What kind of batter head do you prefer on your snare drums, generally speaking?

[Gavynnnnn]

I’m not looking for brand, per se. One-ply, two-ply, coated, clear, hydraulic, I’m wanting to know the characteristics of your go-to snare batter-head!

 

[HalldorL]

Coated single ply. Muffle to taste....or not.

 

[ARGuy]

For the type of playing that I usually do, a single ply coated is my go-to head. Sometimes with a dot underneath, sometimes with an overtone ring, but almost never two ply. I don't play hard enough to need the durability, but I have used a Remo coated Vintage Ambassador a few times and it can work well for my playing style.

 

[Fat Drummer]

HalldorL said it for me as well.... I prefer the tonality and crispness of a coated single ply. That said however I also use a Remo Ambassador Fiberskin (1 10mil ply and 1 3mil fiber) on several snares for the additional fat back beat muffling with out killing all the resonance of adding a top ring.

 

[Seb77]

Standard single-ply coated, it’s been some time since I used Fiberskyn Diplomat for some brush gigs or thicker single-ply (12mil.) for a darker sound. I found I don‘t like 2ply, including dots, for low volume playing.

 

[Whitten]

Single ply coated, usually with a dot under the strike zone.

 

[dtk]

single ply coated as well....

 

[cworrick]

Single ply coated, usually with a dot under the strike zone.

This is what I have on my main snare. However, I do not have the same head on any two drums in my (small) collection.

I've got a G1 Coated, UV1 Coated, Remo Fiberskin, Aquarian Modern Vintage. That's just the ones I can remember off the top of my head.
All are coated in some way. I just like the tone I get from coated, plus I never know when I will need brushes. Smooth/Clear just doesn't work for brushes no matter how you play them.

 

[LudwigGuy]

Single-ply coated with a Snareweight M80.

If I can't make it sound good with this combo, I get rid of the snare. Snare drums should be easy.

 

[CC Cirillo]

Single ply coated with underdot, or thinner double ply coated a la Remo Vintage Ambassador.

 

[shuffle]

A single ply dotted underneath.
Using them for decades
The dot focuses the sound.
But still get the ring,punch and articulation I want.

 

[underratedcowbell]

Coated single ply... with underside dot or wihout dot, whatever the store carries at the moment!

 

[varatrodder]

A basic single or double ply coated, with no dots or integrated muffling systems.

 

[BennyK]

On piccolos , coated double ply . Everything else , coated single ply .

 

[audiochurch]

Mostly single ply coated, but am using a Vintage Ambassador at the moment, which is a 2-ply coated. Have a few coated/dot heads, but will use them when my other heads break or become untunable. Coated rules for me.

 

[rsmittee]

Single ply coated. Sometimes dot sometimes not. I'm using Aquarian Texture Coated mostly. Also, love the UV1. Fiberskin or Modern Vintage for jazz.

 

[Ang]

Coated ambassador

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

It depends on the snare, but generally it's either a Remo coated vintage Emp, coated Amb or a coated Dip. My Pearl 14x3.5 maple FF loves the Emp, my 64' Acro loves the Amb, and my 20's Ludwig NOB 14x4 loves the Dip.

 

[RIDDIM]

Much of the time, a coated 1 ply head.

That said, I've had great results on tons of jazz and R&B gigs with an Evans Black onyx as a snare batter. It's a 2 ply head that sound more like a 1 ply head.

 

[thejohnlec]

Piccolo snares: single ply coated
Wood and Supra: single ply reverse dot
Brass: two-ply coated
Steel: usually single ply coated

I’ll occasionally use a small DrumDot way up against the rim depending on the style of music. The single ply reverse dots allow me to play brushes when needed but also provide great tone and tuning range for a variety of styles.