Difference between 1-ply and 2-ply?

[JesusMySavior]

What's the main sound and feel difference between them? Should I worry about them breaking?

I'm thinking about some Studio-X coated's from Aquarian but the MusFriend site says that they break easily, according to the reviews.


All I'm doing is recording with them, I play heavy jazz/fusion style stuff...

would I need a 2-ply head? I'd like the head to be responsive and distinctive on the kit. I'll be mic'ing them with a dynamic mic over the rack toms and of course some condensers on the sides.


thanks!

[1Rhythmic]

Hey dude,

Well, saying that you play Jazz/fusion, then i don't think you should worry about 2-ply heads. You should seek 1-ply. Coated maybe.

Cheers

[drumtechdad]

Agreed, and I would add that you don't select a 2-ply head for "added durability." If you break heads your technique is off or the head is bad. You choose a 2-ply head because it has the sound you want.

1-ply will have more sustain, and livelier tone, and be louder.
2-ply will have shorter sustain and fewer overtones.

[caddywumpus]

1-ply heads have a higher pitch, less sustain, and more of a "boingy" sound.

2-ply heads have a lower pitch, longer sustain, and a slower response.

For your type of music, I would recommend 1-ply heads. Coated, if you want less attack.

[TheArchitect]

1-ply heads have a higher pitch, less sustain, and more of a "boingy" sound.

2-ply heads have a lower pitch, longer sustain, and a slower response.

For your type of music, I would recommend 1-ply heads. Coated, if you want less attack.

Single ply heads actually have longer sustain. The 2 free floating plies are a bit "self muting"

[drumtechdad]

1-ply heads have a higher pitch, less sustain, and more of a "boingy" sound.

2-ply heads have a lower pitch, longer sustain, and a slower response.

For your type of music, I would recommend 1-ply heads. Coated, if you want less attack.

Nope. Friction between the layers cuts sustain compared with 1-ply.

You can often get 2-plies to a lower pitch, but it's not by much.

"Boingy" becomes "lively" with good tuning.

[caddywumpus]

Single ply heads actually have longer sustain.

Actually, they don't. I've experimented time and time again, and double-ply heads sustain for longer. It depends how you tune your drums, though. At super-high tunings, double-ply heads tend to choke up before single-ply heads do, but at medium to low tunings, double-ply heads sustain longer for sure.

Nope. Friction between the layers cuts sustain compared with 1-ply.

Nope. With modern head manufacturing techniques, friction between layers is virtually eliminated. The greater total mass of the head is what makes it sustain longer.


You can often get 2-plies to a lower pitch, but it's not by much.

Yeah, I agree. Pitch-wise, it's only about a third or fourth down, but that's significant enough to matter to some people.


"Boingy" becomes "lively" with good tuning.

True, but compared to the sound you get from a double-ply head, there still is that noticeable "boingy" quality in single-ply heads. I'm not saying that boingy is bad--it's just a different sound. The bright sound from a Zildjian A is not better or worse than the dark sound of a K, just different. Although, some would argue to the grave that one or the other is far superior...

[TheArchitect]

Actually, they don't. I've experimented time and time again, and double-ply heads sustain for longer. It depends how you tune your drums, though. At super-high tunings, double-ply heads tend to choke up before single-ply heads do, but at medium to low tunings, double-ply heads sustain longer for sure.


You stand alone in your opinion. I have yet to find anyone else who thinks 2 ply heads sustain longer than single ply

[caddywumpus]

You stand alone in your opinion. I have yet to find anyone else who thinks 2 ply heads sustain longer than single ply

I know plenty who think so. Actually, I think it's about a 50/50 split of all the drummers I know. I've had this talk with roughly 20-25 or so drummers and drum techs. For some reason, this topic comes up a lot (and I'm not the one who brings it up, I swear!).
Let me know the next time you tour the west coast of the states. When you come through Portland, we could meet up and I could prove it to you, if you so desire (or really care). We could go get a coffee or a pint afterwards... :)

[drumhammerer]

I think it really depends on the kit itself. I would think on most maple kits though, the clear ambassador would definitely have the most sustain. I put those on my Ludwig 3 plies, and they had too much sustain for me, even when I put pinstripes on the resos to see if that would eliminate some sustain. My thicker shelled 6 ply Luds seem to resonate more with coated emperors, though. But, that's the only kit I've had where that was the case.