One Head VS. Two

[rattlehed]

What are the pros and cons of each?

[keep it simple]

What are the pros and cons of each?

Easy.

One head:
+ss: less cost. possibility of nesting for transport. Better projection in an accoustic environment. Attack focus assured.
-ss: Less control over tone, decay, sustain. You'll always sound like a naff early 80's rocker.

Two heads:
+ss: Better everything.
-ss: slight extra cost of replacing the reso every year.

[Drifter in the Dark]

Another drawback to having only one head is that the drum shell is more prone to going out of round over time. This is especially true for the bass drum if there's extra weight (such as a set of toms) placed on top of it.

[keep it simple]

Another drawback to having only one head is that the drum shell is more prone to going out of round over time. This is especially true for the bass drum if there's extra weight (such as a set of toms) placed on top of it.

Very good point. The big message is DON'T USE CONCERT TOMS UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE STUCK IN A TIME WARP!

[Skitch]

Easy.

One head:
+ss: less cost. possibility of nesting for transport. Better projection in an accoustic environment. Attack focus assured.
-ss: Less control over tone, decay, sustain. You'll always sound like a naff early 80's rocker.

Two heads:
+ss: Better everything.
-ss: slight extra cost of replacing the reso every year.

One head equals more volume as the bottom head traps most of the air column. Single headed toms may be coming back into vogue.


Mike

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

[Pocket-full-of-gold]

One head equals more volume as the bottom head traps most of the air column. Single headed toms may be coming back into vogue.

Back in vogue???? Noooooooo. Say it aint so Mike....pleeease say it aint so!!!

[MadJazz]

Easy.

Two heads:
+ss: Better everything.

I don't agree it's necessarily better. Two heads are more complex.

Start with one head and then listen to how the second head changes the tone. That's how you learn to tune. If you want more attack and a clean tone, one head is actually better.

The big message is DON'T USE CONCERT TOMS UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE STUCK IN A TIME WARP!

Dzjees, you're so one-dimensional. Concert toms have their place.

Big message is: try it out and decide for yourself what's better.

[larryace]

Concert toms do have their place.

In the trash.

Sorry but I think they sound.....like they should be in the trash. (just my opinion, not bashing concert tom users, I've used them too, when they were truly in vogue)

KIS, precisely what does naff mean? I love picking up new slang words from overseas.

[dairyairman]

Concert toms do have their place.

In the trash.


haha! we actually use an old single headed tom as a trash can in our practice space. one of the other guys pulled it out of the dumpster and gave it to me, thinking i would want it. i put it to use.

[keep it simple]

Dzjees, you're so one-dimensional. Concert toms have their place.

.

I know I'm being one dimensional on this occasion. I'm normally very open to just about everything but I just think concert toms suck. Especially the bigger sizes. I take your point about volume but that's mostly useless. My reasoning is that concert toms produce very little sustain & tone. In anything other than a lightly amplified situation, they sound like boxes. The only time you can hear the tone of the drum is when they're mic'd thus the volume gain becomes a mute point.

I attended a gig only last week when the drummer was using concert toms. I heard him play them in the break and the tuning was ok, as was the sound if you like that sort of thing. As soon as the band fired up, the toms sounded absolutely dead. Totally devoid of any drum related sound whatsoever.

Concert toms do have their place, in history. Just like gut skins. I'm sure someone likes them but I can't see why.

[Deathmetalconga]

Single heads are much easier to tune.

Practically all pop music in the 1960s and 1970s was recorded on single-headed toms. It's not just an '80s thing. Hal Blaine recorded everything on single headed Ludwigs.

[keep it simple]

KIS, precisely what does naff mean? I love picking up new slang words from overseas.

Naff = very poor, bad, un-cool, etc. A bit like my fashion sense according to my wife!

[Wavelength]

Practically all pop music in the 1960s and 1970s was recorded on single-headed toms. It's not just an '80s thing. Hal Blaine recorded everything on single headed Ludwigs.

That's true -- and that's why the toms always sound so devoid of life.