The Age Old Question of Skins,

[GazEcc]

Ok Folks,

In my exceptionally limited experience as a drummer I've picked up a thing or two, mostly how to dodge flying cans and bottles and the occasional amp but as my 2011 New years resolution is to give up procrastination (actually its my 2010 one, I just put it off for a bit ) I'm saving to put my old kit back together, basically all I have are some naff skins on mediocre shells and a lot of Stolen and Missing Hardware.

Basically the plan for the kit is to buy a new Rug (utmost importance ), A new set of hardware, a new stool, new cymbals, a new BD Pedal and new skins.

I have a fair Idea on what I need for the for all of it except the skins... which is where you guys get to help

I've 3 toms, 12'', 13'' and 16'' a 14'' snare (probably will replace it) and a 22'' Bass drum, now what I need to know is in a PURELY studio kit what are the best skins to give me an all round easy to work with tone, and also what do you guys use to mute your drums (my old drummer had this strange little blue jelly). I would go to a music store but the guy in there is a rip of merchant at least with the rest of the stuff I buy I know whats worth what but skins I've no idea he could charge me €50 for a Remo 14'' ambassador and I'd be none the wiser.

Basically from what I know, I like Remo, The coated ambassador on the snare sounds good to me, but again I'd like to open the floor to your opinions on how to go about it, Bear in mind when I tune my drums I like a tight punchy sound with little sustain and ring not boomy or boxy, well you guys know better than me

Also how does the bottom skin come into play and would I be better leaving the front BD skin off this time?

Gaz

 

[Rimshot]

The answer depends on what kind of music you are playing and what sound you want to come from your drums. The heads are really the most important element. Sure, most of us get real snobby about the make and materials of our drum shells (I personally prefer heavy ply maple or birch) but with good heads (and good hardware) you can get almost any drum kit to sound real good.
I agree with the coated Remo Ambassador on snare (but that's my taste and it seems yours also).
Are you playing Heavy Metal, Classic Rock, Blues, Big Band Jazz, Bop Jazz, Country, Funk, etc.? These are things to consider when choosing heads. Do you want the kick drum bouncy with resonance or flat and thuddy? (In the late 60's and right through the 70's just about nobody had a resonator head on their kick and they had a ton of padding on the inside to get that deep thudding sound).
There are lots of folks here that can give you good advice depending on what kind of sound you're going for. I can give you good advice if you're looking for a classic blues or jazz sounding kit.
Cheers.

 

[Greg_L]

The answer depends on what kind of music you are playing and what sound you want to come from your drums. The heads are really the most important element. Sure, most of us get real snobby about the make and materials of our drum shells (I personally prefer heavy ply maple or birch) but with good heads (and good hardware) you can get almost any drum kit to sound real good.
.

+10000000000000000000000000000

 

[snow lizard]

You might want to google up the drum tuning bible. It's a long read but it goes into depth about a lot of things you're asking about.

Personally I like single ply heads generally. They ring a lot. They're not the easiest heads to tune. They don't have the longest life span. How the bearing edge is cut and the depth of the shell also play a role in what the head is going to sound like installed on the drum.

The strange little blue jelly might be moon gel or something like that. Drum gum is similar. It's a dampening tool that allows you to adjust how much dampening you get.

 

[GazEcc]

I kinda need a generic sound to be honest, something you can use in all situations so it sounds good. I know how to tune just not which skin gives which tone. As long as I can strike the drum and get a warm punchy tone I'll be happy. as I said I want as little ring as possible as more than likely I'll be gating the sound and or adding reverb as needed.

The only style I haven't really recorded (nor do I plan on) is Hardcore Metal, So I'd like something that works for say, Rock, Blues, Folk, and as far as the bass drum goes I'd love a deep tight sound with plenty of punch, I was looking at Remo Pinstripes for the batter head and could I get that sound without the reso head? as for toms I want them to nearly be pure tones (and according to the almighty google that means that I'll need to tune both heads to the same note / tone). Snare I want a warm crisp punch.

 

[Greg_L]

I kinda need a generic sound to be honest, something you can use in all situations so it sounds good. I know how to tune just not which skin gives which tone. As long as I can strike the drum and get a warm punchy tone I'll be happy. as I said I want as little ring as possible as more than likely I'll be gating the sound and or adding reverb as needed.

The only style I haven't really recorded (nor do I plan on) is Hardcore Metal, So I'd like something that works for say, Rock, Blues, Folk, and as far as the bass drum goes I'd love a deep tight sound with plenty of punch, I was looking at Remo Pinstripes for the batter head and could I get that sound without the reso head? as for toms I want them to nearly be pure tones (and according to the almighty google that means that I'll need to tune both heads to the same note / tone). Snare I want a warm crisp punch.

You say you want "no ring" but that ring is what gives toms their musical quality. So you do want ring. Most people over-muffle their drums, and the results are never good. They listen to their drums by themselves and freak out over the boom and ring. They start taping everything and cramming entire couches into the kick drum. Newsflash: they're drums. They are an acoustic, musical instrument. They have tone and personality. They're not just noise makers. The ring and boom you hear while smacking a drum by itself all but vanishes in a full mix. Your snare may seem too ringy by itself, but chances are, in the mix it will sound very nice with some tone and depth. Same with the toms. That's a lot better than the flat, dead sound of snare and toms with a towel taped to them. I know, I've been there.

As for heads, for musical variety I'd suggest a two-ply clear head for the batters, and a heavy one-ply for the resos. This combo will give you much ring and rich tone, but you can tame it as necessary with moongels - the little blue goo pads you mentioned earlier. Leave the heads unmuffled for max sound, add moongel to deaden it if need be. I'm a firm believer in using the right head for the job, but if you're looking for max variety for a variety of genres, then you're gonna need something that you can modify, and you can't make a dead head more lively, so start with a lively head and deaden it as needed.

 

[drumslinger]

For versatile playing, try the Remo coated Ambassadors with clear Diplomat/Ambassador resonant or the Evans G2 coated with Genera/G1 clear. you can add the moon gels to dampen but i like the wide open sound of a well tuned kit. You can tune to taste (pitch bend up, pitch bend down or same pitch on both sides). Pinstripe batter with Ambassador resonant for the kick is fine if your going for that Lars Ulrich kick sound or try the Evans EQ, EMAD, Hydraulic series. For Snare, try the coated Ambassador, Powerstroke or Evans G2, Genera Dry coated.

 

[Xdrummer]

Like many drummers, I agree that the sound you want often dictates the type of heads (your original post refernced "skins" - but unless you are as old as the hills - like me - I doubt you've even played "skins" and likely never will).

I've tried almost every type of head on every type of drum shell (maple, birch, mahogany, acrillic, fiberglass, metal, etc. etc. etc.) and for a rather nuetral sound that can cover most rock/pop/country I have narrowed my preferences to the following:

Snare - Batter = Evans Vented (or Remo coated Ambassador), Resonant = almost any thin head designed for snare

Toms - Batter = Even G2 (or Remo Pinstrip), Resonant = Evans G1 (or Remo Ambassa
dor)

Kick - Kick = Evans Emad, Resonant = Almost any single ply head

 

[Hudd]

I think you will want your drums to have a lot of ring, it's the overtones you don't want. If a drum is not tuned well or if it's not a quality drum then when you smack it it will ring then have this weird unpleasant decay. It you have a decent set and it's tuned well then you won't have that. On my kit if its tuned right and in a good room I can hit the floor tom, go make a sandwich, eath it, and when I come back it's still ringing and it sounds great.

For heads my drums sound the best with the stock DW heads but those can be hard to find so I like g2's on toms, Evans ST dry on my snare or a coated G2 and an Emad on the kick. For the bottoms g1,s work well.