don't forget those resonant heads!

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guttapercha

guttapercha

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I just got off my lazy ass and replaced the resonant head on my snare - just an ambassador hazy. The existing head was over 18 months old. The thing totally came back to life. I thought that maybe I was losing my hearing, but damn - a brand new snappy head can breathe a whole bunch of new life into a dull-sounding drum.

Anyhoo, just thought I'd share!

JD
 
guttapercha said:
I just got off my lazy ass and replaced the resonant head on my snare - just an ambassador hazy. The existing head was over 18 months old. The thing totally came back to life. I thought that maybe I was losing my hearing, but damn - a brand new snappy head can breathe a whole bunch of new life into a dull-sounding drum.

Anyhoo, just thought I'd share!

JD


I was thinking about replacing the resonant heads on my toms, which haven't been changed since I bought the kit almost 8 years ago.

I guess I will take your post as a sign to fork over the money.
 
Glad I decided to share. On the other hand, we're probably both losing our hearing anyway.
 
I figured out that my Pacific kit sounds like total crap, due to the fact that the resonant heads have hardly no tuning range. They are the stock ones that came with the kit god knows how many years ago so as soon as I get some cash flow, I'm buying all new heads (the batters are okay but I want to change to coated single ply)
 
sirslurpee said:
I figured out that my Pacific kit sounds like total crap, due to the fact that the resonant heads have hardly no tuning range. They are the stock ones that came with the kit god knows how many years ago so as soon as I get some cash flow, I'm buying all new heads (the batters are okay but I want to change to coated single ply)

I got all my new heads at AMS - they're running a free shipping special and there's no tax to my state. It was pretty reasonable.
 
Good rule of thumb is, replace stock heads immediately :-) Unless it's a "pro level" kit. I use Evans clear G1s all around and I love it.

Snares, on the other hand.... I replace the snare-side all the time because I like to tune them so high they scream for a lawyer. If you can ever find Ludwig extra-thin snare side heads, GRAB THEM. They tighten up very high with less slipping/tearing, and they really increase snare response.

Unless, of course, you're going for the AVH snare sound, in which Pinstripes on both sides of the snare will do :D
 
Unless, of course, you're going for the AVH snare sound, in which Pinstripes on both sides of the snare will do :D[/QUOTE]


Huh...just thinking of the sound on the Hot for Teacher intro. That's actually a pretty decent snare sound - the decay's a bit choked, but it does have a nice ring to it. Does he really use a PS on the bottom?
 
I still haven't had a chance to replace ANY of the heads on my Tama kit. As far as I know they've NEVER been replaced, and they're at least twenty years old. But then, I just got it a few months ago and I'm super-poor....
 
guttapercha said:
Unless, of course, you're going for the AVH snare sound, in which Pinstripes on both sides of the snare will do :D


Huh...just thinking of the sound on the Hot for Teacher intro. That's actually a pretty decent snare sound - the decay's a bit choked, but it does have a nice ring to it. Does he really use a PS on the bottom?[/QUOTE]

I have no idea to be honest :) I only said that because a friend broke a bottom snare head and all he had in a 13" was a PS so he threw it on to keep playing. I immediately thought of the AVH snare sound when I heard him playing.
 
Russtopher said:
I have no idea to be honest :) I only said that because a friend broke a bottom snare head and all he had in a 13" was a PS so he threw it on to keep playing. I immediately thought of the AVH snare sound when I heard him playing.
Lol. i saw a VH video one time (don't remember which one), and Alex had what looked like 2, 24" ping rides used as hi-hats. :eek: :D
 
guttapercha said:
I just got off my lazy ass and replaced the resonant head on my snare - just an ambassador hazy. The existing head was over 18 months old. The thing totally came back to life. I thought that maybe I was losing my hearing, but damn - a brand new snappy head can breathe a whole bunch of new life into a dull-sounding drum.

Anyhoo, just thought I'd share!

JD

I find that drum heads far longer than most people believe. When my drum starts to sound a little weak I simply tighten all the rods about a quater turn and this tightens them right up and brings my sound back. I guess mylar actually stretches a good bit, but I still replace my heads about once a year.

Although i once had an Aquarian batter head on my snare for 4 years,until I finally tighten it to much it just came apart at the collar, but then I went right out and bought another one just like it and put my stick through it in 30 minutes, go figure.
 
resonants

I use the evans resos. on my DW kits and G1s on my 1964 ludwig downbeat kit.

As a drum tech I would always write the date on them with a sharpie (as small as possible) and change them on the same date the next year. After about a year they really need replaced. ;) Try everything, you never know what head could be optimal for your kit.
 
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