vyacheslav
Senior Member
Maybe I'm old, but stuff like this scares the absolute bejesus out of me.
I'm Never Buying Drumheads Again
- Thread starter ricky
- Start date
beatdat
Senior Member
Frank Godiva
Well-known Member
It should; in more ways then one. Officials have already commented that bringing back manufacturing will mean many good jobs for Americans fixing and maintaining the robots. Sounds like it’s all worth cheap drumheads made in the USA.
beatdat
Senior Member
Until they build robots to fix and maintain robots, and then build robots to build robots to fix and maintain robots, and then build robots to build the robots to build the robots to fix and maintain robots, and then...
I still haven't bought new drumheads!
For fun, btw, I asked AI the typical costs, which came to approximately $3 for a Remo coated Ambassador 14".
I then asked the following question:
So at $3, they should sell it to retailers for $6, and then the retailer should sell it for $12, no? Isn't that usually how it's been done?
Edit
You're absolutely right about the traditional markup structure! The classic retail math is:
Traditional "keystone" markup:
For fun, btw, I asked AI the typical costs, which came to approximately $3 for a Remo coated Ambassador 14".
I then asked the following question:
So at $3, they should sell it to retailers for $6, and then the retailer should sell it for $12, no? Isn't that usually how it's been done?
Edit
You're absolutely right about the traditional markup structure! The classic retail math is:
Traditional "keystone" markup:
- Manufacturing cost: $3
- Sell to retailer: $6 (2x markup)
- Retailer sells to consumer: $12 (2x markup)
- Manufacturing cost: ~$3
- Wholesale to retailers: $9-12
- Retail price: $18-25
I’m going through this right now. Actually all the time. I seriously have to get to the point of praying about getting new heads. By the way, I just noticed that Remo PS3’s have gone up about $4 in the last couple weeks so I guess I’ll continue to use the one the kit came with 8 years ago.
Winston_Wolf
Platinum Member
I'll sometimes wait for sales or shop around a bit, but drumheads cost what drumheads cost, so eventually I'm going to pay for them. Waiting only increases the chances I'll pay more later than I will right now, so if I need a head (or sticks, or pretty much whatever, really) I'm better off buying sooner rather than later.
eric_B
Senior Member
Agreed.
A recent example: there was a thread about cymbal cases and the one I bought in 2011 for € 93 costs € 198 now, so 113% more, whereas inflation was 42% (translates to € 132).
Unless a cheaper alternative shows up, prices will likely only increase.
BenOBrienSmith
Senior Member
You asked an AI what Remo's manufacturing costs were? This isn't public information- the AI doesn't know. I can also tell you that a 14" Remo Ambassador costs more than $3 to manufacture. 2.5-3x that would get you in the ballpark. 50% would be a pretty solid margin for drumhead sales but they're not likely getting that. Similarly, retailers aren't making 50 points on drumheads. I wish they were- that would really help. But COG keeps going up and the market is struggling to sustain the price increases.
If you want to look at some crazy margins, you should see the markup on cymbals...
eric_B
Senior Member
Without a doubt but cymbals last longer...at least, they should!
opentune
Platinum Member
I sometimes buy somebody’s cheapo Sonic or CB drum because they put new heads on it before selling, so I in effect am buying heads for cheap. There are a lot of $25 Tom’s or snares out there with newish heads. I change out the heads and re sell the drum …with used heads.
jaykaydrums
Silver Member
i buy heads that last me. for example i bought some aquarian force 10 clear batters well over a year ago, and theyre still holding up perfectly even after the battering i give them!
same for the kick, superkick 10 with a kickpad, no problems even after a fairly long time!
snare heads vary for me, some have lasted me for months, others have lasted me for weeks, some days. the latter two are mainly faulty heads that made it through somehow, but soon got rectified by the companies
same for the kick, superkick 10 with a kickpad, no problems even after a fairly long time!
snare heads vary for me, some have lasted me for months, others have lasted me for weeks, some days. the latter two are mainly faulty heads that made it through somehow, but soon got rectified by the companies
roncadillac
Platinum Member
Exactly why I switched to Evans UV heads, they cost a small amount more but last substantially longer.i buy heads that last me. for example i bought some aquarian force 10 clear batters well over a year ago, and theyre still holding up perfectly even after the battering i give them!
same for the kick, superkick 10 with a kickpad, no problems even after a fairly long time!
snare heads vary for me, some have lasted me for months, others have lasted me for weeks, some days. the latter two are mainly faulty heads that made it through somehow, but soon got rectified by the companies
brady
Platinum Member
When I restocked my little drumhead inventory a while back, it was all Aquarian. They are 90% of the heads I use. They last much longer than the competitors, and I really like the tone.i buy heads that last me. for example i bought some aquarian force 10 clear batters well over a year ago, and theyre still holding up perfectly even after the battering i give them!
same for the kick, superkick 10 with a kickpad, no problems even after a fairly long time!
snare heads vary for me, some have lasted me for months, others have lasted me for weeks, some days. the latter two are mainly faulty heads that made it through somehow, but soon got rectified by the companies
Iristone
Silver Member
For drummers outside China or America, Code heads is a viable option (but IME sounds a bit softer with less attack). Extra-durable Aquarian may also work, while sounding more similar to traditional Remo or Evans heads.
In China, Drumpro and Jinbao have made some new clear, coated, and pre-dampened heads. I've tried the former brand which is less expensive, and it doesn't sound bad (not sure if it's like Remo, though). The Jinbao fiberskin sounds totally killer, but I prefer that sound on snare drum and timbales and not on kick or toms.
In China, Drumpro and Jinbao have made some new clear, coated, and pre-dampened heads. I've tried the former brand which is less expensive, and it doesn't sound bad (not sure if it's like Remo, though). The Jinbao fiberskin sounds totally killer, but I prefer that sound on snare drum and timbales and not on kick or toms.
Cmdr. Ross
Platinum Member
This is the way. I know I can make mine last a while and I play my kit to facilitate that. Pretty much the only time I buy new heads is if I want a tone change. Other than that, it's years between need.
I slipped and bought some drumheads last week but that’s only after lots of research trying to figure out which heads I like and which make the most sense for my drums and the room I’m playing in. I’ve been constantly trying out my used heads on different drums with different tunings and last week (with the help of an AI app) I decided that coated emperors over clear ambassadors and a coated PS3 bass head were the best way to go for me and my gretsch kit. I’ve tried a lot of different heads and combinations and that’s probably the simplest way to go.
Last edited:
Cmdr. Ross
Platinum Member
You play for Disney?
Tamboreter
Gold Member
@Chunkaway Bo is no longer on the forum since fall of 2024. He works as a sound guy for Disney. He's done some drum stuff there too in the past, but it's not his regular gig.
Cmdr. Ross
Platinum Member
Very cool!