Drum head combos

[Nancee]

Which batter head
Remo Black Dot (clear) -or-
Remo Ambassador (clear)
Would sound better with my Evan's
REMAD resonant head
For my 20" (no name) Bass drum?

 

[benobriensmith]

This is a trick question, as none of them would sound "better" but rather they'll sound a little different. Some people might offer you their opinions on this but I'm guessing you're not looking for the opinions of others as much as a solution for yourself.

Assuming that's the case-

• What do you have for a batter head on the drum now?
• What do you like about it / not like about it?
• How would you like it to sound (by comparison to the previous sound) with a new head?

Extra contextual information-

• What sorts of contexts are you using this drum within?
• Why are you limiting yourself to just two potential batter head options?
• Are you tuning on the lower, middle, or higher end of the range of this drum?

 

[LudwigGuy]

It depends on what kind of sound you want.

If you want that thick, wet, thump sound found in modern music (rock, pop, country, worship, etc.), then get an original Emad clear, a Remo Falam patch, and a wood beater. Tune the heads the way Rob Brown tells you to.

If you are playing jazz or some other kind of genre, then someone else will need to answer.

 

[prodigy4299]

As @benobriensmith said so eloquently above, these two heads cover a tiny part of the range of bass drum sounds. In fact, I can't claim to hear a huge difference between them in a blind test...

 

[Elegant drum]

I'm very old school. My setup is
Snare: Coated ambassador top, diplomat or ambassador clear bottom, depends on the drum.
Kick: Outside ambassador, inside either Emad, PS3, or Pinstrip, depending on the drum.
Toms: Pinstripe top ambassador bottom.
Bottoms tuned minor 3rd higher than tops.

When both heads are the same, tune both to the same pitch. The if one is thicker one than the other, make it lower. The basic Idea is to have the same total force on both ends. If the head is thicker, less tensions is needed to match the force of the other head. When the enery to air forces of both heads are the same, You get a good sound out of the drum.

I like disonnence within a drum---minor 3rds
Harmony between drums, 5ths and 4ths

 

[1988fxlr]

The black dot just adds some attack to my ear, especially if you use a hard beater. I would use the powerstroke version of either for a modern rock sound

 

[jehunter1163]

I'd recommend the Remo Ambassador clear head for your 20" bass drum. It's a bit more open and resonant compared to the Black Dot, which would complement the Evans REMAD resonant head nicely. The Ambassador will give you a bit more attack and a slightly more defined sound.

 

[RyanLovesDrums]

I'm very old school. My setup is
Snare: Coated ambassador top, diplomat or ambassador clear bottom, depends on the drum.
Kick: Outside ambassador, inside either Emad, PS3, or Pinstrip, depending on the drum.
Toms: Pinstripe top ambassador bottom.
Bottoms tuned minor 3rd higher than tops.

When both heads are the same, tune both to the same pitch. The if one is thicker one than the other, make it lower. The basic Idea is to have the same total force on both ends. If the head is thicker, less tensions is needed to match the force of the other head. When the enery to air forces of both heads are the same, You get a good sound out of the drum.

I like disonnence within a drum---minor 3rds
Harmony between drums, 5ths and 4ths

Your tuning strategy with that chart work great. Over the last couple days, I tried it on a few drums that have different drumhead combos and it worked on all of them. I may have had to put one or two moongels here and there, but that’s normal for me.
I tried it with drums that had ambassadors top and bottom, tuned to the same pitch. Sounded good. Tried it with drums that had Aquarian Jack D. batters and clear Hi-Frequency(7 mil) heads, tuned with the reso a minor 3rd higher and that sounded good. And finally, I tried it with drums that had Evans coated G2s for batters and clear genera resos with the resos tuned a minor 3rd higher and that sounded good.
I’m experimenting with the bass drums and snares with this formula in mind and I’m thinking it’ll work too. Thanks.

 

[Elegant drum]

Your tuning strategy with that chart work great. Over the last couple days, I tried it on a few drums that have different drumhead combos and it worked on all of them. I may have had to put one or two moongels here and there, but that’s normal for me.
I tried it with drums that had ambassadors top and bottom, tuned to the same pitch. Sounded good. Tried it with drums that had Aquarian Jack D. batters and clear Hi-Frequency(7 mil) heads, tuned with the reso a minor 3rd higher and that sounded good. And finally, I tried it with drums that had Evans coated G2s for batters and clear genera resos with the resos tuned a minor 3rd higher and that sounded good.
I’m experimenting with the bass drums and snares with this formula in mind and I’m thinking it’ll work too. Thanks.

Glad it's working for you. The person who made the chart is Fred W. Webb, he is the real hero. Figured it out and put it into a book 50 years ago.

 

[Elvis]

Which batter head
Remo Black Dot (clear) -or-
Remo Ambassador (clear)
Would sound better with my Evan's
REMAD resonant head
For my 20" (no name) Bass drum?

I would put the coated Ambassador on the front, because I'd be using the Black Dot on the batter side. Excellent bass drum head. Really gives your bass some slam.