Larry
"Uncle Larry"
So I was cleaning out my studio, throwing out all my chewed up sticks and old drumheads I'll never use again, (threw out a stack 4 feet high) when I came across a lone 14" Renaissance Ambassador weight head, in perfect shape. I think I bought it for a snare many moons ago, and didn't like it for the snare. I like 2 ply coated heads on my snare but prefer single ply 10 mil clear heads on my toms. I can't believe I never tried the renaissance on a tom. Well last night I did and wow do I prefer that tone over regular single ply clears. It has a certain sound it makes, more attack, and a clearer, more distinct voice to my ear. Like if my single ply clears make a tone that sounds like "Bow" (as in "I bow to your wisdom") then the renaissance heads make a tone that sounds like "Bear".
A better, more papery attack. More high end and more articulate, a clearer, more pronounced tone. I don't like a thick sounding attack. Like Fibreskyns make me want to hurl. Feels like I'm playing on blankets. Renaissance's are at the other end of the spectrum, like I turned a tone knob up so it's more trebley. Drums are low end big sounding things. The more high end and crispness I can get from them, the better I like them. That's the word to describe the renaissance tone, crisp. They say they try and emulate calfskin. I haven't heard a calfskin head in so long. But from what I remember, calf isn't crisp like these heads, it's more muted if memory serves. Anyway I don't agree with the calf comparison, unless my memories of the calf tone are flawed.
The renaissance's have an extra something going on that I'm really liking. I ordered a whole set. I also ordered a 2 ply emperor weight for the snare. The textured surface won't ever flake off, and it should work great with brushes.
After trying every nearly head ever made, and ending up back at square one with 10 mil single ply clears, I never thought I would find anything that could beat them on the toms. It's nice to be surprised.
The jury is still out, I haven't gigged with them or anything, I don't even have them yet, but I'm pretty sure, judging from the 14" I had, that these are my new head choice. They do cost more. Whatever.
Anyone use these on a regular basis? If you haven't heard some lately... all I can say is that they really took me by surprise. Can't wait to get a whole set of them.
A better, more papery attack. More high end and more articulate, a clearer, more pronounced tone. I don't like a thick sounding attack. Like Fibreskyns make me want to hurl. Feels like I'm playing on blankets. Renaissance's are at the other end of the spectrum, like I turned a tone knob up so it's more trebley. Drums are low end big sounding things. The more high end and crispness I can get from them, the better I like them. That's the word to describe the renaissance tone, crisp. They say they try and emulate calfskin. I haven't heard a calfskin head in so long. But from what I remember, calf isn't crisp like these heads, it's more muted if memory serves. Anyway I don't agree with the calf comparison, unless my memories of the calf tone are flawed.
The renaissance's have an extra something going on that I'm really liking. I ordered a whole set. I also ordered a 2 ply emperor weight for the snare. The textured surface won't ever flake off, and it should work great with brushes.
After trying every nearly head ever made, and ending up back at square one with 10 mil single ply clears, I never thought I would find anything that could beat them on the toms. It's nice to be surprised.
The jury is still out, I haven't gigged with them or anything, I don't even have them yet, but I'm pretty sure, judging from the 14" I had, that these are my new head choice. They do cost more. Whatever.
Anyone use these on a regular basis? If you haven't heard some lately... all I can say is that they really took me by surprise. Can't wait to get a whole set of them.
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