, I'd search for a Signia Marquis, no laquer. You could find one for around $1000 nowadays

My 2 cents.

[drastic]

I work with Premier drums a lot! Pretty much everyday. The Gen-X and Artist Maple kits sound good. I haven't been too impressed with the Artist Birch. They aren't terrible by any means, just not amazing.

[biggator6]

no laquer, great jazz kit, not so much for rock.

That's what was used on most (all?) of Rage Against the Machine's records.. I'd say they do just fine for rock!
"-)