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.
(except for an Evans Oilhead - no thanks. I did that 20 years ago.)
