What Type of Drum Head is Right for You?
There are different types of used drum sets and drumheads and when it comes to
determine which ones are right for you, do not be afraid to try them before you
buy.
Changing your drumheads may seem easy today, when we have
plastic products, carefully manufactured, but half a century ago, they were
made of calfskin heads and used to be hard to install. They would contract and
expand according to the temperature, which caused sound modifications.
Types of drumheads available nowadays
Single-Ply drumheads
These are basic and thin, created from a single layer of
Mylar in different thicknesses (although the 10-mil is the most popular).
Single-Ply drumheads are very good for lighter styles of music and jazz. They
are not as resistant as 2-ply heads, so they are less frequent in a rock
setting.
Double Ply drumheads
Double ply heads exhibit more attack and reduced overtones.
These are awesome for rock and other musical styles where longevity matters.
Coated and Clear
Heads
Coated heads produce a muffled sound, while clear heads
produce sounds that are more open and bright. Used on toms, coated heads make
the drums warmer, while clear heads give you more attack. Also, that particular
sandpaper-sound can be obtained with a clear head and brushes.
Specialty Heads
These aim at producing specific tones.