Premier Resonator and Paiste

[Viktors]

Hi!
This is my premier resonators and paiste cymbals.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/vik2man/mitt002.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/vik2man/mitt004.jpg

Specs:
22" x 14" kick
12" x 9" rack tom
16" x 14" floor tom
14" x 8" snare

Cymbals:
1981 Paiste 2oo2 Heavy Hi-Hat 14"
2006 Paiste 2oo2 Rock Bell Ride 20"
2006 Paiste RUDE China 18"
1984 Paiste ColorSound 5 Crash 16"
2000 Paiste Dimensions Thin Crash 16"
1990 Paiste 2000 splash 8" (not in the pic)
2006 Istanbul Sultan Splash 8"
2007 Istanbul Sultan Splash 10"

I have a little different setup now, might take some pics tomorrow.
The wuhan china in the pic is sold, and i've got a 2oo2 18" crash on order.
Heads are now EC2 on toms, soon to be replaced with G2 coated, and a PwrCntRevDot on snare.

Great sounding drums, with unique resonator inner shells.
Info on request.

[zambizzi]

Those are rather unique, can you tell us more about the "resonator" feature of the shells? I've never heard of them, myself.

Great kit!

[Viktors]

Yes, they are very special. Not too many of them left.

The Resonator Series was introduced by Premier in 1972 and was originally called the 'Kenny Clare' series.

The Resonator concept was invented by Alan Gilbey, a UK custom drum builder who still makes drums today. He came up with the idea of adding an inner shell to the 50's WFL snare of his friend Kenny Clare, Kenny tried out the snare and eventually an entire kit was fitted with the inner liners.

Unlike many modern drums, nearly all drums 30+ years ago were thin shelled with support rings, the inner shell was cut to size and 'sprung' into place on the support rings creating a cavity between the main shell and the inner shell. Kenny toured with the USA with his Resonator WFL kit and they presented the idea to Premier drums. The Kenny Clare kit appeared in the 1972/3 brochure but by 1975, the kit was renamed 'Resonator' and was the first range of drums from Premier with a 'secondary' brand name.

Visually, the Resonator range looked identical to the regular Premier drums, apart from the 'R' logo that appeared in the bottom right quarter of the bass drum reso head. By 1978, Resonator had it's own wrap configuration which sported a black hoop inlaid into the main wrap of each drum approximately a third from each drum's resonant head. In the late 70's, the range gained a small badge under the main Premier 'P' badge identifying the drums as Resonators, Premier by this time had a number of 'brands' under the main banner; 'Club' (formerly 'Olympic'), Soundwave (followed on from the short lived mid-range 'Super-Olympic'), Elite (brand for the regular Premier range) and Resonator, all had their own badges under the main Premier badge.

In 1983, Premier launched the 'Black Shadow' range which was essentially a Resonator range but with single tension lugs, deep shells and a purple/black lacquer. This range ran alongside the Resonator range for a few years until the 'Black Shadow' was absorbed into the Resonator line and was fitted, by then with hi-tension lugs, as were all the late 80's and early 90's ranges.

Resonator disappeared around 1992 and are now considered quite collectible, especially earlier, 70's examples.


From a premier ad:

"Premier Resonator
Not just a new outfit, but a new kind of outfit

Few drummers in the world do as many gigs as Kenny Clare, and not many of those do as many different kinds of gigs. So when he teamed up with Premier to create this new professional outfit, the result literally had to be able to do it all and do it all better.

The Premier Resonator does it better by doing it differently. Resonator drums have double shells — a conventional outer shell, plus a thin inner shell separated from it by a pocket of air. We call it Resonator because that's exactly what it is — a sound box inside the drum that produces 18% greater volume. We know because we've tested it electronically. You'll know the minute you try this remarkable new set. The Resonator outfit includes all of the most desirable Premier features, and will give you the ultimate in sound, power, and performance.

Sept 1977"

[driver]

Very cool. I have heard about the resonator before and the new customs resonator kits have got rave reviews they must sound great new or old. Love the colour I'm looking to buy a gigging kit this year and I'm torn between pink or yellow wrap!

[Viktors]

Yeah, they say that the Alan Gilbey kits sound pretty much like the classic old Premiers.
Resonators came with a yellow wrap back in 77/78

[stasz]

Beautiful Paistes, also the finish on those drums. The hoops look a little odd, are they die-cast?

[rmandelbaum]

There is a beautiful Resonator kit in ebay right now.

[Viktors]

Beautiful Paistes, also the finish on those drums. The hoops look a little odd, are they die-cast?

Yep they are Die Casts.
The hoops on the snare is the same hoops as used on some signia snares, and the allmighty HR9!

There is a beautiful Resonator kit in ebay right now.

The kit on the bay has a regular resonator tom, and Black Shadow Floor Tom.
The Kick might also be from a Black Shadow.
You can tell by the single tension lugs on the FT.

[Exportdrummer]

sweet paint job, i like your splash cymbals, they have a cool look too

[Colonel Bat Guano]

Righteous kit! And thanks for the additional info. I never knew the whole story behind the "Kenny Clare" designation on the early Resonators. I'd love to find a 70's Resonator with the racing stripe someday, but they seem to be incredibly rare.

I own a Premier Projector Series kit from '89, which is the same shell, but without the "inner shell" (but you already knew that).

All Hail Premier!

...

[eddiehimself]

Hi!

The wuhan china in the pic is sold, and i've got a 2oo2 18" crash on order.
Heads are now EC2 on toms, soon to be replaced with G2 coated, and a PwrCntRevDot on snare.

Great sounding drums, with unique resonator inner shells.
Info on request.

Don't get covered skins, you're just hiding the best bit then! These resonator drums really do sing. Bloody loud as well.

[Viktors]

As I said; I'm turning back to G2's

[TopCat]

I love Resonators, I have a Premier Elite in my 'collection' at the moment.

I like the cymbal layout too, keeps it a bit interesting.

[cavica]

Great looken kit, not to many pink kits out there, good for the double take. Nice cymbals to, those splashes look wicked.

[spartacus1989]

Awesome kit, very clean set up! Love the finish too!

How do you like the Sultan Splashes?

[punkdrummer1]

that finish is so sweet!

[Viktors]

Thanks everyone!
The sultan splasher are in my ears, the best sounding splashes I've ever heard.
They are not as trashy as many splashes are, and are very versatile!
They mix well together, due to the fact that the 10" has a higher pitch than the 8"

[Viktors]

I shot some new pics some days ago.
I think I'm going back to the setup in the 1st pics after getting another china.

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa132/viktorsta/resonator1.jpg
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa132/viktorsta/resonator2.jpg
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa132/viktorsta/resonator3.jpg
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa132/viktorsta/resonator.jpg

Soon, I will have an 18" paiste 2oo2 Crash in the setup.

[millerdakiller]

pink drumsets are bangin

[ian the drummer]

Nice kit! I bought my resonator in march '77 - including avedis zildjian cymbals and all stands and cases for the princely sum of £620.00 - - I've still got the receipt! - probably about £3000 in todays money. i bought it at the time with A METAL SHELL RESONATOR SNARE DRUM -14" x 5.5" - never ever seen another one and regretably I traded it in soon after for a normal metal shell premier snare - I just couldn't get on with it - boy, do I wish I'd still got that snare now! anybody know anything about them - anybody else ever owned one? I got Premier to custom finish my kit - 3 equal stripes - polychro silver/blue/silver - I believe totally unique! Don't get to gig with it much these days - it's just too big to lug around - so instead I'll go out with my '64 Rogers 4 piece or my Mapex kit - but if the gig's worth it - out comes the old resonator - what a sound!!!
KEEP ON ROCKIN'
Ian the drummer.

[tizzdizz]

Ian, I'd love to see pictures of that kit!

[ian the drummer]

Ian, I'd love to see pictures of that kit!

OK, I'll try to get some pictures on -= by the way, sizes are 24" kick, 13", 14" & 16" toms - MASSIVE sounding kit - I normally take this out with a 1980 5 1/2" black beauty - owned since new by me - and still got the receipt for that. keep looking.Ian.

[darkstar442]

dang... like the setup... very interesting very cool

[ian the drummer]

Hi, no photos yet of my Premier Resonator kit but if you look at my profile in the members section (Ian the drummer) you'll see photos of my mid 60's Rogers kit! Enjoy.

[ian the drummer]

Ian, I'd love to see pictures of that kit!

check out my profile in the members section (Ian the drummer) and you'll be able to see some photos of my mid 60's Rogers kit. Enjoy!

[asht89]

Nice kit! and a great set of cymbals too

[razorx]

Rudes, Dimensions, and 2002's my favorite cymbals. Nice.

[hateplow]

Awesome drums. I love Resonators. That finish is ghastly, unless of course you are female.
I saw a Jazz trio last night, and the drummer was brushing it up on a bop-sized Resonator. His had a nice natural finish... :)

[drumhedd]

those cymbals are heavenly!

[dancey888]

Very interesting! Don't suppose any of you know where to get hold of Deco Yellow wrap or any resonator toms in yellow? Specifically small toms 9 - 10" required to complete my 1980's resonator (see pics).