Choosing heads

[dagosto]

I have a really hard time deciding what kind of heads I should buy for my drums (toms mostly). I drummer friend of mine told me Remo pin-stripes are the best for recording so thats what I use. I like them a lot but am interested in finding out more about other heads and how they sound.

[lukedavo]

yo D,

My fav recording heads for toms would be evans G1 or G2 clear, really bright punchy sound, NO BOTTOM HEADS WHEN RECORDING!!!!!! Snare I like coated weatherking ambassadors. Kick I go evans Emad.
It really does matter what kind of drums you have, I play mohagany gretsch Catalina Elite, they have a rather dark sound, so I use clear heads on the toms to counter act their tonal qualities. On snare I use coated because in my oppinon they sound warmer and less harsh which is good for my current snare. Just my opinion....

[dagosto]

thanks luke

[smopo24]

i don't see the problem recording with bottom heads; that's the way i've always done it.....but i'm open to suggestions.

[lukedavo]

well IMO its nearly impossible to tune heads the same on both sides. There will be freq interference if they are off even cents. Take the bottom head off, drums sound better, bigger, and cleaner there's no weird freq stuff going on. It makes a huge difference, imagine head mic and bottom mic phase reversed on every tom.... boooommmmm duuuuhhh duuuhhh duuuhhhh boooooooommm, or something like that...

[dagosto]

The bottom head is there to add depth to the sound. It is usually not tuned to the same note so that the pitch bends after the attack. I love the sound of toms with single heads but bottom heads do serve that purpose.

[Chaorta]

I'm partial to Evan's stuff.

[Nubus]

which have you found better suited for what? I always see ambassadors which are thinner. I like playing Emporer but I never see anyone else doing it, and I have no idea what the difference is recorded.

[sid vicious]

John Bonham always used Emperors, must be a decent choice?

[Whoopysnorp]

No way do drums with no bottom head sound better! They sound dead, flat, and lifeless. If a tom is properly tuned with the bottom head on it, it can sound anywhere from high and jazzy to deep and rumbling, Bonham-style.

Anyway, I like coated Ambassadors or G2s on the top, and clear Diplomats or G1s (or whatever Evans' equivalent is) on the bottom. That's for toms. On snare I really like the Evans G2 Genera Dry head (the one with the little vents) on the batter side, and a clear Diplomat on the snare side. For kicks the Evans EMAD head sounds great as a batter. I have a coated Ambassador with a hole cut in it as a resonant.