I think my favorite of all three sounds is the 'Retuned Old Heads', what do you guys think? How long do you all go before changing your drum heads? Edit: I forgot to mention, replacing your coated heads often is needed if you are playing with brushes! After about 6 months of use, the texture on coated heads is gonzo and brushes become useless.
I like the retuned old heads best. I dont really change drum heads unless I break them. I usually throw a wallet or t shirt on the snare if I'm getting overtones
I've played 2-3 hours everyday for 5-1/2 years. Changed the bottom heads once and the top heads thrice. The tops are newish. I'm in a climate controlled garage and never play out
@@Mario_DiSanto I'm an adult and not broke but I'm cheap. I don't like the sound of new heads, especially on the toms. I want a darker sound. It is like cymbals that say "custom dark", it's coming home with me.
I change my heads every few years, usually to a type of head I didn't have last time. I got coated heads a long time ago, changed them to clear dots, and then put the coated heads back on most of the toms, except the floor tom.
Mixing drum heads styles on a drum set gives my eyes the ickies! I fear I let my eyes dictate a lot about my instruments though. Sometimes I just wanna look cool, can ya blame me?
@@Mario_DiSanto I like my floor tom having more attack and my two rack toms having a bit more tone. Really, I just didn't feel like changing the head on my floor tom lol
I change mine when I loose tuning response... If I need to crank the lugs for the pitch to change, that means I'm just tensioning the rim of the head and the middle stays loose and dead. That said, my Ludwig Pioneer loves fresh new heads but my Vistalite snare not so much. So I put fresh heads on the Pioneer and once they play in a bit, I cycle them over to the Vista. Also, tuning up a bit helps a lot with longevity... They don't seem to dent and cave in so easily that way.
It depends... It's all subjective - what kind of condition they're in, what type of head, if you're a doing this professionally or as a hobby, your budget, the sound you're after, etc, etc. If you're running coated heads and the coating is worn off in the middle where it's primarily struck at, then you may want to consider it. If using uncoated heads and they're all dented up and hard to tune, then it's probably a good time to change em. I change my heads every few years.. I don't play out as much as I used to. I run coated batter heads all around these days, but if you just tune your drums properly, you can make old heads sound great. I prefer 2-ply batter side heads - Remo emperors. 2-ply on the resonate too, less ringing & overtones. That's just me though. ;) I liked the way the old heads sounded all around, especially on the toms, but the new snare head sounded great too. 👍
I use the 'vintage' line of the remo coated heads because the coating lasts way way way longer than their normal line-up. Honestly I am not even sure why they still sell their normal coated heads they are unnacceptable. I do often wonder if a 2 ply resonate head would do me good in my very resonant prone room. I've always been an emperor on top and ambassador on bottom kinda guy just because I liked to mimic Bonzo. Oh well...I'll try something else in three years lol. Thanks for watching
For minimalist mic placement like you do a lot, no huge reason to obsess over the heads, just hit the damn things. If im doing quiet, close mic drums, brush stuff, stuff like that, it can be nice if the heads are newer, but not new. They need to be broke in before recording if you are trying to get delicate drum sounds. All my drums are covered in pillowcases for 70's Bowie drums right now, you could use cardboard for heads if that's what you are looking for.
The mustache plays and therefor the mustache stays. Take it from me. I too have a mustache. And much like drum heads... a mustache doesn't need to be changed for several years. If ever.
Agreed but that's what these jabronis say online. 6 months for the batter and 1 year for the resonant head is the "accepted" time frame. Don't know whose actually doing that besides the rich kids and people who break cymbals once a year
Personally I am a big anti-dual drummer guy, so I am a little biased. I never really see the point of it even though three of the biggest garage acts right now have some variation of such a setup. The only time I truly liked a dual drum setup is on Ty Segall's First Taste. On that album, Ty and Charles are 'playing against' each other rather than with. Both drum sets are hard panned. I think as far as mixing goes for two drummers, hard panned is the way to go. Otherwise they just tend to get bunched up, and unless your drummers are really on point it can just sound busy/cluttered. Kinda the same approach with two fuzzed out guitars that are double tracked. Hard panned sounds the best for me. Cheers homie.
@ thanks so much for getting back to me I appreciate that so much ... why I ask is that I've done basic drum track -'guide drums' kind of like a guide vocal would be & and though basic, I liked it so much I'm thinking of leaving it in there with the proper drum kit being laid over afterwards (I'm experimenting with best ways to utilise a reel 8 track) and I thought it would give the songs a different angle to have multiple Drums even though both Drummers are me! (although now that you have pointed out that there are other people doing it as well perhaps it's not such a big deal and maybe I'm jumping on the bandwagon… I do like the very basic guide Drumming tho)
Snare batter head every six months for sure, but toms last at least 1-2 years and, kick batter heads last seemingly indefinitely. I’ve never actually needed to change a kick reso head too.
My 60's Premier snare skin is 30 years old. I only change guitar strings that break. I don't like new strings and skins because they sound ugly sharp. But I must admit, as a beginner I used to change strings weekly.
Changing strings weekly is wild! Love that you have a 30 year old drum head. I am going to draw something new on my new snare head...maybe it'll be cool enough not to change for a couple decades as well. Thanks
Hi Mario. Hope you’re doing great. Yeah… drums are not straight forward to tune and choosing heads n such. I’ve got the magical devices for tuning, dampers gels, rings and still just reach a so so state of sound from my kit. I CAN tune a Guitar by ear though, but I’ve got thousands of more hours at that (Guitar)under my belt. “Big Boy Job.” Niiiiiiice. It’s true though, you DO have one of those. Cooler than any I’ve ever had. Thanks for the video.
Hey Chuk. I agree, I only ever reached a 'so-so' state of drum sound. I still wager (like I do in all my videos) it has way more to do with the room and acoustics in same. I only spent a couple recording sessions in a properly treated recording studio, but something I noticed is even a fart sounded like a symphony in that room. The drum set they had there was this tiny little cavern kit, but it sounded like a raging bull once we started recording. It was all in the room sound!
Never had a drum head break (or a cymbal break for that matter). And I've played on some reallllly old crappy heads where I was really cranking down on those suckers in a band I was in for many years. Not sure how common that is but I bet that's more to do with bad technique than regular heavy hitting.
Been playing drums forever,and I'm telling you the retuned old heads sound way better tonewise, especially the snare.Diplo's are mad thin and less durable compared to Emps/Ambs.Ive played same heads mentioned w/o changing for yrs and tuned right,and not beaten to all hell where theres indentations,heads will sound really well.Every 6 months to a year,yeah if your touring with a heavy metal band like Slayer or Mclusky etc,but for solo artists,we don't do that sh*"t.Plus on another note, I've been using the neckerchief snare technique w/sweet results.YT vids on what and what not to do is getting exhausting.I can go on but damn,those pro studio vids are getting kinda unimpressive to watch.🗽🛸
I farted two rooms over and I heard the snare wires buzz with that Diplomat still on there. Way too thin. As far as those 'pro-studio' videos...can't say I disagree with ya. Once the money making schtick comes in they all turned into the same formulated format with the same tired advice. I swear it looks like every big UA-cam Channel gets all get their cameras, lights, editing, from the same bag. This goes for any niche topic of UA-cam unfortunately. I try to keep my videos weird and off-beat as much as possible because I detest the 'corporate' feel that UA-cam has become. ALSO, there is one 'big-time' recording UA-cam Channel that I SWEAR is copying my video topics, at least all of them in regards to tape. It could be my own ego making me think that, but man...the similarities from the videos of his that are going viral to mine are uncanny.
![Tom Reso[lution] Tuning | A Pattern of Change](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dHCCCFE3xPU/mqdefault.jpg)
![Tom Reso[lution] Tuning | A Pattern of Change](/img/tr.png)
I think my favorite of all three sounds is the 'Retuned Old Heads', what do you guys think? How long do you all go before changing your drum heads?
Edit: I forgot to mention, replacing your coated heads often is needed if you are playing with brushes! After about 6 months of use, the texture on coated heads is gonzo and brushes become useless.
I feel like coated heads do a better job at hiding strange overtones as they get worn out and when they go slightly out of tune.
I like the retuned old heads best. I dont really change drum heads unless I break them. I usually throw a wallet or t shirt on the snare if I'm getting overtones
I've played 2-3 hours everyday for 5-1/2 years. Changed the bottom heads once and the top heads thrice. The tops are newish. I'm in a climate controlled garage and never play out
@@Mario_DiSanto agreed
I rarely ever change my tom and kick heads. I will change the snare but only when its lost all its brightness.
This. 👍👍
Thanks for your input, this was my approach in the past when I was a broke kid, and I think it will be my new approach moving forward. Cheers
@@Mario_DiSanto I'm an adult and not broke but I'm cheap. I don't like the sound of new heads, especially on the toms. I want a darker sound. It is like cymbals that say "custom dark", it's coming home with me.
I knew a guy who changed his heads every season. I had to remind him what "Weather King" meant on his Remos
LOL that's hilarious
Nosferatu got a mustache too! He looks like the Crypt Keeper dressed up like a Parisian
I change my heads every few years, usually to a type of head I didn't have last time. I got coated heads a long time ago, changed them to clear dots, and then put the coated heads back on most of the toms, except the floor tom.
Mixing drum heads styles on a drum set gives my eyes the ickies! I fear I let my eyes dictate a lot about my instruments though. Sometimes I just wanna look cool, can ya blame me?
@@Mario_DiSanto I like my floor tom having more attack and my two rack toms having a bit more tone. Really, I just didn't feel like changing the head on my floor tom lol
I change mine when I loose tuning response... If I need to crank the lugs for the pitch to change, that means I'm just tensioning the rim of the head and the middle stays loose and dead. That said, my Ludwig Pioneer loves fresh new heads but my Vistalite snare not so much. So I put fresh heads on the Pioneer and once they play in a bit, I cycle them over to the Vista.
Also, tuning up a bit helps a lot with longevity... They don't seem to dent and cave in so easily that way.
It depends... It's all subjective - what kind of condition they're in, what type of head, if you're a doing this professionally or as a hobby, your budget, the sound you're after, etc, etc.
If you're running coated heads and the coating is worn off in the middle where it's primarily struck at, then you may want to consider it. If using uncoated heads and they're all dented up and hard to tune, then it's probably a good time to change em.
I change my heads every few years.. I don't play out as much as I used to. I run coated batter heads all around these days, but if you just tune your drums properly, you can make old heads sound great. I prefer 2-ply batter side heads - Remo emperors. 2-ply on the resonate too, less ringing & overtones. That's just me though. ;)
I liked the way the old heads sounded all around, especially on the toms, but the new snare head sounded great too. 👍
I use the 'vintage' line of the remo coated heads because the coating lasts way way way longer than their normal line-up. Honestly I am not even sure why they still sell their normal coated heads they are unnacceptable.
I do often wonder if a 2 ply resonate head would do me good in my very resonant prone room. I've always been an emperor on top and ambassador on bottom kinda guy just because I liked to mimic Bonzo. Oh well...I'll try something else in three years lol. Thanks for watching
“Friends and foe alike” 😂 depends on the type of head I suppose. Coated heads last tend to last longer.
I assume clear heads loose their luster in a more pronounced manner. Haven't had clear heads on my drums for more than a decade though so no clue!
@@Mario_DiSantoyeah,same here.
retuned old heads sounds great to be honest 😊
I think so too!
For minimalist mic placement like you do a lot, no huge reason to obsess over the heads, just hit the damn things. If im doing quiet, close mic drums, brush stuff, stuff like that, it can be nice if the heads are newer, but not new. They need to be broke in before recording if you are trying to get delicate drum sounds. All my drums are covered in pillowcases for 70's Bowie drums right now, you could use cardboard for heads if that's what you are looking for.
The mustache plays and therefor the mustache stays. Take it from me. I too have a mustache.
And much like drum heads... a mustache doesn't need to be changed for several years. If ever.
It's honestly been exhausting since I started maintaining this 'stache. Ya know... constantly fighting off the women and all.
@@Mario_DiSanto It's such a heavy burden.
changing heads every 6 months is insane!
Agreed but that's what these jabronis say online. 6 months for the batter and 1 year for the resonant head is the "accepted" time frame. Don't know whose actually doing that besides the rich kids and people who break cymbals once a year
How would you mix TWO Drum Kits playing together on the same song?
How'd you Pan 'em?
Personally I am a big anti-dual drummer guy, so I am a little biased. I never really see the point of it even though three of the biggest garage acts right now have some variation of such a setup.
The only time I truly liked a dual drum setup is on Ty Segall's First Taste. On that album, Ty and Charles are 'playing against' each other rather than with. Both drum sets are hard panned.
I think as far as mixing goes for two drummers, hard panned is the way to go. Otherwise they just tend to get bunched up, and unless your drummers are really on point it can just sound busy/cluttered. Kinda the same approach with two fuzzed out guitars that are double tracked. Hard panned sounds the best for me. Cheers homie.
@ thanks so much for getting back to me
I appreciate that so much
... why I ask is that I've done basic drum track -'guide drums' kind of like a guide vocal would be & and though basic, I liked it so much I'm thinking of leaving it in there with the proper drum kit being laid over afterwards (I'm experimenting with best ways to utilise a reel 8 track) and I thought it would give the songs a different angle to have multiple Drums even though both Drummers are me!
(although now that you have pointed out that there are other people doing it as well perhaps it's not such a big deal and maybe I'm jumping on the bandwagon… I do like the very basic guide Drumming tho)
@@BeesWaxMinder Could be an interesting end-result! Definitely try it out and we'll see.
You guys have drum heads? I thought those were royalty 👑 😂
This boy's using saran wrap on his drums
Snare batter head every six months for sure, but toms last at least 1-2 years and, kick batter heads last seemingly indefinitely. I’ve never actually needed to change a kick reso head too.
Yeah I am not sure whose really changing kick reso heads these days. I obviously am not going to order a new badge head every time...
Big difference.. ya gotta roll em every 6 months if you record.
My 60's Premier snare skin is 30 years old. I only change guitar strings that break. I don't like new strings and skins because they sound ugly sharp. But I must admit, as a beginner I used to change strings weekly.
Changing strings weekly is wild! Love that you have a 30 year old drum head. I am going to draw something new on my new snare head...maybe it'll be cool enough not to change for a couple decades as well. Thanks
Is the opening song available anywhere?
@@daviswhite no just a random diddy for the video
Is that acoustic a Guild or a Madeira?
Water-damaged Epiphone. Their premier line.
@@Mario_DiSanto Huh, it looks a lot like my me-damaged Madeira by Guild from (I'm guessing) the 70s
Hi Mario. Hope you’re doing great. Yeah… drums are not straight forward to tune and choosing heads n such. I’ve got the magical devices for tuning, dampers gels, rings and still just reach a so so state of sound from my kit. I CAN tune a Guitar by ear though, but I’ve got thousands of more hours at that (Guitar)under my belt. “Big Boy Job.” Niiiiiiice. It’s true though, you DO have one of those. Cooler than any I’ve ever had. Thanks for the video.
Hey Chuk. I agree, I only ever reached a 'so-so' state of drum sound. I still wager (like I do in all my videos) it has way more to do with the room and acoustics in same. I only spent a couple recording sessions in a properly treated recording studio, but something I noticed is even a fart sounded like a symphony in that room. The drum set they had there was this tiny little cavern kit, but it sounded like a raging bull once we started recording. It was all in the room sound!
If you play jazz or any other kind of saloon music then no, If you're playing "hardcore" then your drum heads will break eventually.
Hit them hard enough and they'll dent and be difficult to tune, agreed.
Never had a drum head break (or a cymbal break for that matter). And I've played on some reallllly old crappy heads where I was really cranking down on those suckers in a band I was in for many years. Not sure how common that is but I bet that's more to do with bad technique than regular heavy hitting.
Been playing drums forever,and I'm telling you the retuned old heads sound way better tonewise, especially the snare.Diplo's are mad thin and less durable compared to Emps/Ambs.Ive played same heads mentioned w/o changing for yrs and tuned right,and not beaten to all hell where theres indentations,heads will sound really well.Every 6 months to a year,yeah if your touring with a heavy metal band like Slayer or Mclusky etc,but for solo artists,we don't do that sh*"t.Plus on another note, I've been using the neckerchief snare technique w/sweet results.YT vids on what and what not to do is getting exhausting.I can go on but damn,those pro studio vids are getting kinda unimpressive to watch.🗽🛸
I farted two rooms over and I heard the snare wires buzz with that Diplomat still on there. Way too thin.
As far as those 'pro-studio' videos...can't say I disagree with ya. Once the money making schtick comes in they all turned into the same formulated format with the same tired advice. I swear it looks like every big UA-cam Channel gets all get their cameras, lights, editing, from the same bag. This goes for any niche topic of UA-cam unfortunately. I try to keep my videos weird and off-beat as much as possible because I detest the 'corporate' feel that UA-cam has become.
ALSO, there is one 'big-time' recording UA-cam Channel that I SWEAR is copying my video topics, at least all of them in regards to tape. It could be my own ego making me think that, but man...the similarities from the videos of his that are going viral to mine are uncanny.
@Mario_DiSanto huh, I'll have to research that.If it's one thing I can't stand is one person biting someone else's style.🗽🛸
276 view and 36 like
@THE67BAND and what does that mean
I don’t know but some reason I do that but off topic thing I like your music I’m trying to build a home studio myself
@THE67BAND What kinda gear are ya running
A 1969 univox stage 25 and a 2023 fender rumble 25 with a over drive pedal and a 1955 silver tone reissue
I use a lot more pedals too