Coated or Clear Ambassador?

Pedro

Pioneer Member
Ok. Here is a difficult question.

I'm doubting what heads to use: clear or coated ambassadors.

I have a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute drum 10,12,14(floor) and have now clear ambassadors. The heads sound great, but still I wonder, maybe I should put coated ambassadors.
I like my drum to be open sounding, but I think with ambassadors in general that's ok.
Only thing is, sometimes when I play in bars with bad acoustics the drums sometimes is a bit too loud (I'm not a hard hitter).
So I thought maybe try coated ambassadors, but I don't want to loose the projection, and open character of my drum.

So....a difficult question I think.....but that's why I would like to hear some opinions, experienses, etc. (otherwise I would know myself).

Just say what you want to say about it.

Thanks!
 
Go for the coated, it'll sound a little more rounded with a decrease in overtones. It could be the perfect thing for gigging in a small area. In general, the ambassador isn't a very thick head, so by adding a coating it won't be dead sounding, go for it.
 
Ok. Here is a difficult question.

I'm doubting what heads to use: clear or coated ambassadors.

I have a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute drum 10,12,14(floor) and have now clear ambassadors. The heads sound great, but still I wonder, maybe I should put coated ambassadors.
I like my drum to be open sounding, but I think with ambassadors in general that's ok.
Only thing is, sometimes when I play in bars with bad acoustics the drums sometimes is a bit too loud (I'm not a hard hitter).
So I thought maybe try coated ambassadors, but I don't want to loose the projection, and open character of my drum.

So....a difficult question I think.....but that's why I would like to hear some opinions, experienses, etc. (otherwise I would know myself).

Just say what you want to say about it.

Thanks!

I use clear Ambassadors myself but you won't lose projection with the coated Ambassadors!

Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw
 
if you like the open sound, you should stick to the clear ambas. for being too loud: juts don't hit them that hard.
 
Coated sound much better to me. They cut some of the boingy overtones that clears will give you and make for a rounder, fatter, "drummier" sound.
 
I was getting ready to replace the clear AMBA's. Talked to my drum teacher about it, he told me that for me... the clears were a little less forgiving. You have to strike center to keep the sound consistent.

Told me to stay with the clears since I am on the very steep part of the learning curve. Made sense. They force you to be a little more precise.
 
Coated sound much better to me. They cut some of the boingy overtones that clears will give you and make for a rounder, fatter, "drummier" sound.

I like a full tom sound, but I still like a precise tone also and singing toms..... the only thing I'm worried about is that the coating will cause a bit a flatter sound with less possibility's....
 
I like a full tom sound, but I still like a precise tone also and singing toms..... the only thing I'm worried about is that the coating will cause a bit a flatter sound with less possibility's....

You basically have two choices...bright or warm. As far as possibilities go, I don't think that the different sounds will limit them. It will just sound different.

For the record, I prefer coated heads. It softens the attack and warms up the tone. It also takes out the "boing" of clear heads and replaces it with a "doom".
 
Definitley try coated. Even if you dont like them, you will know have the knowledge to know they are not the right heads for you. But if you dont quite like the over tones you are getting from the clears, the coated are definitley a solid choice.
They are great heads.
 
Coated sound much better to me. They cut some of the boingy overtones that clears will give you and make for a rounder, fatter, "drummier" sound.


You know, I have always heard this argument – “Coated sound warmer and less bangy”. Well, since I own some toms of the exact same brand and exact same size, I think I will do an A-B comparison and just check this out to see if it is fact or fiction, at least to the human ear!


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw
 
You know, I have always heard this argument – “Coated sound warmer and less bangy”. Well, since I own some toms of the exact same brand and exact same size, I think I will do an A-B comparison and just check this out to see if it is fact or fiction, at least to the human ear!


Mike

http://www.mikemccraw.com
http://www.dominoretroplate.com

http://www.youtube.com/drummermikemccraw
http://www.myspace.com/drummermikemccraw

Well, I always used coated ambassadors on my other drums...(that were not so good as the yamaha). But I bought the yamaha, and it had the clear ambassadors, and I was amazed by the sound. But I don't think it's only because of the heads, but of course because of the drums :)
But because I don't have that much money to change heads every 6 month, I want to make the right choise before taking the coated at once.
 
Let me throw a wrinkle into the mix. I play Yamaha Absolutes and Oak Custom. I switch off on both kits between coated ambs or clear emperors. I like the deep punch and projection of the clear emps. and I also like the coated projection and warmth. IMO
 
Let me throw a wrinkle into the mix. I play Yamaha Absolutes and Oak Custom. I switch off on both kits between coated ambs or clear emperors. I like the deep punch and projection of the clear emps. and I also like the coated projection and warmth. IMO

How do you like the Oak comparing to the Maple? Is it a big differance? What do you prefer for wich settings?
 
Hi Pedro,

My Absolute kit is really a mongrel set. My 22" bass is maple, my 10" tom is birch , my 13" tom is beech and my 16" tom is birch. Currently these drum have the coated amb. heads on them and they sound open and warm with just enough resonance if tuned properly.

The Oaks are my newer drums and they have the clear emps on them. Their sized are 22 bass, 10 tom 12 tom 14 tom. These drum have been getting more of the work load lately. They are so easy to tune and they just sound great. I've read that some people say their too loud or too bright. So far I don't see that at all. I work in all types of places. Small clubs to opening up for some well known band from the 50's and 60's and these Oak drums can do it all.

I guess I should start selling for Yamaha huh?
 
I would go with the coated heads. I have that exact sizes in my Pearl kit and I use coated ambassadors and they sound great.personally I like coated heads on smaller sized kits(10t,14ft,20bd) and clear heads on larger size kits (13t,16ft,24bd) Go for it.

Bonzolead
 
Hi Pedro,

My Absolute kit is really a mongrel set. My 22" bass is maple, my 10" tom is birch , my 13" tom is beech and my 16" tom is birch. Currently these drum have the coated amb. heads on them and they sound open and warm with just enough resonance if tuned properly.

The Oaks are my newer drums and they have the clear emps on them. Their sized are 22 bass, 10 tom 12 tom 14 tom. These drum have been getting more of the work load lately. They are so easy to tune and they just sound great. I've read that some people say their too loud or too bright. So far I don't see that at all. I work in all types of places. Small clubs to opening up for some well known band from the 50's and 60's and these Oak drums can do it all.

I guess I should start selling for Yamaha huh?

Well, seems you have a interesting kit to play.
I ones played on an oak, I didn't like it, but it was also in drumshop's showroom, not tuned proparly, so, I can not judge about it.

I actually really like my maple drum, it is very open sounding with a lot of resonance. For some people it might be too much resonance, but the drum fits in the music very well because of the resonance. Only sometimes I want to get more deph out of my 10" tom. So....I always say: you have to see a drum as part of a band, not as a solo instrument.
 
Pedro,
As far as my 2 cents goes, I play Yamaha maple custom absolutes, 10/12/16. I use both coated ambassadors and clear emperors, depending on the gig. Both heads sound great. The coated ambassador gives a very open and full tone with a tad of warmth. They sound really nice and are used by guys like Dave Weckl, who also plays a Yamaha MCA kit. The clear emps sound great for a more rock sound with a midier sound, more meat, nice low end and attack from the clear mylar. I find clear ambassadors on my kit are just a tad too thin sounding with not quite enough balls. That's my opiniuon though and it's based on the type of music I play. In the studio, I would go for the coated ambassadors. Live, I'll go with the 2 ply clear emperors. The durability of the emps is a factor for use as well. Good luck in your choice!
 
Pedro,
As far as my 2 cents goes, I play Yamaha maple custom absolutes, 10/12/16. I use both coated ambassadors and clear emperors, depending on the gig. Both heads sound great. The coated ambassador gives a very open and full tone with a tad of warmth. They sound really nice and are used by guys like Dave Weckl, who also plays a Yamaha MCA kit. The clear emps sound great for a more rock sound with a midier sound, more meat, nice low end and attack from the clear mylar. I find clear ambassadors on my kit are just a tad too thin sounding with not quite enough balls. That's my opiniuon though and it's based on the type of music I play. In the studio, I would go for the coated ambassadors. Live, I'll go with the 2 ply clear emperors. The durability of the emps is a factor for use as well. Good luck in your choice!

Well, I think I will try the coated too. I really like the clear, but I just want to try something else. Maybe it will be the same, but warmer :)
 
i prefer coated heads. the clears sound too "plastic-y" for my tastes.
 
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