Notes on early attempts to "properly tune" or tension a drum. Setting up this renovated, 1980's Premier "1026" snare drum for practice play, using a combination of "manual" procedures, with the additional help of a digital DrumDial
New Project – Late 1970’s Premier “Elite” Drum Kit (#2). Rebuild from parts – Assessing and prepping a set of spare shells
What to do with an apparently disparate collection of various, "orphan" premier drums shells. A second "Elite" kit built entirely from salvaged parts, perhaps?...
Late 1970’s vintage, Premier “Elite” Drum Kit (#1) – “Natural” Finish. Bass Drum – hardware, and head fitting
Vintage, 1970's Premier vibe alert... Taking one of my "natural" Premier "Elite" 22" bass drum shells, re-uniting it with some original, vintage chrome hardware, and turning it back into a fine-looking, playable piece of kit.
Late 1970’s vintage, Premier “Elite” Drum Kits. Salvaging some original Premier “Everplay” heads, and applying a reproduction, vinyl logo
Getting the right "look" for the bass drum reso on a restored, "vintage" kit, depends either on getting hold of decent reproductions, (if they're even available), or on finding ways to sympathetically "spruce up" surviving, original period heads
1970’s, Premier “2000” Snare Drum (#3). Rebuild from parts – Rescuing and re-finishing a badly corroded shell
Vintage Premier drums were once renowned for their "diamond" chrome finishes - but this "2000" snare drum shell is in a terrible state. Can I rescue it with a coat of paint, and use it to build a restored drum?
1980’s, Premier “1026” Snare Drum. An experiment in making and fitting “traditional” gut snares
The sound of Gene Krupa's handbuilt "Billy Gladstone" snare got me thinking... Does a modern steel snare drum have to use a modern, wired, snare system - or could I experiment with a more individual tone, and learn something from the "vintage" days of gut snare wires?...
Restored 1974, Premier “2000” Snare Drum (#1). Installing the Flobeam mechanism, (and dampener)
Re-installing the Flobeam assembly, (and dampener mechanism), on a 1974, Premier "2000" snare drum
Restored 1974, Premier “2000” Snare Drum (#1). Cleaning, and first stages of re-build
After careful cleaning, this 1974 Premier 2000 snare begins its' re-build
1970’s Premier “2000” Snare Drum (#2). Re-assembly of internal components – Including Flobeam
Even though this is, in some ways, a "practice" run to install a Flobeam assembly - the thing still has to work properly at the end of it all. From a study of the components involved, a single exploded diagram, and with a bit of applied logic along the way - I think I've managed to work out the best way to do it...
1970’s Premier “2000” Snare Drum (#2). Complete re-build from parts – Wrapping a damaged shell
Can you physically "wrap" a metal snare drum if the original plating corrodes?... Would you want to?... Here's how it goes with a "written-off" Premier 2000 shell