ez_willis
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How do you know when you need to replace the heads?
Are there indicators, or do they just break?
Are there indicators, or do they just break?
A
Atterion
New member
When they start sounding lifeless and flat. Sort of like guitar strings. You should be able to hear the difference (although it is often difficult as the tonal change happens over a fairly lengthy span of time). If you have a hard time determining wheter or not there has been a significant change or not, one way to guage it would be to make a recording of your drum with new heads (marking down mixer settings, etc. of course), and periodically comparing that to the current state of the drum.
ez_willis
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Atterion said:
Pretty smart.
I know this is a difficult question to answer, but roughly how long will it be between changings, if I'm not gigging, just recording and playing an average of 8 hours a week, hitting pretty hard. I've got Aquarian Performance II's on my toms now, if it matters.
Sorry.
A
Atterion
New member
Well if your not hitting to hard, you can probably get a few months out of a good set of heads. My studio kit usually goes around 6 months between head changes. My live/rehearsal kit, usually every other month or so. Obviously your snare is going to see the most abuse and is the one I pay most attention too, followed by the rack toms, and lastly floor toms and timbales (which see the least abuse). Kicks for me are of least importance, but I have long been a fan of a fairly dead sounding (non-resonant) kick sound, so they'll get changed at the 6 month mark if they haven't already been broken.
ez_willis
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Thanks.
I need to change my heads.
I need to change my heads.
A
Atterion
New member
Yeah, me too.......I've been slacking.........
ez_willis
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I'm buying heads for my toms tomorrow.
Rock drums, hard hitting, studio only. Drums aren't my primary instrument, either, so my technique is lacking as far as consistancy and placement.
I need 12", 13", and 16" tops and bottoms.
Which heads am I going to buy?
Rock drums, hard hitting, studio only. Drums aren't my primary instrument, either, so my technique is lacking as far as consistancy and placement.
I need 12", 13", and 16" tops and bottoms.
Which heads am I going to buy?
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S
sirslurpee
What does THIS button do?
they say pinstripes last long for hard hitters.. or hydraulic. I don't like the sound of pinstripes though and supposedly hydraulic sound like boxes..
This is pretty obvious but I'm going to say it anyway FYI make sure bottom heads are single-ply unless you are looking for a different sound of course
This is pretty obvious but I'm going to say it anyway FYI make sure bottom heads are single-ply unless you are looking for a different sound of course
J
jrhager84
expert newb
I've had my Aquarian Perf. II's on my kit for over 6 mos. with NO noticeable difference in tone/attack/resonance whatsoever. However, as a rock drummer, I play the lightest out of anybody I know (I also even go so far as to use jazzier sticks [727's by Pro Mark]). I play on really light sticks, and play lightly, so I NEVER get dents or abnormalities in my heads.. My snare finish is starting to come off, so I'll probably replace that here soon, but I think it really depends on the player, and what tone you're looking for. Obviously for practice, dead toms won't really mean much, but if you're recording I'd suggest a fresh set.
jaykeMURD
I sit on you.
I've experimented a bit with heads, and have honestly found little difference in durability between Evans Generas, Remo Pinstripes, and the Aquarian equal.
The only real difference I've noticed is sound difference. I use ONLY 2-ply heads, mostly because I play on Exports, which aren't the most beautiful sounding, but can be quite decent with proper heads and tuning.
But anyhow, the Generas were my favorite overall. Genera G2 Coated are what I'm using now, and I tend to switch between Coated and uncoated on my toms.
Hope that helps.
The only real difference I've noticed is sound difference. I use ONLY 2-ply heads, mostly because I play on Exports, which aren't the most beautiful sounding, but can be quite decent with proper heads and tuning.
But anyhow, the Generas were my favorite overall. Genera G2 Coated are what I'm using now, and I tend to switch between Coated and uncoated on my toms.
Hope that helps.
ez_willis
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Thanks, guys.
I'm not concerned at all about durability. This is my deal: I set my drums up, work out parts for a few songs I've written on guitar, practice the songs until I am confident that the parts are right and I can play the whole song. Then I get the tuning dialed in. Then I mic the drums. After recording a pass or two, I'll usually end up rearranging the mics to get them to sound better, then record the songs. Then I'll usually rearrange the mics to get them dialed in all over again, because I'm not happy with the sounds, then record the tracks again. The I do it again, and again, and again.
After about 2 months of playing for an 1.5 hours a day, 6 days a week, I'll come out with useable drum tracks for 3 or 4 songs.
Then I tear my drums down and work on the rest of the parts, which usually takes a month or so.
Then I start all over again.
I am only concerned with making a Pacific kit sound as good as it possibly can.
I'm not concerned at all about durability. This is my deal: I set my drums up, work out parts for a few songs I've written on guitar, practice the songs until I am confident that the parts are right and I can play the whole song. Then I get the tuning dialed in. Then I mic the drums. After recording a pass or two, I'll usually end up rearranging the mics to get them to sound better, then record the songs. Then I'll usually rearrange the mics to get them dialed in all over again, because I'm not happy with the sounds, then record the tracks again. The I do it again, and again, and again.
After about 2 months of playing for an 1.5 hours a day, 6 days a week, I'll come out with useable drum tracks for 3 or 4 songs.
Then I tear my drums down and work on the rest of the parts, which usually takes a month or so.
Then I start all over again.
I am only concerned with making a Pacific kit sound as good as it possibly can.
F
fritztc1
New member
I'm similar to you (guitar player who learned drums as a second instrument). I've had great luck with Evans Genera coated (either G1 or G2) for batter Heads. You probably won't need to replace the bottom (resonant) heads for a really long time (if ever). Leave the originals on for a good while and save yourself some $$.
I like coated batter heads, and find that the Evans coating lasts longer than the Remo Ambassador. I think the tone stays true for longer, too.
The Evans G1 is a 1-ply, G2 is 2-ply. If you like a deeper, quicker blast, go for the G2; if you like a higher pitched, more open tone, try the G1.
If your store doesn't have Evans, Remo makes fine heads. I would avoid the pinstripes or the CS heads, though. Too "dead" sounding, right out of the box. (CS were all the rage in the 80s metal days.)
I NEVER had good luck with Attack or Aquarian heads. I don't think they sound as good as Remo or Evans.
Have fun with your new heads!
- Ed
I like coated batter heads, and find that the Evans coating lasts longer than the Remo Ambassador. I think the tone stays true for longer, too.
The Evans G1 is a 1-ply, G2 is 2-ply. If you like a deeper, quicker blast, go for the G2; if you like a higher pitched, more open tone, try the G1.
If your store doesn't have Evans, Remo makes fine heads. I would avoid the pinstripes or the CS heads, though. Too "dead" sounding, right out of the box. (CS were all the rage in the 80s metal days.)
I NEVER had good luck with Attack or Aquarian heads. I don't think they sound as good as Remo or Evans.
Have fun with your new heads!
- Ed
I
ImagoStudios
New member
Unless the heads are damaged try just taking the heads off your drums(dismantling the top and bottom heads) and put them back together. Usually the deadness is gone and you can actually change heads less often. Try it, retune em....It usally works.
ez_willis
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The resonant heads on my toms are the ones that came on the drums. The batter side Aquarians are the ones I put on right when I bought the kit.
I bought the kit almost 4 years ago.
I'm just gonna relace all the tom heads, top and bottom, just to see what it'll do to the sound. My kit is mic'ed up right now. I'll record each drum before and after to see, then post it up.
I bought the kit almost 4 years ago.
I'm just gonna relace all the tom heads, top and bottom, just to see what it'll do to the sound. My kit is mic'ed up right now. I'll record each drum before and after to see, then post it up.
ez_willis
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Okay, I went to GC to get a set of Remo's, and walked out with G2's for the batter side and G1's for the resonant side of both racks. . BTW, the racks are a 12" and a 13".
I got a G2 for the batter side of the floor tom. I didn't opt to replace the resonant side. The floor tom is a 16". The Kick is a 22".
The snare is a 3" x 13" Pearl maple piccolo.
I also picked up a coated Emporer for my 3" x 13" Pearl Piccolo. The resonant head is fairly new on that drum. It's an Ambassador.
I also picked up a pair of Vic Firth American Classic Rock N's, nylon tipped, and a pair of Vater Fatback 3A's, wood tipped.
I just recorded the drums with the old heads. I'll record them again after I put the new heads on. We can see how much of a difference there is.
. BTW, the racks are a 12" and a 13".I got a G2 for the batter side of the floor tom. I didn't opt to replace the resonant side. The floor tom is a 16". The Kick is a 22".
The snare is a 3" x 13" Pearl maple piccolo.
I also picked up a coated Emporer for my 3" x 13" Pearl Piccolo. The resonant head is fairly new on that drum. It's an Ambassador.
I also picked up a pair of Vic Firth American Classic Rock N's, nylon tipped, and a pair of Vater Fatback 3A's, wood tipped.
I just recorded the drums with the old heads. I'll record them again after I put the new heads on. We can see how much of a difference there is.
G
Gamelan
New member
Rather than trying to guesstimate, you can tell if a head is spent by looking at it. Take all the tension off the head and lay a ruler across it. If it's dished (concave), then it's time for a new one. If it's flat, then the head will usually still tune well.
In a pinch, you can also sometimes get new life from a dished head by blasting it with a hair dryer until it shrinks flat again. The thinner the head, the better that works.
Another way to judge a head is by whether it is clear or hazy (non-coated obviously). A clear head will usually sound better because the mylar is newer and more elastic. Hazy mylar is old mylar that has lost some of it's zip. The haze is from aging and some head manufacturers even market their old stock as "hazy" as if it's intentional.
In a pinch, you can also sometimes get new life from a dished head by blasting it with a hair dryer until it shrinks flat again. The thinner the head, the better that works.
Another way to judge a head is by whether it is clear or hazy (non-coated obviously). A clear head will usually sound better because the mylar is newer and more elastic. Hazy mylar is old mylar that has lost some of it's zip. The haze is from aging and some head manufacturers even market their old stock as "hazy" as if it's intentional.
Dogman
Unkle Ticklefingers
Ok, not being a drummer, what is the purpose of Toms having a bottom head? And I've seen some that are open on the bottom. I'm sure it makes for a different sound, but can someone extrapolate a bit more?
J
jrhager84
expert newb
It traps air in between the heads, making the air resonate within the heads (which vary according to pitch/thickness/material/etc.)... Think of little guys jumping in between trampolines (to give my best imagery). the air "bounces" between the heads, giving off a very distince resonance....Hope to at least helped in some way. Someone could probably explain it better, but that was my pitiful attempt. LOL
-Joel
-Joel
Dogman
Unkle Ticklefingers
Makes some sense to me man...thanks.jrhager84 said:
ez_willis
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WOW!
Holy shit, what a difference! Should have done this 2 years ago!
The old heads were dead as fuck.
I'll post the differences later.
Holy shit, what a difference! Should have done this 2 years ago!
The old heads were dead as fuck.
I'll post the differences later.