Time to replace kick batter

[tstinson]

Hi Boys;
Figuring that since the old head I have on my kick dates back at least to the Reagan administration, I'm feeling it's about time for an upgrade.
I'm playing a Slingerland 20" (1963), playing old rock, specifically Allman Brothers, so I'm in search of a vintage sound. Have always been a Remo guy. Have them on the rest of the kit, but I'm open to recommendations. I know there are a few more options out there -- duh -- since the last time I did this.
Thanks

 

[Frank Godiva]

Lots of great choices these days. I’m more the old way of rolling; CS Dot, felt strip front and back, moleskin, no port front head, no laundry inside and wide open.

 

[JDA]

Coated PS3 and forget it
unless it's a really dead drum ()already)

 

[Houndog]

I know a few fellas who swear by Coated Ambassadors with a towel between pedal and head .

 

[jptrickster]

Butch Ambassador batter wide open!

 

[drumphils]

MV medium. I put one on a ‘60s Slingerland bass recently and it works with no fiddling. Dumb luck, a friend gave me a set. I didn’t care for them on toms and had this 20” laying around for years and gave it a shot.
Coated Ambassador will never not work too!

Phil

 

[Browny]

Probably a P3. Coated is good, as is the clear. Haven't tried smooth white on batter side but hear good things. Would like to try white suede if they appear in Aus, I really like the WS heads.

 

[JazzDrumGuy]

Super kick....I really dig them on basses.....

 

[patrickwitherow]

Coated PS3 and forget it
unless it's a really dead drum ()already)

I 2nd the PS3 coated. Sounds great. I've got a coated on my 14x22 and an Ebony PS3 on my 12x22.

 

[varatrodder]

I'm gonna throw a new one out there for consideration. The Ambassador X.

It's single ply 1200 mil instead of 1000 mil. The Slingerland kit I bought last year had a 20" bass drum with a Ludwig 1400 on it. That is a 1400 mil single ply head. It sounded amazing with that head. Remo doesn't make a 1400 mil bass drum head in single ply, but they do make a 1200. That extra weight seemed to drop the note a bit and smooth out the tone, but it was still lively.

 

[Seb77]

I didn't know they made the Ambassador X in bass drum sizes. Might be a nice middle ground.
Coated Ambassador requires some form a of muffling (unless you want a "barking" sound); Powerstroke 3 has a controlled sound out of the box. Not really vintage, but it just works.

 

[dtk]

Aquarian Modern Vintage....I like them a lot on toms...

 

[bob e michael]

evans e-mad , or aquarian super kick 1 .... both would sound good on your bass drum

 

[JDA]

don't forget "paint can" in bass drum it does "something"..
(lol old simon phillips joke..)

 

[Pat A Flafla]

IMO, I think kick heads sound better and better, right up to the day they die. After I change them, I miss the broken-in tone for months.

 

[Browny]

I'm gonna throw a new one out there for consideration. The Ambassador X.

It's single ply 1200 mil instead of 1000 mil. The Slingerland kit I bought last year had a 20" bass drum with a Ludwig 1400 on it. That is a 1400 mil single ply head. It sounded amazing with that head. Remo doesn't make a 1400 mil bass drum head in single ply, but they do make a 1200. That extra weight seemed to drop the note a bit and smooth out the tone, but it was still lively.

FWIW, 1 mil = 1 thousandth of an inch.

I haven’t used one, but think the Sounds Like A Drum guys use G12s (or whatever they are) on their bass drums a bit too.

 

[Frank Godiva]

another vote for the CS Dot

Remo Smooth White CS on bass drum

Went all old school. Remo Smooth White CS. I wanted an articulate, tight and punchy sound. The sound I had in mind was Phil Collins with Brand X and Copeland with The Police. It really came through when I opened the front. Massive punch. I was not sure at first but then at band rehearsal I...

www.drumforum.org

 

[tstinson]

Thanks for all the input gents, A lot of variety but it's better to have more feedback than otherwise.

Going to leave the port on this one, due to some intricate paint work on the rest head. I'll chew on all this for a while and get back with my findings.

 

[peter]

I'm also a Remo player generally, but I love my Aquarian Super-Kick II Clear.

 

[little rock]

I have a PS3 on my USA Customs and emads on my Catalina and Slingerland 3ply, all 18”era and they all sound great. Never used anything but Remo batters except a couple of Gretsch heads.