Robert Smith Of The Cure Hates Remo Heads

[PmGen]

Thought this was crazy?!?!?
I have had weird Remo problems before though
http://musformation.com/2009/05/remo-has-a-quality-control-problem-with-drum-heads-just-ask-robert-smith.html

[druid]

this line from the article....

"The evidence that this happens right at the factory is when you tap the head right out of the box, some of the heads won't even produce anything aside from cardboard like resonance."

is complete garbage....heads typically do not give a tone right out of the box. Aquarians supposedly do...but that is about all. Heck Bozzio's Attack heads were the ones they compared with a guitar string...no tone till tensioned on a drum (guitar)....not saying bad heads don't happen becuase they do but alot of this sounds like primadonna behavior to me.

[Drummertist]

I haven't had much experience with Remo except for one time. I bought one of their heads 2 years ago for my snare. Within a day and a half the coating was chipping away on top in big chunks. I was severely ticked off because I don't have $20 to plop down on a head whenever I feel like it. I tried Evans and have never looked back.

[king fail]

I never liked the cure anyway.........

[caddywumpus]

It doesn't matter what heads sound like OFF of the drum, in my opinion. Just more marketing hype! The only problem I have with Remos is that the coating flakes off eventually. It's usually well after the point of replacing the head, though.

Just for the record, I've never had the coating flake off of an Evans head before.

[bobdadruma]

It doesn't matter what heads sound like OFF of the drum, in my opinion. Just more marketing hype! The only problem I have with Remos is that the coating flakes off eventually. It's usually well after the point of replacing the head, though.

Just for the record, I've never had the coating flake off of an Evans head before.
I totally agree! I haven't noticed any change in Remo heads. The coating on Remo's has always worn off faster than some other manufacturers heads. That is the way that they are! Nature of the beast, If you will! I don't use Remo coated heads for this reason. I only use Remo Clear Ambassadors, Diplomats and Emperors. For my coated head needs, I use Aquarian and Evans. I haven't had any problems with tuning Remo Heads. I have never checked the tone of an unmounted Remo head out of the box, I have never tested any head in this manor. That is stupid! Drum Heads are designed to be tensioned on a drum!

[Pavlos]

I have never checked the tone of an unmounted Remo head out of the box, I have never tested any head in this manor. That is stupid! Drum Heads are designed to be tensioned on a drum!

I never have either. I never even thought to. But apparently Bab Gatzen does. At lease he demonstrates some qualities of unmounted reso heads in this video.

http://www.tothestage.com/MediaDetail.PAGE?ActiveID=1172&query=bob+gatzen&MediaId=774

[2bsticks]

My Remo's sound just great. Both the coated ambassadors and the clear emperors. Whatever makes you happy :-)

[TFITTING942]

This seems pretty stupid to me. Even if the heads gave off a tone out of the box, you change that tone while tuning. Yoy can tune the the drum in a broad range so why should the tone of a bare head matter at all?

[dairyairman]

my drum teacher and i had a conversation about this last week. he was comparing aquarian heads to remo heads. he says he doesn't like aquarian heads because they're "too perfect". as a jazz/funk drummer he likes his heads to give off a more complex tone, like a hand hammered cymbal, and he thinks the tone given off by an aquarian head is too pure. he thinks the remo heads are more traditional sounding, with all their imperfections, and that's what he likes. as for me, i use remo heads myself and i think they sound great, but i don't dislike aquarian heads either.

[GRUNTERSDAD]

Just for yucks and being the skeptic that I am, I took my 14 inch G2 out of the box when it was new and gave it a tap and it did produce a tone(note). Did the same with the Remo that came with my Gretsch snare and it was a thud. Does a test of 2 drum heads become scientific, no. BUt it does point out what the Aquarian ad poses and it does make some sense. I have Remo Fiberskyns on my toms now and they will be replaced with Evans G2 soon. I will keep them for photo shoots, since they look good, but in my limited testing over the last few months, they don't sound as good as G 2's and they cost too much more.

[druid]

My guess is there are two varying trains of though though. Bozzio's Attack heads are the complete opposite end of the spectrum. No tension no tone (like a guitar string) and no preformed nodes where it joins the hoop. His feeling is it is more like a natural skin streched over the shell comforming to that drum. I agree with you the tapping test does not necessarily "prove" anything in terms of how it will sound tightened up or in the hands of someone who knows how to tune really well.

[TheArchitect]

This seems pretty stupid to me. Even if the heads gave off a tone out of the box, you change that tone while tuning. Yoy can tune the the drum in a broad range so why should the tone of a bare head matter at all?

The concept is, if you tap a bad head unmounted you will get a thud, instead of hearing some resonance like you would on a good head.

There is something to it. I bought some VIntage A's when they first came out. The 12" resonated nicely in the tap test while the 14/16 gave me a thud.. I got the same result when they were mounted. The 12" drum sang nicely while the 14/16 were completely dead. Replaced all 3 with modern ambassadors that all resonated nicely unmounted. The 12" still sang like mad but now the 14/16 did as well.

[cdawg]

there is some truth to this "tapping" method. i did this in the past, but don't anymore. just no time. plus i change heads too often. if i record, i check, though.

[RogerLudwig]

I've used Ambassadors and Vintage Ambassadors with no problems...maybe I'm just lucky

However, I actually prefer the Ludwig Weathermaster Medium to the Remo Ambassador 'cause I think the coatings are nicer and they hold up longer. Next time I switch out my Ambassadors, I'm going back to the Weathermaster. :-)

[bermuda]

I've been telling everyone this for years, and Remo's QC issues (and their denial that they even had issues) were the reasons I stopped using their heads.

As for the tap test, Aquarian didn't invent that. Every savvy drummer - Roy Burns included - had to test plastic heads to make sure they had a tendency to resonate. It meant that the Mylar is evenly glued and is not wrinkled (and in the case of 2-ply heads, it is crucial that the plies lay flat against each other!)

The difference between 'good' and 'bad' heads is most evident on toms, where a nice decay is normally desirable. Snare heads are more forgiving (as they're not intended to resonate the way a tom does,) and bass heads also tend to mount better as there's more area and manufacturing anomalies affect the sound to a lesser degree.

I would say that the article's bad head claims of 2/3 or even half are a bit extreme, but I personally had a failure rate of about 33% with Pinstripes and Emperors. That is, more often than not, at least one of my three toms didn't sound good thanks to a bad Remo head.

Bermuda

[zambizzi]

I never liked The Cure either...but I do love Remo heads. I've had a couple heads have the coating chip off in a day or two...but 99% of them have been fine. Remo heads just sound great...what else can be said? They've got a great feel too...they just feel right when you hit 'em.

[Muckster]

I never liked the cure anyway.........

What's the point of slamming the Cure because Robert Smith was frustrated with a defective product?

[king fail]

What's the point of slamming the Cure because Robert Smith was frustrated with a defective product?

What part of "I never liked the cure" is 'slamming' The Cure?
Sure, it wasn't the most constructive post, but I was expressing myself in a non-offensive manner....

[TFITTING942]

I've been telling everyone this for years, and Remo's QC issues (and their denial that they even had issues) were the reasons I stopped using their heads.

As for the tap test, Aquarian didn't invent that. Every savvy drummer - Roy Burns included - had to test plastic heads to make sure they had a tendency to resonate. It meant that the Mylar is evenly glued and is not wrinkled (and in the case of 2-ply heads, it is crucial that the plies lay flat against each other!)

The difference between 'good' and 'bad' heads is most evident on toms, where a nice decay is normally desirable. Snare heads are more forgiving (as they're not intended to resonate the way a tom does,) and bass heads also tend to mount better as there's more area and manufacturing anomalies affect the sound to a lesser degree.

I would say that the article's bad head claims of 2/3 or even half are a bit extreme, but I personally had a failure rate of about 33% with Pinstripes and Emperors. That is, more often than not, at least one of my three toms didn't sound good thanks to a bad Remo head.

Bermuda

Berumuda,
How often do you change your heads? Do you start all live shows on brand new heads or do you only change heads when you start to notice they worn past where you like themto be?

[Muckster]

What part of "I never liked the cure" is 'slamming' The Cure?
Sure, it wasn't the most constructive post, but I was expressing myself in a non-offensive manner....

Fair enough mate! XXXXXXXXXXXXX

[bermuda]

Berumuda,
How often do you change your heads? Do you start all live shows on brand new heads or do you only change heads when you start to notice they worn past where you like themto be?

On tour, I change my Evans tom & snare batters every 4-6 shows, which is the range in which they start choking (I'm a hard hitter.) In town, where I play more moderately, batters will last 20 gigs or more.

I should mention that durability was never an issue for me with Remo, rather it was the chronic inconsistency of their Pinstripes and Emperors that caused me to terminate my 16-year Remo endorsement and never use a Remo head again. Only when I could hand-pick Remo heads did I have a chance at getting my 3 toms to sound good. Conversely, the QC at Evans is excellent, I never have to worry about testing a head before mounting it, and I've never had an Evans head that didn't sound like it was supposed to.

Props to Aquarian too, I tried their heads as well in 2000 when it was clear I had to make a change from Remo. I chose Evans because of the better selection for what I was playing.

Bermuda

[TFITTING942]

On tour, I change my Evans tom & snare batters every 4-6 shows, which is the range in which they start choking (I'm a hard hitter.) In town, where I play more moderately, batters will last 20 gigs or more.

I should mention that durability was never an issue for me with Remo, rather it was the chronic inconsistency of their Pinstripes and Emperors that caused me to terminate my 16-year Remo endorsement and never use a Remo head again. Only when I could hand-pick Remo heads did I have a chance at getting my 3 toms to sound good. Conversely, the QC at Evans is excellent, I never have to worry about testing a head before mounting it, and I've never had an Evans head that didn't sound like it was supposed to.

Props to Aquarian too, I tried their heads as well in 2000 when it was clear I had to make a change from Remo. I chose Evans because of the better selection for what I was playing.

Bermuda

Thanks for the reply Bermuda, I always wonder about things like wear and tear from a pro player.

[zambizzi]

Bermuda,

Do you think the QC may have improved at Remo since your troubles? The heads I had problems with I had bought at a small local drum shop. They were clearly older (old boxes) and might have been from a period of poor QC at the company. Since I started buying them at Guitar Center, I've never had a bad head...all sound great and coating lasts for the life of the head.

I like Evans enough...I've just found that the G1's don't sound as good as resonant heads as the clear ambassadors do. They don't seem to have the same depth, sustain, or complexity and I'm never *as* satisfied with my toms when using them. I also haven't found a kick drum head that impresses me nearly as much as the Powerstroke 3, on the Evans side. The EMAD isn't bad...but just not as powerful, to my ears.

[bermuda]

Bermuda,

Do you think the QC may have improved at Remo since your troubles?

I had wondered about that too a year or two ago, so I went to my local Sam Ash, pulled as many Pinstripes and Emperors as they had available and did tap tests. I forget the exact percentage, but I remember it jived with my personal findings in the past, and I'll be generous to Remo and say that 25% of those heads were completely dead/flappy when tested. I also looked on the underside of the heads, and discovered that for the most part, the bad heads had noticeable ripples or waves on the bottom layer, while the outer layer layed flat. The result is that the 2 layers will tune at different rates and not vibrate well together (or at all depending on the severity of the ripples.) I also learned that I could have simply looked at the heads and made a pretty accurate determination as to how they would sound.

So my answer is, no, as of about 2 years ago, I don't think there's been an improvement.

Regarding quality control, I don't have a problem with a company making a bad head now and then... just don't let them out of the factory. Further, Remo denied there were any QC issues with the 2-ply heads, even when I explained the problems I had been encountering and pointed out the irony in drummers having to hand select heads at stores, they were adamant that there were no issues.

I knew it was time to go.

Bermuda

[TFITTING942]

I had wondered about that too a year or two ago, so I went to my local Sam Ash, pulled as many Pinstripes and Emperors as they had available and did tap tests. I forget the exact percentage, but I remember it jived with my personal findings in the past, and I'll be generous to Remo and say that 25% of those heads were completely dead/flappy when tested. I also looked on the underside of the heads, and discovered that for the most part, the bad heads had noticeable ripples or waves on the bottom layer, while the outer layer layed flat. The result is that the 2 layers will tune at different rates and not vibrate well together (or at all depending on the severity of the ripples.) I also learned that I could have simply looked at the heads and made a pretty accurate determination as to how they would sound.

So my answer is, no, as of about 2 years ago, I don't think there's been an improvement.

Regarding quality control, I don't have a problem with a company making a bad head now and then... just don't let them out of the factory. Further, Remo denied there were any QC issues with the 2-ply heads, even when I explained the problems I had been encountering and pointed out the irony in drummers having to hand select heads at stores, they were adamant that there were no issues.

I knew it was time to go.

Bermuda

Shame on them for not listening and following up on your input. The word of a professional end- user should ring through the factory floor. It probably boils down to an overlooked machine setting or something fixable like that.

[Bruce M. Thomson]

No problems here but I am going to Evans on the toms as I like the EC series and staying with Remo for my snares. I use Evans on my bass but was thinking of trying the Remo's for a change.

[bermuda]

No problems here but I am going to Evans on the toms as I like the EC series and staying with Remo for my snares.

With all due respect to Remo, I will have to say that the Ambassador, being a 1-ply, is a fairly problem-free head and truly a standard for snares. The Evans EC2 Clears are my favorite heads by far on toms, and I believe is Evans' best-selling head.

Bermuda

[PQleyR]

I realise I'm coming in at the end of this discussion, but it reminds me that I encountered a drum tutor at ACM (where I did a production course) who said that the reason Remo heads were the best was because they produced a note out of the box. Make of that what you will.

His one-word evaluation of Evans heads was that they were 'shite', which was obviously very helpful...

[Stevesmithfan]

I've only had 1 QC problem with Remo heads, that was many years ago. Their consistent IMO.
But I don't change heads as much as the pros do.

[bermuda]

His one-word evaluation of Evans heads was that they were 'shite', which was obviously very helpful...

Depending when his evaluations were made, that may not have been far from true. Unfortunately, many drummers think of Evans as the company who mad the hydrualic heads; they did, and they were. But that's old news. When D'addario bought and re-engineered the Evans line in the mid-'90s, there were many great advances in head technology, and the name quickly gained new found respect, and a leap in sales.

Most stores have a pretty even balance of Remo and Evans heads (with Aquarian and Attack being in the minority) which, based on the customer demand that drives store inventory, means that the two companies are competing strongly.

But I don't use Evans based on what's in stores or because it may be a popular alternative to Remo or the others. I genuinely prefer the heads.

Bermuda

[cdrums21]

Regarding quality control, I don't have a problem with a company making a bad head now and then... just don't let them out of the factory. Further, Remo denied there were any QC issues with the 2-ply heads, even when I explained the problems I had been encountering and pointed out the irony in drummers having to hand select heads at stores, they were adamant that there were no issues.

I knew it was time to go.

Bermuda

I too am on board with Bermuda. I had a rash of bad Remo heads years back, so badly that I contacted the company directly to complain. To my surprise, a QC person contacted me via telephone to talk about the problem. He asked me to send him back a head/heads that I felt was defective. I had just bought a coated emperor head where you could actually see the small perforated holes at the edge of the film sticking out of the counter hoop. I sent that one back as well as a coated emperor that was a dull thud on the tap test. He contacted me back several days later and apologized for the defective heads and sent me a bunch of new ones, all of which were in good shape.

I loved coated Remo emperors that were the WHITE film, not clear for my snare drum. I swear they sounded different and they were the 7.0 mil of mylar plies, not the 7.5 like the current vintage emperor. They changed sometime in the late 80's and haven't been the same since. I was playing quite a bit at the time and changed my snare head about once every 4 to 5 gigs. I always had to go to the store and hand pick them myself by doing the tap test, otherwise I would get a dull head that sounded dull on the drum. As Bermuda said, about 25% of the heads were dull sounding. I went with a coated ambassador for a while and it was cool, but I went through them too fast...I'm also a pretty hard hitter. So, I recently tried Evans coated G2's on my Ludwig supraphonic and they have sounded great..and the coating doesn't wear off. I have gotten one Evans G2 head that was a bit dull sounding and it didn't resonante quite as much as others I've had when I do the tap test (I do the tap test on all my heads now just to be safe), but it was one in about 25 heads I've gotten. Pretty consistent. Anyway, that's my 2+ cents worth :o)

[Cymbalrider]

I've seen my share of bad Remo heads, but I still prefer them to everything else. I've had no luck at all with Aquarians (flaking coating and papery sound) and Evans coated heads sound dead, and the clears like plastic. Evans heads are stiffer too and don't offer the sound options I need either. I've found the most tunable, comfortable heads are Ambassadors, and I love Fiberskyns as well. I've probably had like 50 Evans heads and while none of them had technical issues I prefer Remo's sound and feel which is matters for me more than the occasional bad head.

[KalashnikoV]

It sounds to me from Bermuda's commentary that Remo's quality control issues mainly occur with their 2-ply heads, and not single-ply ambassadors. Has anyone had any bad luck with ambassadors or Remo's FiberSkyn 3 heads?

I just ordered a whole lot of FiberSkyns for batters and clear ambassadors for resonant heads today. I hope I'm not in trouble; I haven't had issues with Remo in the past, but you guys have a habit of making a guy worry. :)

I'll tell you the results of my "tap tests" as well as how that compares to how they sound tuned onto the drums after they arrive.

[joshisaces]

I have been thinking of getting all new tom batters and resos (from remo), but now this is making me worry.

Has anyone ever had a problem with clear Powerstroke 3 (on the toms), and clear ambassadors?

I believe they're both 1 ply heads, but I just wanted to make sure.
What do you think of that combination?

[wolfmoon]

I have been thinking of getting all new tom batters and resos (from remo), but now this is making me worry.

Has anyone ever had a problem with clear Powerstroke 3 (on the toms), and clear ambassadors?

I believe they're both 1 ply heads, but I just wanted to make sure.
What do you think of that combination?

My son used that combo for a while.. They were ok but didn't sound there "best" until they were tuned medium high. Anything below that and the muffle ring under the head would wrinkle and make an annoying sound. If you try them, get the ones with the clear dot. The dot will make them last a lot longer. If you could be interested in Aquarian, try Super 2's on top and Classic Clears on the bottoms. That's a nice combo.

[wolfmoon]

It sounds to me from Bermuda's commentary that Remo's quality control issues mainly occur with their 2-ply heads, and not single-ply ambassadors. Has anyone had any bad luck with ambassadors or Remo's FiberSkyn 3 heads?

I just ordered a whole lot of FiberSkyns for batters and clear ambassadors for resonant heads today. I hope I'm not in trouble; I haven't had issues with Remo in the past, but you guys have a habit of making a guy worry. :)

I'll tell you the results of my "tap tests" as well as how that compares to how they sound tuned onto the drums after they arrive.

Yes, he is talking about the 2 ply guys. I have had the same exact problem as he did. Just recently, my son got Pinstripes for his set. They sounded great and tuned up with no troubles so I either got lucky when I got them or they have improved. I'm not sure which.. I got them cuz that was what the store had as far as a complete set in his sizes. I tapped them before I bought them and I was surprised that they seemed ok... so I got them. So far... So good..

[joshisaces]

My son used that combo for a while.. They were ok but didn't sound there "best" until they were tuned medium high. Anything below that and the muffle ring under the head would wrinkle and make an annoying sound. If you try them, get the ones with the clear dot. The dot will make them last a lot longer. If you could be interested in Aquarian, try Super 2's on top and Classic Clears on the bottoms. That's a nice combo.

Dot? I didn't know they had them with dots. They look kind of cheesy to me. I've tried ps3's on my friends kit and they sounded magnificent. I think he had a pearl masters though :P
I'm not sure what resos he was using.

Dots look cheesy to me...


Would the aquarians make a similar sound?

[wolfmoon]

Dot? I didn't know they had them with dots. They look kind of cheesy to me. I've tried ps3's on my friends kit and they sounded magnificent. I think he had a pearl masters though :P
I'm not sure what resos he was using.

Dots look cheesy to me...


Would the aquarians make a similar sound?

Yeah, they come with no dot, white dot and clear dot. Most people don't know that because most stores just get the basic ones which of course are clear.

The Super 2's will have a lot of bottom to them.. if you like a low or medium low sound, they would work well for you. They aren't dead. I'd say loud and round. Here is the description off of Aquarian's site.

Super-2™ Drumheads "A New Kind Of Two Ply Head"

They have great attack, projection and depth unlike any other drumheads. The patented Safe-T-Loc hoop prevents the head from slipping and the Sound Curve collar design provides "Responsive Tuning". With Responsive Tuning, one turn of the drum key and Super-2™ heads react. A free tuning sheet is enclosed with each Super-2 drumhead.

CLEAR: Wet attack, lot's of bottom end and depth.

COATED: Mellow, warm full sound.

CLEAR WITH POWER DOT: Focused, deep and solid.

CLEAR WITH STUDIO-X RING: Focused, warm and punchy.


SUPER-2 DRUMHEADS
"A New Kind of Two Ply Head"

In the past, two ply heads had either attack with little or no depth or they had depth with little or no attack. SUPER-2 drumheads have great attack, a rich mid-range and a powerful bottom end and depth. SUPER-2 drumheads sound louder, fuller and more powerful than conventional two ply heads. The patented Safe-T-Loc hoop prevents the head from slipping and the "Sound Curve" collar design provides "Responsive Tuning". With Responsive Tuning, one small turn of the drum key and the SUPER-2 heads react. A free tuning sheet is enclosed with each SUPER-2 drumhead. Attack with bottom end, projection with power and "Responsive Tuning" are what SUPER-2's are all about.

Application: For any drummer looking for more tone, more power and projection for today's music.

*pictured are the clear SUPER-2's and the clear SUPER-2 with Studio-X ring. They are also available coated or clear with a Power Dot.

[joshisaces]

Yeah, they come with no dot, white dot and clear dot. Most people don't know that because most stores just get the basic ones which of course are clear.

The Super 2's will have a lot of bottom to them.. if you like a low or medium low sound, they would work well for you. They aren't dead. I'd say loud and round. Here is the description off of Aquarian's site.

Super-2™ Drumheads "A New Kind Of Two Ply Head"

They have great attack, projection and depth unlike any other drumheads. The patented Safe-T-Loc hoop prevents the head from slipping and the Sound Curve collar design provides "Responsive Tuning". With Responsive Tuning, one turn of the drum key and Super-2™ heads react. A free tuning sheet is enclosed with each Super-2 drumhead.

CLEAR: Wet attack, lot's of bottom end and depth.

COATED: Mellow, warm full sound.

CLEAR WITH POWER DOT: Focused, deep and solid.

CLEAR WITH STUDIO-X RING: Focused, warm and punchy.


SUPER-2 DRUMHEADS
"A New Kind of Two Ply Head"

In the past, two ply heads had either attack with little or no depth or they had depth with little or no attack. SUPER-2 drumheads have great attack, a rich mid-range and a powerful bottom end and depth. SUPER-2 drumheads sound louder, fuller and more powerful than conventional two ply heads. The patented Safe-T-Loc hoop prevents the head from slipping and the "Sound Curve" collar design provides "Responsive Tuning". With Responsive Tuning, one small turn of the drum key and the SUPER-2 heads react. A free tuning sheet is enclosed with each SUPER-2 drumhead. Attack with bottom end, projection with power and "Responsive Tuning" are what SUPER-2's are all about.

Application: For any drummer looking for more tone, more power and projection for today's music.

*pictured are the clear SUPER-2's and the clear SUPER-2 with Studio-X ring. They are also available coated or clear with a Power Dot.

Wow. Thanks! That's definitely changing my mind about Remo a little bit. The description sounds like that's exactly what I'm looking for.

[wolfmoon]

Yep..Whatever you do don't try Perfromance 2's . They sound like hell on those drums. I have the same set as you do and I tried it. They were totally lifeless. If you ever want to keep the noise down, then by all means, try them. I have them on my Ddrum Dominators and they sound great for what I do. They have what I would describe as a tribal sound. They are low and deep and despite what some others say, they sustain and have good volume. This is because the drums are maple and big in size.When I hit both of my floor toms, I can feel it in my chest.

[razorx]

Yep..Whatever you do don't try Perfromance 2's . They sound like hell on those drums. I have the same set as you do and I tried it. They were totally lifeless. If you ever want to keep the noise down, then by all means, try them. I have them on my Ddrum Dominators and they sound great for what I do. They have what I would describe as a tribal sound. They are low and deep and despite what some others say, they sustain and have good volume. This is because the drums are maple and big in size.When I hit both of my floor toms, I can feel it in my chest.

I can feel the rumble from across the room sitting in a chair.

[zafrothunder]

great, well now im all nervous about getting those clear pinstripes...

Does anyone know what the Evans (clear!) equivalent of a pinstripe would be?

[bermuda]

great, well now im all nervous about getting those clear pinstripes...

Does anyone know what the Evans (clear!) equivalent of a pinstripe would be?

Don't be nervous about Pinstripes, just be sure to tap test every single one you're considering buying. Even then there's no guarantee they'll sound good, but you have a fair shot at it.

Or, get the Evans EC2 Clear, which is 100% consistent (in my experience) and what a perfect Pinstripe would sound like. It's Evans' best-selling head, and for good reason.

Bermuda

[zafrothunder]

Don't be nervous about Pinstripes, just be sure to tap test every single one you're considering buying. even then there's no guarantee they'll sound good, but you have a god shot at it.

Or, get the Evans EC2 Clear, which is 100% consistent (in my experience) and what a perfect Pinstripe would sound like. It's Evans' best-selling head, and for good reason.

Bermuda

i can get 3 pinstripe tom heads and an emperor-x batter for $40, or i could get those same heads, except ec2s, for around $70

i think i'll just tap-test them lol

[wloeb]

great, well now im all nervous about getting those clear pinstripes...

Does anyone know what the Evans (clear!) equivalent of a pinstripe would be?

EC2's are very similar to pinstripes

[Skitch]

It sounds to me from Bermuda's commentary that Remo's quality control issues mainly occur with their 2-ply heads, and not single-ply ambassadors. Has anyone had any bad luck with ambassadors or Remo's FiberSkyn 3 heads?

I just ordered a whole lot of FiberSkyns for batters and clear ambassadors for resonant heads today. I hope I'm not in trouble; I haven't had issues with Remo in the past, but you guys have a habit of making a guy worry. :)

I'll tell you the results of my "tap tests" as well as how that compares to how they sound tuned onto the drums after they arrive.


I use clear Ambassadors on the toms (both sides) and have had no problems. I play anywhere from 4-6 times a week. As far as Robert Smith goes, two words - who cares?

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com
http://www.patentcoachmike.com
http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

[Skitch]

I wanted to come back and revisit this post as I am certain that Robert Smith has a point. However, there is a growing phenomenon by "frontmen" to tell drummers what equipment they should be using.

One artist I was backing, bragged that he was going to get me some endorsements. "Great!" I thought. Then, after I told him that preferred Remo, about two weeks later, he came to and said he knew a guy who does Evans endorsements and those were the heads he (the Aritst) wanted me to use. The endorsement deal was a cost type of deal and definitely not a free sort of thing. If I am going to be paying for drumheads, I might as well use what I prefer, instead of a brand which I don't care for the sound of. And this is what the endorsement should be - using what you like the sound of and not merely what you got for free. This is something known as integrity as I wasn't interested in the Evans heads even for free. But here it was; a singer/guitar player telling me what to use as far as equipment. Has this happened to any of you? By the way, this artist never materialized as a viable, marketable act because of his big mouth and bad attitude.

Another band, the leader kept insisting that I use a four piece drumkit instead of a five. As the drummer of a variety band, I was called on to replicate the drumparts for songs such as Journey's Separate Ways, Don't Stop Believing, Springfield's Jessie's Girl along with many other songs on which the drumkit consisted of more than two toms. I neglected to point out to him that most of the songs we played didn't have five strings on the bass guitar. And many of these songs didn't have bass guitar solos. Again, has this happened to any of you?

So you have my explanation for the above post; I have grown weary of the frontman thinking that he knows everything about everything just because he has a microphone in front of his mouth. And this means he can tell everyone in the band what to do.


Mike

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