I'm Never Buying Drumheads Again

R

ricky

Senior Member
They have gotten too expensive. A Remo Ambassador 14" is 22 bucks. To change all the heads on a 4 piece kit would be about $200 each time. Come on. Evans? Forgeddaboudit.

There are a million choices and the differences, really, are unnoticeable to anyone listening. New heads barely make a difference over old ones (unless the old ones are truly ruined). Plus, you can put tape on 'em, moon gels, towels, wallets, paper towels, Kotex, then EQ, reverb, compression...that's half the sound.

At Motown and Stax, they never changed the heads. And they sound/play better than I ever will.

$200 for a round mylar disc of nothing? What's it cost 'em? 2 cents each?

So that's it. I'm done!

:p
 
Bo Eder said:
Sorry - it’s rough for everybody having to buy anything.
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It's not your fault...unless you work for Remo (those greedy bastards)!

I'm really just ranting/joking...

I was going to buy some new heads though, but I've decided the ones on there sound just fine.

And I would just as soon put $200 towards, I dunno, food or something important, as opposed to some little sheets of plastic with a little metal hoop around it.

Maybe one day I'll buy some new ones...or maybe these really are the last heads I'll ever use for the rest of my life.
 
Despite the costs I’m grateful to be living in the Golden Era of Drumming where we have so many quality products available.

Respect to all the manufacturers who fund Research & Development and put out consistent products that benefit our craft.
 
Vintage Old School said:
Despite the costs I’m grateful to be living in the Golden Era of Drumming where we have so many quality products available.

Respect to all the manufacturers who fund Research & Development and put out consistent products that benefit our craft.
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Research and development for a Remo Ambassador?

Ummm, yeah, god bless 'em.

Meanwhile you can buy an audio interface with tons more power and fidelity than The Beatles had for the same amount to re-head a 4 piece kit. Now that's some research and development!
 
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Check out Drum Factory Direct for good deals on heads. I use their imported clear heads for resos, and they work fine. A 13" head is like $7.99.

I understand the frustration at head prices. It's gotten out of hand.
 
my drums are what makes me my money, so I have to buy heads, but I only buy when they break. I play metal, punk, rock, funk, jazz etc, and hit medium hard.

I can get about 2 years out of a head on the average on my toms

and the batter head (Remo Coated Ambassador) on my snare (1962 Supraphonic) was put on in 2001, and is still going strong. Still sounds like a crisp, Copland-esque cannon. And my bass batter is a 10 year old PS3.....

So thank you Remo for the R&D on those heads
 
I regularly use a Maple snare with a Remo Falam II batter from 1994-95? I used to crank it on a 7" Maple. Now it has a muffle ring under it for lower volume stuff on a 5.5" Maple.

Some of my heads are of unknown age. Around 2005 I changed some, but not all.
They weren't played much until 2020.
One kick batter is that new.
All the resos are stock Premier from 1993 except 1 snare that got poked.

I bought a new 8" Pinstripe for a test and didn't notice a difference.
 
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2 hit wonder said:
I regularly use a Maple snare with a Remo Falam II batter from 1994-95? I used to crank it on a 7" Maple. Now it has a muffle ring under it for lower volume stuff on a 5.5" Maple.

Some of my heads are of unknown age. Around 2005 I changed some, but not all.
They weren't played much until 2020.
One kick batter is that new.
All the resos are stock Premier from 1993 except 1 snare that got poked.

I bought a new 8" Pinstripe for a test and didn't notice a difference.
Click to expand...
Xstr8edgtnrdrmrX said:
my drums are what makes me my money, so I have to buy heads, but I only buy when they break. I play metal, punk, rock, funk, jazz etc, and hit medium hard.

I can get about 2 years out of a head on the average on my toms

and the batter head (Remo Coated Ambassador) on my snare (1962 Supraphonic) was put on in 2001, and is still going strong. Still sounds like a crisp, Copland-esque cannon. And my bass batter is a 10 year old PS3.....

So thank you Remo for the R&D on those heads
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you don’t carry spares on a gig?
 
A spare snare, only. Usually an Acrolite. I've lost the snare wires on a drum once.
 
Bo Eder said:
you don’t carry spares on a gig?
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I do, but have just been really lucky.... have a spare snare batter, kick head and snare reso in the trailer/trumk usually
 
I usually change snare and tom batter heads once a year, and maybe a bit less on bass drums, and I always carry spare batter heads for every drum on every gig, without fail. You never know. I'm not a basher anymore, but sh** happens. Stuff breaks.

I sometimes carry two snares, but lately have only taken one, knowing I have a spare batter head in the car. If I'm playing a concert, it pays to have a spare snare for a quick change. On a bar gig, it's not quite as crucial.
 
Bo Eder said:
you don’t carry spares on a gig?
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I guess I'll prob start carrying a kick batter along with the spare snare drum I take. I can kick with my other foot on the double pedal.
 
I, too, think that drum head prices have spiked to ridiculous levels. The last few head purchases I’ve made have been on Craigslist, from drum flippers selling a bulk lot of used heads for a buck a piece. Some of the heads are unsalvageable, but there are definitely enough decent ones in there to make it worth it, and will last me for a while.
 
That's why I like durable heads such as Evans UV1/UV2 and Ludwig Weathermaster. I think they'll pay off their high entrance cost over time, unless I'm looking for a specific sound from a lesser head such as a Vintage Ambassador.
For reso heads I use Remo UC ot UT. AFAIK they are made in China with Remo's Mylar film but with a crimped flesh hoop, so they sound similar to Weatherkings as long as you don't crank it REALLY tight.

IME, a worn head will not sound that different if you use a dampened, focussed sound. Could be why Pinstripes and Hydraulics give an impression as durable. If you tune open for the jazzy overtones, a head with dings can sound out of tune with itself no matter how meticulously you tune.
 
While I think it’s silly to expect that the head makers charge what they charged in 58, I’ve definitely been put off by the prices enough not to change them very often. I do want to put Emps on my toms at some point and I will, but I’ll probably wait until the Ambs I’ve got now break.
 
Here's a pic from Jerry Marotta's FB page. On some kits he even uses beat up old stock Yamaha heads. I know o_O
I mean, if it's OK for Jerry,,,,
1701774423860.png
 
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