Is it just me or does that floor tom sing?! even with the factory head! I ordered some aquarian modern vintage II's for everything but i may leave the weather kings on for a while.
I couldn't get the factory heads to sing at all. Then I realized that my reso heads (Ludwig mediums) were a little warped. I ended up with a coated Ambassador on the 12 and a Vintage A on the Floor tom and the stock batters as resos (about the same as a G1 or Ambassador). Now they both sing.
I have never really used Remos other than on my snare and I must say that I am impressed with the life they brought to these drums. I'm sure Evans or Aquarians would do the same (I'm not drum head brand loyal). So let me know how the Aquarians sound. I have always wanted to try some out. I did get to try the studio X on a Pearl Sensitone Elite and it sounded great.
Also as a little follow up to what I think of these drums since playing them live:
They are warm and resonant. They have a nice warm punch too. Not as punchy as a birch kit but a little punchier than most maples. This is probably due to the bearing edges or maybe that the drum vents through each lug. There is not a long sustain on these drums at least with the coated heads and what sustain there is seems to be very soft and warm (can't think of a better way to explain it)
I tried the bass drum with a stock head no muffling and it seemed very weak and papery. I then taped a small shammy style towel to the inside of the batter head and got a really nice full punch. I still need to order a new head for it as it does have more punch than I need and not enough warmth yet so I may go with an Emad or a Coated PS3. I have always used emads so I will probably end up trying out the PS3 first.
I got a lot of complements on the drums from my band members. On both looks and sound, they are pretty blunt and would tell me what they thought of them without concern of my feelings. But they did notice they angle of the bass drum and said it was kind of odd. Which I agree with but being behind the kit I can't tell a difference and it doesn't look bad from the front.
Overall I am not regretting this purchase and I fully believe that this kit is going to stand the test of time, it is very solid. I have been playing drums for more than half my life now and I can stand behind this product.