!!One of the best ones out there!!

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Premier Cabria Series
★★★★★
4.6
87.0% of users recommend this
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Nelman81's review of Premier Cabria Series

“!!One of the best ones out there!!”

★★★★★

written by Nelman81 on 24/03/2015

I own an original 1998 5 piece Burgundy High Gloss laquered Premier Cabria and have been playing for 19 years now. I mean original because this was the year it was originally launched to the market by Premier. The differences between these and the newer Cabrias is pretty big. First of all the 1998 ones were made with a blend of two different woods wich are Eucalyptus on the outer ply wich is very similar to maple for good mid and high frequencies and Merranti wich is the same as Mahogany on the inner ply for thunderous low frequencies specially when tuned low and most important with a thickness of only 5.2mm on all the toms and snare drum while the bass drum is 7.7mm. This thin shell type is only found in high end top of the line kits as it gives the best sound of all for studio recording, small gigs or practice rooms while the thicker shells are more for live playing to project more volume but less sound quality due to the thickness of the shell the sound does not transmit with the same speed or pureness. All this to make a two ply sandwiched shell with not just good but a great professional sound that gives out perfect fundamental notes from each drum without any unwanted overtones obviously using the right drum heads and a fine tuning. I know this after years of playing and listening to other drum kits and definitely the thickness of the shell makes a HUGE difference on the Sound along with the blend of two different types of wood to merge the sonic features of both woods.

Apart from this they were the last ones still made in England with the Made in England badge on it. Since the 2000's they moved the manufacturing of this series to Taiwan and only the flagship series were still made in England. Nowadays the Cabria does not exist anymore, you can only find the APK series that was the one replaced by the Cabria in 1998 and the XPK, they both have 7.5mm 100% birch shells and are produced in Taiwan. They are not bad but definitely not the same as the 1998 ones.

And as if this was not enough the 1998 ones also come with high tension lugs for wider tone range and easier tuning that are finished in Premier's diamond chrome also a feature only found in much more expensive kits. And to finish it also came with quick sized toms for more definite attack and faster response than the more conventional standard giving more expression and character to your playing.

For all this said I give this kit a 10/10 without any second thoughts and to anyone out there who has the chance to purchase one of these, don't hesitate on it for a second and just buy it, I guarantee you won't regret it ever.

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Harveywilson1's Response to Nelman81's Review

Written on: 17/10/2020

Well done Nelman! I own, from new, an original, made in England, Cabria and I agree with all your comments. It is a glorious kit. I have been drumming on and off since I was at school (about 50 years). I have played a lot of different kits, but my own Cabria is the best to play. It is so responsive that it is almost effortless, which is great for long gigs. You don't have to hit "into the drum" - just stroke them with the sticks and the drum jumps into life - easy! Some kits I've played are like rice pudding - after an hour or so your are exhausted. Mine has a hand sprayed lacquered finish. Even inside the shells there is a very thin transparent lacquer. None of this modern "wrap" nonsense which, I think, partially dulls the shell response. If you listen very carefully, the kit is humming quietly to itself all the time, even to just someone talking in the same room. I changed the batter heads to Evans on all the drums, but still use the original Premier resonse heads. For heavy rock gigs I use a copper snare, but for subtle jazz and blues, the original super matching Cabria snare - a lovely drum. Under the lights on stage the kit "glows". It looks very spectacular. Some of the following comments are amusing: "I haven't tuned my kit for three years"; "Premier an unknown company" - what a laugh!! Finally, if you get the chance - buy one, and if you really don't like it, then give it to me!!

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