Tom head suggestions for my next gig

SDdrummer1

SDdrummer1

Member
So, I have a gig next month, and I'm debating between 3 sets of heads to put on my toms. (DW Performance maple, 13, 16 toms). Snare and kick heads are already set.

The gig is at a local brewery, so it's a large, warehouse-style space with extremely high ceilings. I will be unmiked, except for the kick drum. I play in a pop-punk trio, so it's loud and fast songs for the most part, with some metal vibes thrown in. I hit fairly hard, but I've never dented any heads.

I have Aquarian Response 2 coated, Clear emperors, and the DW Clear/Coated to pick from. They all sound good, but I was just curious to hear opinions. I've never played a gig with any single-ply head, so I'm kind of interested in hearing what those would sound like. Regardless, I will tune both of these toms a little higher to help cut through the mix.

Any thoughts? The emperors are usually my go-to, as they always sound good. Just curious about feedback or others' experiences.

NOTE: None of these heads are brand new, but the DW stock heads are the least played thus far.
 
caddywumpus said:
Single ply for a “doom” sound, DW stock heads for a “dum” sound, and Emperors for a “dome” sound. That’s how I think of them.
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The only single plys I have are the DW clear/coated. Many seem to hate these heads, but they sound perfectly fine to me.

The Aquarians are definitely the most mellow-sounding and the least resonant out of my options.
 
Don’t know why the venue would make a difference for what heads you use. Maybe you or someone else can enlighten me here.
 
JimmyM said:
Don’t know why the venue would make a difference for what heads you use. Maybe you or someone else can enlighten me here.
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Because a small bar with carpet or some sound treatment on the walls is going to sound different than a giant warehouse with a bunch of hard surfaces.
 
SDdrummer1 said:
The gig is at a local brewery, so it's a large, warehouse-style space with extremely high ceilings.
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That sounds like the local "Train Station" turned into micro-brewery (In my next town over..
Those high ceilings and overall 'echo' chamber I'd select the heads you are comfortable with because the acoustics in those joints are usually "turd,, (any ways,. So please yourself- Take care of you
 
SDdrummer1 said:
So, I have a gig next month, and I'm debating between 3 sets of heads to put on my toms. (DW Performance maple, 13, 16 toms). Snare and kick heads are already set.

The gig is at a local brewery, so it's a large, warehouse-style space with extremely high ceilings. I will be unmiked, except for the kick drum. I play in a pop-punk trio, so it's loud and fast songs for the most part, with some metal vibes thrown in. I hit fairly hard, but I've never dented any heads.

I have Aquarian Response 2 coated, Clear emperors, and the DW Clear/Coated to pick from. They all sound good, but I was just curious to hear opinions. I've never played a gig with any single-ply head, so I'm kind of interested in hearing what those would sound like. Regardless, I will tune both of these toms a little higher to help cut through the mix.

Any thoughts? The emperors are usually my go-to, as they always sound good. Just curious about feedback or others' experiences.

NOTE: None of these heads are brand new, but the DW stock heads are the least played thus far.
Click to expand...
Following the logic of previous messages, I would use the Clear Emps, two ply and bright, you will be playing mostly unmiked except for the reinforcement on the kick drum anyway so chances are the sound gets eaten by other instruments a good deal.
 
I use Aquarian Coated Response 2's on my toms. That would be my recommendation. They are comparable to Remo Emperors, so Idk if you'll get a drastically different sound between those two.
Single ply heads don't last me more than one gig. I too am a pretty hard hitter when called for, and I've never had good luck with single ply.
 
1st choice: clear Emperors
2nd choice: coated Response 2
Not in a million years: those terrible clear/coated DW heads
 
I've had great luck with clear Emperors on all of my gigging kits, including both maple DW sets. Lots of attack and cut while retaining plenty of warmth.
 
Perhaps a completely baseless opinion but when I think of a very live room I assume that you don’t want as much attack/liveliness from the drum so I’d say the least desirable choice is the clear emperors.

It’s also possible that you will get lost in the washiness in which case more attack might be preferable so you can stay connected to your own playing.

Who knows.
 
I would chose the clear Emperors and call it a day.
How well it will sound will then be out of your hands, depending on the fellow musicians and acoustics.
Not much you can do about that.
 
Duck Tape said:
Perhaps a completely baseless opinion but when I think of a very live room I assume that you don’t want as much attack/liveliness from the drum so I’d say the least desirable choice is the clear emperors.

It’s also possible that you will get lost in the washiness in which case more attack might be preferable so you can stay connected to your own playing.

Who knows.
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I think it's such a huge space, the more attack and brightness I have the better.
 
Forgive me for being a total schmo, but given your genre in this specific setting, I don't think the tom choice is going to make any difference; they should be the least of your worries. Even the deadest drum head is going to be lively. If it were me, I'd mic the kick and the floor tom, and let everything else ride.
 
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