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WFL Drum Head Opinions Last viewed: 1 hour ago

Posts: 244 Threads: 25

From J!m

I agree for the sound you want, go with the thinest resonant head you can get, which I think is the Diplomat. There may be a thinner one marketed to the orchestra crowd from Remo, but maybe that is only the top head that is thinner... (brain fade is it???)LoLoLoLoEDIT=> I just checked my book...Thinnest top head is the M5 Diplomat at 5 mil. Regular diplomat is 7.5 mil but you may also be interested in the Renaissance Diplomat which is also 7.5 mil but warmer, darker and more articulate. (an ambassador is 10-mil for reference)Thinnest resonant head is the 2-mil Hazy Diplomat.

Jim,

Thanks for the reference on the Diplomat res head. A pro drummed friend also suggested the thinnest res head possible for the sound I want. I think I'm going for the Evans Hazy 300, though. It's a 3mil head and the reviews I've read place it solidly in the 'very durable' range, even when super tight.

I'm intrigued by the Renaissance Diplomat. Ill look at that.

Shopping day todayWalking

Brian

'65/'66 Slingerland Stage Band in Red Sparkle Pearl
'67 Rogers Buddy Rich Headliner in Blue Sparkle Pearl
'49 WFL 6.5x14 Contest Snare
'55 Slingerland 7x14 Hollywood Ace Snare
'70's Premier PD2000 5x14 Snare
50's & 70's Zildjian/Paiste Cymbals
Posted on 12 years ago
#11
Posts: 244 Threads: 25

Thanks zenstat, CIBdrummer & tnsquint for you suggestions.Cool1. I may end up with a couple batter heads. Leaning towards the CS for the overtone control and perhaps a diplomat or American vintage, both of which ill need to order.

Brian

'65/'66 Slingerland Stage Band in Red Sparkle Pearl
'67 Rogers Buddy Rich Headliner in Blue Sparkle Pearl
'49 WFL 6.5x14 Contest Snare
'55 Slingerland 7x14 Hollywood Ace Snare
'70's Premier PD2000 5x14 Snare
50's & 70's Zildjian/Paiste Cymbals
Posted on 12 years ago
#12
Posts: 1427 Threads: 66

From nearlybrian

Jim,I think I'm going for the Evans Hazy 300, though. It's a 3mil head and the reviews I've read place it solidly in the 'very durable' range, even when super tight.Brian

Three mil is the weight of the Ambassador resonant. the Hazy 300 is a direct competitor to that head. I would say its durability is in direct comparison to film weight, so any 3 mil head will be more durable than any 2 mil head. If you want an option for the resonant head ('vintage tone') you could try a renaissance ambassador snare head which is also 3 mil head but treated (more hazy looking) to be a bit darker than the standard Ambassador head and more like Calf- nice for a vintage drum maybe....

Cobalt Blue Yamaha Recording Custom 20b-22b-8-10-12-13-15-16f-18f
Red Ripple '70's Yamaha D-20 20b-12-14f
Piano Black Yamaha Recording Custom Be-Bop kit 18b-10-14f
Snares:
Yamaha COS SDM5; Yamaha Cobalt Blue RC 5-1/2x14; Gretsch round badge WMP; 1972 Ludwig Acrolite; 1978 Ludwig Super Sensitive; Cobalt Blue one-off Montineri; Yamaha Musashi 6.5X13 Oak; cheap 3.5X13 brass piccolo
Posted on 12 years ago
#13
Posts: 244 Threads: 25

Thanks again for all the suggestions. If you're interested, here's what I ended up with.

Resonant head first; I purchased an Evans Hazy res head (3mil) as I couldn't locate a Diplomat hazy (2mil). May end up ordering a Diplomat Hazy in the future.

Batter; Couldn't purchase an American Vintage or Control Sound from any shop so I purchased an Emperor Coated upon the recommendation of a friend. Nice fat, dark tone, but not as warm as I was hoping. Ordered a Remo Control Sound (the most expensive head available by the way) and got it today. I LOVE this head. Warm, fat and wet tone I was looking for. Nice control on the ringy overtones and beautiful sounding with brushes. I'm sold!

I also revisited my zildjian laminated oak 7b sticks to help with a fatter tone. I am using these sticks regularly again as the additional weight of the laminated oak give me a fatter sound.

All in all the combo of the new Evans Hazy, Remo Coated Control Sound are fantastic on my '49 WFL snare.Walking

'65/'66 Slingerland Stage Band in Red Sparkle Pearl
'67 Rogers Buddy Rich Headliner in Blue Sparkle Pearl
'49 WFL 6.5x14 Contest Snare
'55 Slingerland 7x14 Hollywood Ace Snare
'70's Premier PD2000 5x14 Snare
50's & 70's Zildjian/Paiste Cymbals
Posted on 12 years ago
#14
Posts: 558 Threads: 60

Given the age of your drums they would have been shipped originally with calfskin and calfskin has a warmer and fatter tone than any plastic head you will find. If you are interested in trying that send me a PM, I have calfskin in 9 mil, 6 mil & 3 mil thickness so you could do 3 mil on the batter and snare side to give you an even fatter sound.

Posted on 12 years ago
#15
Posts: 190 Threads: 5

I recently tried an Evans J1 for snare batter, and was so impressed I ordered several more. Tuned up quickly, great old-school sound, the BEST brush surface ever! Reminds me of the old Ludwig thin batter heads I used to get in the 70s.

Norm

1964 Slingerland Stage Band in Black Diamond Pearl
Posted on 12 years ago
#16
Posts: 244 Threads: 25

From norman931

I recently tried an Evans J1 for snare batter, and was so impressed I ordered several more. Tuned up quickly, great old-school sound, the BEST brush surface ever! Reminds me of the old Ludwig thin batter heads I used to get in the 70s.

Thanks, Norm!

Ill look into the J1s. I actually saw a brush technique video & the instructor swore by the J1 head.

Brian

'65/'66 Slingerland Stage Band in Red Sparkle Pearl
'67 Rogers Buddy Rich Headliner in Blue Sparkle Pearl
'49 WFL 6.5x14 Contest Snare
'55 Slingerland 7x14 Hollywood Ace Snare
'70's Premier PD2000 5x14 Snare
50's & 70's Zildjian/Paiste Cymbals
Posted on 12 years ago
#17
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