Buying brand new heads

[picostudios]

Ok, well, I'm going into the studio to record my band's big EP. We are all taking 5 days off from work to do this album. I finally have myself a nice drum set. It's definitely a step up from my Pearl Export. I have myself a SONOR 2003 drum kit. It was a 5 piece, but I changed it to a 4.

Now, I play for a hardcore band, but with more of a poppy style influence. Kind of like NoFX, Rise Against, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, Champion, etc...

I guess you can say I'm going for a more defined, punchy sound when it comes to my drums. I always bought remo pinstripe heads for the toms. I was thinking of actually going the coated route.

What type of tom, kick, and snare top heads should I buy? Also, should I buy new bottom heads as well? They are still factory heads.

[billmcdonald]

Coated heads wont get you a punchier sound. Id say Pinstripes are about perfect for your situation.

http://home.earthlink.net/~prof.sound/index.html

Read that if you have the time-great stuff in there.

[punkin]

second the pin stripes followed by a proper tuning. A top notch kit with great heads will sound terrible if not tuned well.

[franksquid]

I just put a set of Evans hydraulic heads on my sons Pacific kit and they sound great. They are the heaviest heads that I know of and may have the sound that you are looking for. I used the stock beater heads (medium single ply) and put them on the resonate sides of the toms. For recording it was a dream, nice full round tone without ringing. Hes playing a show sunday so we'll need to see how they work live.

[PhilGood]

Oh, you guys!... (sigh) ...pinstripes? ...hydraulics? ....tsk,tsk,tsk!

I suppose you also use duct tape and weather stripping foam to get that deep wet sound.

[franksquid]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

Oh, you guys!... (sigh) ...pinstripes? ...hydraulics? ....tsk,tsk,tsk!

I suppose you also use duct tape and weather stripping foam to get that deep wet sound.

They were out of LEATHER heads so we setteled on hydraulics.

Actually the hydraulics have done a lot for me and my sons ear/tuning. There were SOOOOO many overtones with the stock heads that it was impossible to tune them. Maybe for the next set of beater heads, he'll get something lighter....until then we'll tape maxi pads to the resonate heads.

[maskedman72]

for studio use try evans g1.

[PhilGood]

Originally Posted by franksquid

....until then we'll tape maxi pads to the resonate heads.

I forget which drummer it was back in the 80s (I think it was the guy from the Cars) who used to tape cigarette boxes to his heads.

[DuoToneBand]

the reason the stock heads sounded bad was because they were shit heads. Masking overtones it terible!!! EWWWWW, Hydralics!!!

[tilinmyowngrave]

I use the same heads as Danny Carey (Tool):

(all Evans)
G2's on top of the toms, G1's on the bottom.
Power Center On the Snare with a factory head on the bottom
Bass drum... well, Im ran out of money for bass drum heads...

But i strongly suggest to use the Power Center Snare... or power dot center... something like that, its Evans, and its a great head. Very loud

[picostudios]

I'm just looking to go all out. The recording of my band's EP is coming up fast, I just want the best for the $.

[Tim Brown]

Personally, for recording - I would put clear ambassdors on the tops, and diplomats on the bottoms of the toms (and perhaps even the snare).

I use remo heads because I like the same heads all the way around the top of the kit - and nobody else makes a 20" Floor tom head. (except for an Evans Oilhead - no thanks. I did that 20 years ago.)

So, I haven't had any experience at all with any of the Evans Genera series, but I know a lot of people like them, the same for Aquarian heads.

Thinner heads on the toms will respond quickly and have good punch, and they will record really well.


Tim

[drummerdude666]

If you want a rock sound..

THE best heads you can buy for punchy and deep. Aquarian preformance IIs!

Most resos suit well. But i use Evans G1 as reso. I discovered these heads about a week ago and they have transformed my sound.

Bands that record with me always use my kit. (It's only a Pearl ELX - but its a biggie) and i always fit different heads to suit the style of the band thats recording. Before for Punk/Rock etc etc i used with G2 Coated or Pinstripes depending.

The Performance IIs sound amazing, little tuning needed, (2/3s of a turn each lug at finger tight will do nicely). They sound so deep and just... i cant describe them. They make your toms sound huge but still very focused, They are brilliant for recording.
Also no dampening or muffling needed!

(Also the snare head that comes with them if you buy the pack is sweet too - best 'crack' i've ever had out of a snare head and soooo loud! I dont need to close mic the snare anymore)

[cobradenim]

Remo coated Emperors will give you a bit more punch, though you'll have to tune them a little bit higher. They have more tone than a Pinstripe in my opinion. Pinstripes have that low, wet Lars Ulrich sound. I suggest clear ambassadors for the bottoms. For the Kick, Evans Emad.

[Anders]

remo pinstripe works fine on top headz, and you shold try remo ambassador for bottom heads for the toms it will probably give you a hard, deep sound with minimal ringing and overtones, if you tune them well. for the kick i dont think its so important about the type of head but pinstripe will work just fine.

[tylerxxx]

Originally Posted by drummerdude666

THE best heads you can buy for punchy and deep. Aquarian preformance IIs!

those are what i use, and i love them(and i'm actually into hardcore)
pico, i didn't know you posted here, haha

[picostudios]

who is this?

[timboZ]

I just replaced my heads (Evans Hydraulics ) with
Aquarian Studio-X. I still can't get the sound I want out of 10 inch Tom.
The 12 and 14 sound great.

[drummerdude666]

The Studio-X are quite similar to the performance IIs.

But the performace IIs are better in rock context

[PhilGood]

I don't know why I keep posting the same information, 'cause people believe what they want to believe. I'll just share my experience for those who wish to listen.

I USED to play pistripes along time ago. This was before I moved to L.A. and got into the music scene (16 years ago). Before then I always listened to my favorite CD, tape, record, whatever and say "I want my drums to sound like that" ooooh, de-e-e-p and we-e-e-t! I'd spend hours trying different types of tape and muffling. I switched to pinstripes and thought "Now THAT's the sound like I hear on the record." I'd even put on duct tape on the pinstripes. Ever let someone sit in on a gig for you and you wonder why your kit doesn't sound the same out front? Well, you're behind the kit. The audience AIN'T!!

Well, it always sounded good to my ear, then when I'd record it would sound like a cardboard box. So I'd EQ the HELL out of it to get it close to the sound of the recordings. This became a BAD habit I would later come to regret as I drifted towards engineering. (EQ very bad thing!!)

Shortly after moving to L.A. I was introduced to a neighbor who was in a pretty successful band. He invited me to the Whisky on Sunset Blvd. to hear his band play. The sound of his drums was HUGE!! It was amazing!! It was like a punch in the stomach! The next day I went over to his house to tell him what I thought of the show. I complimented his drum sound and asked him what he used to muffle his drums. He looked at me rather puzzled and said "muffle?, ... muffle?".

This was like a lightning bolt! He spent several days with me explaining proper tuning and head selection. Guess what? The most recorded head in history is the coated Ambassador from Remo - even today!! All the shots you see of your favorite drummer playing pinstripes? That's for live performance and for touring! Pinstripes are more durable and provide less feedback problems for micing a live kit. Even then when you see groups play live, the guy with the ambassador always sounds better over the PA than the guy with pinstripes. You also don't have to change pinstripes as often. More economical.

Guarranteed in the studio they were using single ply heads and hardly any muffling, if not any at all. We have a company out here that people hire just to come in and tune the drums. The guy who runs it tells me most people want ambassadors on their kit in the studio. Since then all I have ever used is Ambassadors. I'll switch between clears and coated, but I always get the sound I like, big and powerful with sharp attack and good sustain. If I could afford better drums, they'd sound even better.

On a lark I decided to try the Aquarian Performance IIs about 6 months ago. They lasted all of 3 practices before I couldn't stand it anymore and almost ripped them off the drums. They had about 2/3 the volume level of my other heads and felt spongy. They had absolutely zero attack, too.

I'm not blowing smoke either. I have met or know personally some of the worlds best known drummers. All of them prefer single ply heads. I've seen countless setups in studios and clubs. Been to celeb jam sessions. Never saw a pinstripe on any kit 'sept maybe one and he was a 70's drummer, which explained that.

Sorry to rant, but that's just my $.02.

[foreverain4]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

Sorry to rant, but that's just my $.02.

i agree with everything you just said.... good info....

[tylerxxx]

Originally Posted by picostudios

who is this?

viking tyty from txhc

[timboZ]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

Sorry to rant, but that's just my $.02.

Phil thanks for your $.02.....good info

[giraffe]

Originally Posted by PhilGood

I don't know why I keep posting the same information, 'cause people believe what they want to believe. I'll just share my experience for those who wish to listen.

I USED to play pistripes along time ago. This was before I moved to L.A. and got into the music scene (16 years ago). Before then I always listened to my favorite CD, tape, record, whatever and say "I want my drums to sound like that" ooooh, de-e-e-p and we-e-e-t! I'd spend hours trying different types of tape and muffling. I switched to pinstripes and thought "Now THAT's the sound like I hear on the record." I'd even put on duct tape on the pinstripes. Ever let someone sit in on a gig for you and you wonder why your kit doesn't sound the same out front? Well, you're behind the kit. The audience AIN'T!!

Well, it always sounded good to my ear, then when I'd record it would sound like a cardboard box. So I'd EQ the HELL out of it to get it close to the sound of the recordings. This became a BAD habit I would later come to regret as I drifted towards engineering. (EQ very bad thing!!)

Shortly after moving to L.A. I was introduced to a neighbor who was in a pretty successful band. He invited me to the Whisky on Sunset Blvd. to hear his band play. The sound of his drums was HUGE!! It was amazing!! It was like a punch in the stomach! The next day I went over to his house to tell him what I thought of the show. I complimented his drum sound and asked him what he used to muffle his drums. He looked at me rather puzzled and said "muffle?, ... muffle?".

This was like a lightning bolt! He spent several days with me explaining proper tuning and head selection. Guess what? The most recorded head in history is the coated Ambassador from Remo - even today!! All the shots you see of your favorite drummer playing pinstripes? That's for live performance and for touring! Pinstripes are more durable and provide less feedback problems for micing a live kit. Even then when you see groups play live, the guy with the ambassador always sounds better over the PA than the guy with pinstripes. You also don't have to change pinstripes as often. More economical.

Guarranteed in the studio they were using single ply heads and hardly any muffling, if not any at all. We have a company out here that people hire just to come in and tune the drums. The guy who runs it tells me most people want ambassadors on their kit in the studio. Since then all I have ever used is Ambassadors. I'll switch between clears and coated, but I always get the sound I like, big and powerful with sharp attack and good sustain. If I could afford better drums, they'd sound even better.

On a lark I decided to try the Aquarian Performance IIs about 6 months ago. They lasted all of 3 practices before I couldn't stand it anymore and almost ripped them off the drums. They had about 2/3 the volume level of my other heads and felt spongy. They had absolutely zero attack, too.

I'm not blowing smoke either. I have met or know personally some of the worlds best known drummers. All of them prefer single ply heads. I've seen countless setups in studios and clubs. Been to celeb jam sessions. Never saw a pinstripe on any kit 'sept maybe one and he was a 70's drummer, which explained that.

Sorry to rant, but that's just my $.02.

philgood's the man, solid advice

[picostudios]

Well, here are the heads that I bought and a sample of the drum track. Yeah yeah yeah, I'm not an amazing drummer. I've only been playing for 2 years.


This is a rough drum track recording I've done. NO EQ, NO EFFECTS, RAW BABY! This is the start for my band's upcoming EP. I played the tracks.

Sonor 4 piece 2004 kit
Evans G1 coated- toms
Remo Ambasador- snare
Aquarian super kick II- Kick
A Custom Cymbals all the way around

kick- Audix D6
snare, top tom, floor tom- SM 57
overheads- samson C02 pencil condensers

Click the drum track rough file

http://server2.hxcmp3.com/bands/17705


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...dingATB017.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...dingATB004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...dingATB006.jpg