Drum heads for hard rock?

nightraider43

Senior Member
Hey guys, I am getting back into drumming after a long hiatus. Not to current on the newest types of drum heads that may be out and could use some help. Looking for the sound for snare, toms and bass. My primary interests are AC/DC, Metallica, Scorpions, Sabbath, Judas Priest (you get the point). I'm thinking coated 2 ply heads. I don't much care for the extended ringing especially on snare. My set will be Mapex Saturn IV I ordered just recently. Snare will be the Mapex Black Panther "Phat Bob". Going to be using Sabian AAX Xplosion cymbals. Also any recommendation on sticks would be useful. I use to use Vic Firth 7's with wood tear drop tip. I kinda want to stay away from the frosted heads since the insides of the toms are just as beautiful as the outside. I am only a hobbyist so I won't be recording or playing live shows. Thanks to all! Steve
 
Personally I would go with a two ply clear head (Evans G2 or Remo Emperor) as the batter and a single ply clear for the resonant head. This is what I've been using on my rock (Bubinga) set of drums.

Dennis
 
Sweet, thanks Audiotech. I actually believe the drums are already going to be set up with Remo Emperors so will just need to dial them in then. Any recommendations for the snare. I want something fat with good attack and preferably minimal ring. Its a 14" and i believe 7" deep and I believe its either maple or walnut. Can't remember now
 
On the snare I would go with Remo X14. It is the same thickness as a Emperor head but it is a single ply like an ambassador. It gives a good open sound but it has added ematiness and durability due to the thickness. It as is less ringy than the standard coated Ambassador without being too dry or boxy. I am not a big fan of pre-muffled snare heads as they can sound way different in the crowd than on stage while playing and they can be dry and boxy sounding. You can always add a moon gel to taste for any additional muffling, if needed.
 
Evans EC2 batters will cut out the ring and they're great for hard rock. Put them over clear G1s and you'll thank me later. Put an Evans power center reverse dot on your snare over a Hazy 300. Finally, an Aquarian Super Kick II on the kick. This head combination will serve you well. I generally prefer clear G2s but it sounds like the EC2s will be perfect for you. I use them in the studio.
 
Ive been using Aquarian's new heads on all my kits and they work great for just about
every type of music. Especially hard rock stuff.

Snare - Triple Threat (3 ply head, super tough and great tuning range)
Toms - Force 10 (thick 2 ply heads, I used coated, but you may want to go with clear for your type of music).
 
I was recording and gigging with the metal band I'm in Our Fallen Hero. I don't usually play metal but for the band I bought a new head for my snare. I think its an Evans Ebony. It's good for rock and metal as its thicker than others. It also extremely durable.
 
I just put Emperors over Evans General resonants and I couldn't be happier. No need for any moongel. The reso heads are tuned a little lower than the batters. You can get rid of most of those tones you don't like just by tuning them correctly. There's a sticky thread about tuning here on DW.

As far as that snare drum, I don't know. Each snare drum has a certain character to its composition. You need to find out what it is that you like about it and bring it out. Just start with an Ambassador over a general reso and go from there. The sound you are describing (not wanting extended ringing) can be achieved by tuning it low, medium tension on the snares and use a studio ring on the batter. See, I like that ringing so I tune my BOB (Pork Pie) nice and tight with the reso tighter than the batter, and the wires pretty tight too. That's because my band's sound has some reggae elements to it, so I needs those high tone rimshots here and there.

Great choice on cymbals too, btw. (no, I'm not biased)
 
Evans EC2 batters will cut out the ring and they're great for hard rock. Put them over clear G1s and you'll thank me later. Put an Evans power center reverse dot on your snare over a Hazy 300. Finally, an Aquarian Super Kick II on the kick. This head combination will serve you well. I generally prefer clear G2s but it sounds like the EC2s will be perfect for you.

This is what i was going to say, too! So, +1.
 
If it wasn't for dealing with a incompetent customer service rep at Evans I would recommend Evans as well but because of how the process went I will never use nor recommend Evans again. I actually really really liked the G14 over G1, HD Genera Dry, Hazy 300 setup that I had tried for the first time when switching to Evans but because the process of rectifying a problem with their bass drum heads I will never use a product from them ever again based on principle.

Went back to Remo with my trusty Emp over Amb setup and a SKII for the first time on my X7 and couldn't be happier. I say go Emp over Amb or Pin over Amb, tune properly and be done with it.
 
I don't know of any heads that will hold up to the beating of hard rocks . . . . hickory or oak is brutal enough . . . . . .
 
My opinion is almost any two ply clear head would do the job. If you want a little more open sound in the two ply clear I would go evans g2 or remo emperor. If you want even a little bit less ring the evans ec2 might give even less. I think with the quality of the saturns though I would go with the emperor or g2. For a snare I think you might have to experiment. There is a lot of drum heads that sound great from rock on a snare making harder to pin point what to suggest. I my two favorite snare heads are evans hd dry and the onyx but they really don't sound the same. Its all in how bright, dark, dry, and what shell you use it on.
 
You might want to try getting a few different batter heads and take turns trying them on a 12" tom or so. As for my two cents, I'm a sworn Aquarian user. Their semi-new Force 10 clear heads are the fullest, toughest rock-sounding heads I've ever heard. Also, the Triple Threat with it's design has similar properties and insane durability. Aquarian is also very well known for their Super Kick series. I will say, that although Aquarian has IMHO the best customer service, Evans has blessed us with one of their service reps who has been very helpful to members of the forum providing insight, updates, and service to all of us, and it really speaks well of them. If you see EvansSpecialist around, he's your man. But Aquarian is still better :).
 
For the snare batter Aquarian Focus X is great for what you are after. It gives you a great snare tone while cutting down overtones (ring).
 
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