Suggestions wanted: Head choices for Vintage Tama Superstar birch

[DWSlingerland45]

Like the title says, looking to experiment a bit which means not looking at Pinstripes or Coated Ambassadors initially. What heads would you put on a Vintage Tama 6 play Birch Superstar kit 22/12/13/16 and why? I'm primary a Remo guy but I'm not against Evans or Aquarian so let's hear your experiences/ ideas please!

 

[jtpaistegeist]

My birch drums (Yamaha RC) are sounding better than ever with some Aquarian Response II Black Coated. They are a tad darker than the standard coated R2. If you like a strong fundamental note with medium sustain and a darker overtone, then give these a try. Also, they are very long lasting. I use these in my fusion band.

 

[Frank Godiva]

I have gone birch this summer with Calftones. Seemed like a strange combo at first, I mean birch kits were not on the scene when calf heads were in use; but they warmed up nice with em; not maple warm but better then clears my ears

 

[equipmentdork]

I have vintage Superstars. The toms get clear Emperors or G2s over clear Ambassadors and G1s and sound excellent. Kick has a Super Kick 1, though I think I am going to go for a clear PS3 when that head is done.



Dan

 

[supershifter2]

remo clear blackdots on all batters. Reso bass gets clear ambassador or clear emperor. reso toms get clear remo diplomats or evans resonant toms or modified evans reds. awesome sound.

 

[Cauldronics]

I'm not trying to put down the idea of this thread, but when I see threads asking what kind of heads are best for kit X, it always seems that the answers point to the same ones they'd use for their own kit(s).

That said I like clear emperors on my '83 Superstars, from the 10 to the 16.

 

[DWSlingerland45]

I'm not trying to put down the idea of this thread, but when I see threads asking what kind of heads are best for kit X, it always seems that the answers point to the same ones they'd use for their own kit(s).

That said I like clear emperors on my '83 Superstars, from the 10 to the 16.

No offense taken, people's experience with their own kits is exactly what I'm looking for . Do you run those Emperor's over ambassadors on the reso side?

 

[Tama CW]

I've owned my standard sized Superstar kit since new. And in that time I've tried all the standard remo configs - tom batters - clear and coated ambs, clear emps, clear pinstripes, and black dots. Always clear or coated ambs on the reso's though for 10 yrs I used clear dips and they were thundering. I tend to like a warmer vintage sound though. What I think has worked best are the coated ambs or clear Emps on top....and clear/coated ambs on the bottoms. For rock and heavier music clear Emps over clear Ambs...can't go wrong. For a more versatile sound that can go warmer I'd do the coated ambs/clear or coated ambs. Pinstripes and black dots work ok on my Superstar concert tom kit. But I just don't feel them on the standard 2 headed toms.

After 35 yrs I still haven't figured out the kick drum....lol. So I'm still using the factory stock 35 yr old heads.....clear ambassador on the batter with a felt strip along the bottom and the factory reflective reso head which is probably equivalent to a coated ambassador. I toss a small hand towel between the pedal and batter head, and a small foam pillow touching a portion of the reso head....that gives me adequate muffling when at home. The kit never gigged so I don't know what it sounds like out in the world.

I've briefly tried the Coated Ambassador X's (12 ml vs. 10 ml thickness). They are a bit more muffled than regular ambs. Half way between the 10 ml and 15 ml heads. I think they work ok...especially on the 16 and 18 floor toms. My 1980's Yamaha birch drums use a similar set up to the Superstars....coated ambs over clear/coated ambs.

In summary, when you hear these heads side by side with someone else playing them.....there's not a lot of difference imo from a 10 ml ply head to one of the 15's. The basic sound and tone is still there....they sound like birch 6 ply drums. Same comment for the Yamaha's. You won't go wrong with any of the Remo choices. And you will probably change the heads from time to time to try something new. I recall once reading in a mid-90s Modern Drummer that the IT heads for Supes was using clear ambs over clear dips. I did that for a few years. They were loud with tons of sustain. I loved them like that for quite a while...and then got tired of "infinite" ringing.

 

[jamesgdrummer]

I’ve been putting the aquarian modern vintage medium single ply heads on mine, although coated emporer, G2, pinstripe, black dots, and coated ambassadors are all very nice. On the kicks I’m using modern vintage with the felt strip on the batter side, thin on the reso. one pillow in each bass drum. Super fat and deep sound.

 

[glynch]

I ran coated Emperors over clear Ambassadors on mine and loved it.

 

[Bri6366]

After playing my Superstars for years with Pinstripes (and a brief switch to Coated Ambassadors), I went with clear Emperors and could not believe he improvement in sound. One great thing about medium/thick birch shells is that they really take to head changes. I would love to try some current era coated G1s on my old Superstar kit. They would explode

 

[the_dude]

Bought my first set of Superstars in ‘79 and used Black Dots or Clear Pinstripes.
Also bought some used ‘82 Superstars and used Black Dots.
Both sounded great!

 

[Phantomlimb777]

I have black dots over diplomats on my Superstar, they’re great for that 70’s/80’s sound. Emperors sound great if you’re going for a modern sound.

 

[Bri6366]

Back in the mid-80s when Superstars came stock with black dots top and bottom, the guys at Hoshino were replacing the batter with a pinstripe and pealing off the black dot on the bottom (essentially a pinstripe/clear ambassador combo?).

 

[Ptrick]

I prefer 2 ply on birch kits toms. On my Vintage Superstar’s, it was usually clear or coated emperors. My stage custom birch have coated G2’s. Birch have sharp attack sound, the two ply’s fatten it up, yet keep that “sweet” birch tone.

Birch bass drums are kind of sensitive to heads. I prefer a powerstroke/Emad type with either no hole in the front, or a max 4” diameter hole. A larger hole will suck all the life out, much more than an equivalent maple bass drum.

 

[DWSlingerland45]

Well the weekend plans fell apart which gave me plenty of time to continue cleanup. I decided to try coated emperor's over clear ambassadors for the Toms and a Coated PS3 with original factory clear CS Logo reso head on the kick. Still have to complete the 12" and clean / polish all the Titan stands but here she sits ....so far so good! Thanks for all the info guys

 

[supershifter2]

I have black dots over diplomats on my Superstar, they’re great for that 70’s/80’s sound.

thats the tone !