Two Kits - Keep One or Both??

[jfreez1313]

I have two kits, one is a Yamaha Stage Custom Advantage with 10, 12 and 14 inch toms, and a 22 inch kick. My other kit is a Pearl Export with ISS mounts, with 10, 12, 13, and 14 inch mounted toms, a 16 inch floor tom, a 22 inch kick, and a matching 14x5.5 inch wood snare. The Yamaha Kit sounds awesome, and is the one I use most often (I bought is used from a guy who spent 95% of his free time playing the dang thing. The Pearl sits in my closet collecting dust (I bought it from a guy who played it a couple times a month, and it didn't leave his basement until I bought it). The main reason I don't use the Pearl is due to the fact that it still has all the factory heads on it, with the exception of the kick, where I replaced the batter head with a Powerstroke 3.

Anyway, my question is: Should I spend the money to get new heads on the Pearl (will be about $200 USD), or will that really not make much of a difference? I'm guessing the Pearl is either a 2001, 2002 or 2003 series drum. I would like to use the Pearl as my main kit, as it has the extra toms and the matching snare, plus it also looks a lot nicer than the Yamaha. I'm just looking for the best possible sound I can get out of what I already have, and am not sure if new heads will make the kit "come alive" - it sounds dead and flat right now.

Thanks for the info!!

Oh, and the heads I've been looking at are Coated Emperors for the batter, Clear Ambassadors for the resonant, and an Emperor X on the Snare.

[jofizzm]

Put the stage custom heads on the pearl and only have to buy a set of 16" heads?

[jfreez1313]

Originally Posted by jofizzm

Put the stage custom heads on the pearl and only have to buy a set of 16" heads?

Yeah, I'd like to keep the Stage Custom kit as my practice/jam kit, and use the Pearl as my show kit.

[double_G]

all i can say is I HAVE DEEPLY REGRETTED EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF PERCUSSION I HAVE EVER SOLD. so if you dont have an extreme $$$ crunch then keep both. the home studio kit / road kit idea works great.

[jfreez1313]

Originally Posted by double_G

all i can say is I HAVE DEEPLY REGRETTED EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF PERCUSSION I HAVE EVER SOLD. so if you dont have an extreme $$$ crunch then keep both. the home studio kit / road kit idea works great.

I know what you mean - I'm the same way with guitars. So sound-wise, it would be worth the cash to replace all of the heads on the Pearl. I'm hoping that it can sound at least as good as the Yamaha.

[Soupy]

Why not buy new 12" heads (or even 10/12/14) and try them out on the Pearl. If you like the sound, you keep the Pearls and replace the rest of the heads. If you don't like the sound, you can use those heads on the Yamaha down the road.

[BradGunnerSGT]

I think you will be amazed at the difference new heads will make, especially if the seller still had the original heads on it after 10 years!

I would advise that you pick one tom (the 12 or 13) and get new batter and resonant heads for it, and see what the difference is (and also see if your head choice sounds good on that particular kit) before dumping a ton of money into a full set of heads. You can't go wrong with the coated Emperor over clear Ambassador combination, though.

[sbowman128675]

In my biased opinion....The Yamaha is 100000times better, keep it, sell the other and use the $$ for up-keep on the yamaha. Or buy a naice new snare or something.

[jfreez1313]

Testing it out on a single tom makes a TON of sense - I feel stupid for not thinking of that myself. I'll have to stop in and grab a set on my way home tomorrow. Thanks for the idea!

[Bo Eder]

I had a kit of Pearl Exports, the EXR model and I can't tell you how much better they sounded when I replaced both the tops and bottoms. I put emperors top and bottom and a powerstroke 3 on the bass drum, and then the kit really came alive. The snare got an ambassador and an ambassador snare side and sounded much better as well.

But keeping them is totally up to you. I would say if you have the space to store them and don't really need the money, keep them. It's always nice to have a second kit when the need arises, and if you sell it, you'll probably replace it with something cheaper that you will spend more money on. It's up to you, though.

[harryconway]

There are guys who gig with Exports. Yes, new heads will make a big difference. Pretty much the standard rule on any drum kit. Old heads bad. Old stock heads worse. Once you bring the Exports up to full potential, then make the call. Keep or sell.

[jfreez1313]

Well, I took your advice and grabbed some new 12" heads to test it out - I can't believe how much better they sound!! I always knew that the stock heads weren't going to sound the best, but I didn't realize how big of a difference there is. I'm going to get the rest of the heads I need today and swap and tune tonight. Just in time since my 21" Sweet Ride is coming in today!

[MasterCylinder]

You would have made an elementary mistake had you not tried those shells with the correct heads before selling them off................now it sounds like you have your head in the game.

In addition, I just happen to completey agree with coated emperor batter over clear ambos............beautiful sound.

[jfreez1313]

Originally Posted by MasterCylinder

In addition, I just happen to completey agree with coated emperor batter over clear ambos............beautiful sound.

I talked to somewhere between 15 and 20 people, plus browsing the forums, and the most common advice was to go with that combo. Plus I really like the look of the coated heads on the dark red shells. I just placed an order for the rest of the heads with the local drum shop (I try to stay away from the chain stores as much as possible, even if it costs more), so I'll be able to pick those up and swap the heads tonight!

Btw, UPS just showed up with the Sweet Ride I bought off ebay - any suggestions for getting tape residue/paint off the back? I think I saw a thread about this subject a while back, but now I can't seem to find it.

[steverok]

Gotta agree to keep the Pearls, especially if you got them for a good deal. Try to get some of the heads in those combo packs (10-12-16, 10-12-14, 12-14-16, and 12-13-16 are often available) to save some money. I'd be inclined to try the Remo Pinstripes on the Pearls, but that's your call. Most working drummers need more than one set. I have the same Yamaha Stage Custom Advantage set-up as you, which is my gigging set. Very reliable drums, the Yamahas are.

[MasterCylinder]

Originally Posted by jfreez1313

Btw, UPS just showed up with the Sweet Ride I bought off ebay - any suggestions for getting tape residue/paint off the back? I think I saw a thread about this subject a while back, but now I can't seem to find it.

GOO GONE..............you can find it in most grocery stroes.

[jfreez1313]

Originally Posted by MasterCylinder

GOO GONE..............you can find it in most grocery stroes.

That's what my first thought was, but I wasn't sure. Thanks!