Warmth?

[aahznightsky]

So ... I'm in the market for new heads. I want to make my toms sound as warm as possible, almost too warm! So I was wondering about suggestions, which way to go.

The warmest toms I've ever heard happened to be on tv, the drummer for Bill Laswell's Material, and he was using Remo pinstripes with moongel, and they were amazing sounding drums. I'm also wondering how Evans Hydraulics would do, and also what people would suggest in terms of resos. Any suggestions?

[Josh is a cult]

Evans G2 coated?
thats exactly what i would go for...
Youll loose a bit of projection tho...

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

i've heard that they are extremely dead unless miced. they likened them to "cardboard".

that may or may not be the case, because i've never played them personally. but yah...

anyone else with a similar experience?

[Josh is a cult]

depends on how you tune them also.
coates G1's are awsome also

[aahznightsky]

i've heard that they are extremely dead unless miced. they likened them to "cardboard".

that may or may not be the case, because i've never played them personally. but yah...

anyone else with a similar experience?

You're talking about the pinstripes?

[bighaibigdrums]

Pinstripes over Ambassadors.

[youss]

i wouldnt recomend the hydraulics they r too focused almost dead and no projection...maybe the EC2? coated G2 ? studio X?

[Drummer Karl]

For heavier heads I would go for Remo Coated Pinstripes and if you wanna have lighter heads wich sound very warm, too I would check out some coated ambassador or Evans J1...

Karl

[Jeff Almeyda]

For heavier heads I would go for Remo Coated Pinstripes and if you wanna have lighter heads wich sound very warm, too I would check out some coated ambassador or Evans J1...

Karl

Coated pinstripes might do it. The Evans EC2 head with a coated reso head might work well also.

A coated reso might do it with what you currently have on top as well.

It's all about experimenting.

[Ufipman!]

I like remo clear pinstripes for warmth qualities. I dont use them on my kit, but use them on a kit for lessons. Aquarian Super Kick II is a great bass head to check out also.

[The_Chaotic_One]

Definately go with Coated heads, I use coated G2's at present, they don't sound like cardboard at all, Coated G1's are also good as long as you hit them properly (ie. don't bash em' unless you wanna dent em' etc.) I also find coated heads have a good amount of attack too.

[Latin Groover]

I didnt think anyone would say it but Karl did. Yes, try the EVANS J1's. They're called the 'jazz etched' heads. A friend has them on his maple starclassic and they are very warm heads, they have nice projection too. I'm pretty sure he had clear G1's on the reso. Also i cant rember where but about a week ago i was reading an artical about this 'up and coming' jazz drummer who actually uses coated ambassadors on the batter and coated emporers on the reso.(so not only is it coated heads on both, but he had a 1ply head ontop and a 2ply on the reso. Obviously it was an artical so i couldnt hear the drums but he said it worked very well, and he was a jazz drummer, so maybe give that a try, i dunno. Although his drums where made from an exotic wood. heh cant remember what. Not doing to well in the memory department eh.

[aahznightsky]

Well along with the whole J1 and hydraulic thing ... you gotta remember I'm going for a deep rock sound. And projection isn't an issue, because I do studio work so I'm mic'ed of course.

I used to have the EC2s and they didn't do it for me either. Of course they controlled the overtones, but they just didn't seem dark and warm enough for me. Right now I'm thinking either (coated) pinstripes or evans hydraulics...

[tmc]

Hey aahznightsky.

I'm no expert, but I've gone through a number of heads in a relatively short period of time, and I'd say go for coated G2s over G1s (or something similar in a brand you prefer...). Nice round and warm sound and great, IMO, for recording. Not a ton of attack, but enough for most Rock, I think. This seems to be a fairly common combination, too.

-Michael

[Drifter in the Dark]

Hydraulics are interesting heads and make your drums sound very warm, but the downside is that you have to hit them very hard to get any response from them. They're not very responsive at all in the low dynamic range. IMO they take away a little too much tone from the drum, but then again, that may be the sound you want. So, seeing as how you were disappointed with the EC2's, go for the Hydro's and see if you like them.

[Colonel Bat Guano]

Fiberskyn 3 FA's (the thicker of the two offerings) might be worth checking out, too. They're very warm in the lower rock tuning ranges.

...

[radiofriendlyunitshifter]

You're talking about the pinstripes?

oops, no i was talking about the hydraulics.

[franklinj]

Coated Performance 2s.

Aquarian has slightly thicker heads than the other companies, so that gives them a bit of a warmer sound. The 2 ply Aquarian heads are especially warm, and the Performance 2 series have a little ring to dampen and warm the drum further. If you dont like the ring, get the Response 2s.

[relyc]

What about Powerstroke 4's? Those being the two-ply version of the Powerstroke 3- highly touted for their "rock" sound, even performing the "tap test" they resonate deep and warm.

If not that way, perhaps G2's on top and EC2's as resonants? Worth a shot at least.

Good luck.
cheers.