I too have generally always leaned towards Remo as well. Strange how some are saying the new remos seem to be having coating longevity problems again.

Seems this is a thing that's plagued numerous heads, of numerous brands on, and off over the years. One would think once they get something right, they'd leave it alone and not futz with what works.

If I remember right, the Ambassadors, and Evans G-1 were 10 mil heads, right? Then the Diplomat Coated was 7 mil, and then there's the Diplomat M-5, a 5 mil coated Batter Head.

I often loved the M-5 on quite a few snares, but it is very thin, very sensitive, and doesn't probably hold up well if you're trying to emulate John Bonham behind the set.

Not sure if the M-5 is even still made, but it used to be available in 13" and 14" sizes. Usually a special order, not many places ever carry them, or ever heard of them.

I've got the M-5 Batters on both a COB 6-1/2x14 Slingy Spitfire, and a COB 5x14 Slingy Buddy Rich TDR. Mark

I agree with that. Too many companies make something that works fine, then try to improve it and it's worse than it was before.

You are correct on the Ambassador and G1 thickness. I, too, thought the Diplomat was 7-mil, but it's actually 7.5 according to Remo's website.

I must admit I had coating problems with every brand.

I ones bought a Aquarian texture coated and the coating came of in 10minutes. I emaild them and got a new head, wich is amazing! But sorry...my floortom suddenly stop sounding.....after I put ambassador on it, suddenly it sounded greag again!

I had this also with evans G1 on my snare, after couple of days, coating wears of.

Had this with Remo too, but not often.....BUT the Remo always sounded great!!!

I've actually never had a problem with Aquarian heads...been using them for 10 years now. I've had some snare heads last most of a year before the coating wore off. They've gone to the new Z100 coating - no idea what makes it special, but I'm sure we could find out on their site - which I've heard is because they were having coating issues. I recently borrowed the 13" American Vintage from my WMP kit to use on my sparkling green kit for a gig and I can hardly see stick marks on it.

I've only had one batch of heads from Aquarian that I didn't think sounded good...some sounded better than others, but they all sounded good except the one set. Anyway, the Remo Emperors with the Evans Resonant heads sound great on my new '67 Ludwig kit.

As for Evans' coated heads, I've heard the coating is water-based - don't know how true that it - and that you could pour a little water on it and wipe the coating off with your finger. That's just what I heard.

zacxzac; Remo's customers service is top rate! they did send out replacements coated A's. Plus as a bonus they also sent a complete set of clear vtg emperor 2-ply for my toms. Also a coated X14 snare head & a great sounding Powertroke 3 Pro bass head. However just in case of running into the problem with the coating coming/chipping off of the replacement A's. I put on the clear vtg. heads on the toms & the coated X14 on the snare. I'm happy to say that the heads sound great. However I'm sorry to say that the coating/paint problem still exists. Within in minuets the coating started chipping off of the X14. I tried using different stick sizes, tip styles, plus wood verses nylon. Plus hitting as light as possible & still get good sound. Other then not hitting the head at all. Nothing I tried keep the coating from chipping off. Now after 3 two hour practice sessions most of the coating in the play area is all but gone. The nice clear tom heads are all scuffed up from the white paint sticking to the sticks. Don't get me wrong I'm not kicking a gifted horse... Can't beat 2 free sets of Remo heads. Plus like I said Remo's customer service is top rate! However the coating problem continues. I was reading some old threads from 2006 & apparently Remo's coating problem has been popping up it's ugly head for quite awhile. In sticking with the thread here. When the coating is gone then so is the sound that most every body here is saying they like. Am I right or Am I wrong?

Hmmmm

"When the coating is gone then so is the sound that most every body here is saying they like. Am I right or Am I wrong? "

My drums still sound great even though the coating is gone from the center of the head. One would have to do a comparion between two near identical drums to see how much the missing coating effects the sound of the drum.

For all we know there is yet another government regulation involving the spray process, the materials in the coating itself, the adhesive or the actual process that has caused Remo to change their processes.

I have found this thread to be very interesting. My standard head choice for rentals (and I go through a lot of them) is either Evans G2 coated batters over G1 resonants (clear or coated depending on the kit). I typically put Remo coated black dots on snares. I use those combos as drummers generally recognize this as a reasonable set up and both heads hold up really well. I have had 0 issues with Evans coatings and the CS heads have held up as well. I am going to have to try some coated emperors now however.

You are probably right about regulations.

The clear Emperors sound really good on my kit, so I'd like to try coated Emperors, but I keep hearing of coated Emperors flaking bad. For what it's worth, the Jazz Festival snare that I got last week came with a coated Ambassodor, which I played at a 4-hour gig this past Friday with no issues. However, a freind of mine put a coated Powerstroke 3 on his '72 Rogers BD and the beater wore through the coating in one practice session.

great thread, i have never had the flaking problem granted i do not go thru as many heads as i did when on the road but i just re headed (is that a drum word) my kit a couple of months ago and no a flake one and i hit as hard as anyone can and i do not baby drums or there heads so i have to wonder if it is a certain batch or 2.....

Fortunately, I've stashed away a nice variety of Remo heads from the 60's and 70's. I seem to have a lot better luck getting the sound I want out of these heads. I also know of a few other drummers who are seeking out older heads.

Maybe a new vintage market will emerge, if it already hasn't.