Replacing My Heads - Which Ones To Get?

[Confusitron]

My Pacific CX Maple drum set currently is using all of the stock heads on it. The batter heads are now becoming bashed up and are creating bad overtones (can be solved by tuning, yes, I know). What kind of drum heads should I replace the current stock batter heads with? Should I also be replacing the stock resonant heads (they are in fine condition)?

I am wanting a more general set of heads since I am still unsure on the sound I would like for my drums. Can anyone one suggest some standard durable and quality heads? These heads will be used for just about any situation including recording and live performances.

Thank you.

[fivestar]

are you replacing all the heads including the kick? if so here's my list of reccomendations, based on working with a drummer for over 6 years and helping him through many of these decisions. i'm not a drummer, but i know what sounds good and honestly, i think i'm a better perspective of it than other drummers because they don't neccesarily hear what the audience hears. anyway, here's my list:

Snare - Evans G1 coated
Toms - Evans hydraulic (makes for GREAT recordings, IMO)
Kick - Evans EMAD Clear

All in all, as you can tell, I like Evans. For a few years, this drummer and I went through lots of Remo heads and all of them sounded more or less dull and lifeless.

[Confusitron]

Originally Posted by fivestar

are you replacing all the heads including the kick?

Yes, I am replacing the bass drum head, however, I am unsure of replacing the resonant head.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[fivestar]

I've never noticed a big difference in replacing the resonant head of the kick anyway. If you don't have a porthole though, seriously consider cutting one out.

[Sonixx]

maybe this will help...

Harvey, which drum heads for modern rock?

[xfinsterx]

i like evans 1plys for alot of attack from the tom head,(it beats adding 8k)
if they dig on a boomier tone, try the hydraulic evans heads.

if they want both..use the 1 ply and mic the bottoms of the toms with (gasp)
...some kick drum mics.

anyways, 1ply or hydraulic man.

good luck.

[xfinsterx]

woops, i thought we were just talking about toms my bad.

well anyways, aquarian makes a mean bd head "super kick"
and for snare i like remo pinstripes.

peace.

[wildflower soul]

Originally Posted by fivestar

Snare - Evans G1 coated
Toms - Evans hydraulic (makes for GREAT recordings, IMO)
Kick - Evans EMAD Clear

those are the excact heads I use

except on my backup snare today the drummer in my band recomended I check out the Remo Emporer X for my snare. I was hesitant since all remo's ive tried are like you said "lifeless and dull" but this remo actually kicks ass!

[Confusitron]

Are the Pacific stock heads similar to a Remo model or are a Remo model?

[Confusitron]

Originally Posted by Sonixx

maybe this will help...

Harvey, which drum heads for modern rock?

From what I've gathered from the above link (thank you, by the way) is that I should probably get clear Emperor heads for the batter and resonant heads on the toms, a coated Ambassador for the batter and a clear Diplomat for the resonant head on the snare, and a Powerstroke 3 for the batter head on the bass drum. Does this configuration look good? Do I really need to replace the resonant heads? I am planning on ordering these heads today, so, if you have any comments, please respond as soon as possible.

[mikeh]

I don't know for sure with Pacific, but most stock heads that come on drums are made by Remo (although they are certainly bottom line and don't have a Remo logo).

For snare batter - Remo coated are very, very common. Evans coated G1's are very good, but I prefer the Evans vented heads.

For tom batter - I am a fan of Aquarian Studio X, but Remo Pinstrips or Evans G2's are very common (if you want the subdued 2 ply sound). Some drummers prefer a 1 ply sound (such as the Evans G1) but I like the extra control of a 2 ply for recording. I've used the hydraulic heads on a few occasions, but I and not a fan. I think they suck up way too much tone from the drum.

For kick batter - I really like the Aquarian Super Kick, although the last few years I've been using the Evans Emad (I like the concept of the external muffle rings).

[triple-zero]

Originally Posted by Confusitron

Are the Pacific stock heads similar to a Remo model or are a Remo model?

um... well remo are generally thought of as the best drums head, the most common although their are quite a lot of different decent brands (evans etc...) although some may prefer other heads everyone admits that remo heads are pretty decent and you cant go far wrong with them.

my heads:

On my Pork Pie:
-remo pinstripes on toms
-remo powerstroke III on kick
-remo weatherking coated on snare
-evans g1s on snare and tom reso
-pork pie custom head on kick reso

On my Pearl ELX:
-Evans g1 reso and batter on toms
-remo weatherking coated on snare
-evans g2 on kick
-Oringal pearl on kick and snare reso

[rweiss]

I'm using Evans st dry on the snare, Evans EMAD on the bass, and Aquarian performance II on the toms. Am also using remo ebony ambassadors for the tom resonants, and a remo something for snare resonant. Love them all.

[Sonixx]

Originally Posted by Confusitron

... Do I really need to replace the resonant heads? I am planning on ordering these heads today, so, if you have any comments, please respond as soon as possible.

I recommend changing the resonant head too... the top gives the attack and the bottom the tone...

if you haven't already, check this out...
Prof. Sound's Drum Tuning Bible

[bat63]

Coated or Clear Emperors for the Toms-tops and bottoms-If those are too dark then Pinstripes always did in a pinch.If you do use pins then use clear ambassadors for the bottoms.

As thick of a bass drum head as you can get ,especially if you play 22 or 24 inch size. If you MUST put something in your bass drum,make it a small fabric throw pillow,down-filled preferably, so the tone can "breathe".

Use a wood bass beater on your pedal if you aren't already and get a nice thick leather impact pad too.

[LRosario]

Depends on your style and what sound you want...

If you tend to play un-miked in a live setting...go with weather king emperors or ambassadors. They project many times more than clear heads.

Emperors will decay (time it takes for sound to dissapear) alot faster than Ambassadors. Thats why they are suitable for faster playing styles.

Clear ambassadors for your resonant sides are usually the norm in drums. Genereally a thinner head on your resonant end.

If you want to go for an extremely tight snare with mid range color...use emperor weather kings on both sides.

[kaiser]

First, you have to understand one thing: EVANS is the only manufacturer of decent heads for drumset applications. Secondly, if you're unsure of the sound you want, and play a wide variety of styles, you will be happiest with genera g2 coated tom heads, and most likely a g1 coated snare head. However, if you want a dryer sound (rather than wet and "gushy") out of your snare, you should go with a dry snare head (also from evans.) Stock resonant heads, on the other hand, are generally made by REMO, and will do fine as long as you are happy with their sound. Before you replace any resonant heads (unless you are a highly involved or professional drummer) you should experiment with several tuning and muffling setups on both the resonant and batter heads. Good luck, my friend.

[LRosario]

I have to go against the fact that EVANS is the only manufacturer of decent heads. Thats simply not true.


They are one of a few good choices

[mikeh]

I don't think it is fair or accurate to say Evans are the only good heads.

I use Evans and I think the G2's, G1's, Dry Vented, the EQ series & Emad are all very good heads (I use some combination of these heads on all three of my acoustic kits). However, Aquarian also makes very good heads (although thier distribution network is weak in certain areas). I also use Aquarian Studio X and Super Kick (when I find them in stock)

Remo are no longer my first choice - but, I used Remo products for about 30 years, they always served me well and they are still as much an industry standard as they always were.