Congrates, mate! Hope you have fun with them! I am partial to good old Coated Ambassadors (which I use on my 60's Gracy kit), but I also have heard a few people say the the Aquarian Z-100 coated heads make those thin Japanese shells sound really good. There is also the Aquarian Vintage Series and Remo Fyberskyn heads as well.

I have an old Whitehall kit, and I've used coated Emperors, Ambassadors, and--currently--Diplomats on the 12" and 14" toms. I'm digging the Dips, which I have top and bottom, right now, but it's surely bright and open with them. In the long run Ambassadors or Evans G1's may be your best bet.

For the 20" kick I've been pretty pleased with a coated Powerstroke 3, although there again an Emperor or Ambassador with a felt strip is mighty satisfying.

I am running Aquarian Z-100 coated single ply, similar to Ambassadors, but much more supple and pliable, plus here is a good deal on them:

http://www.drumfactorydirect.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=15_118_433

Evans G2 coated.

Thanks for all of your replies, Gents. I too have leaned on the Coated Ambassadors for other kits (especially my vintage Ludwigs, to great effect) in the past because that is all that I have used. I'm not too familiar with Evans, but I've been told that G2's are a great choice for my new Gretsch Catalina Birch kit (it came stock with G1's), but WOW Jonnistix, that is a super deal on those Aquarian Z-100's. That is the best deal on drum heads that I have found anywhere, period. I just may have to go that direction for the sake of economy if nothing else. Anway, you guys have given me much food for thought! Thanks again!

They are great heads. Roy Burns called me to make sure they work well and to inform me he was watching the outcome of my experience with them on my MIJ kits. He is genuinely concerned with how we, as drummers of the vintage variety, are finding the sound and useful life of his heads on our drums, American and MIJ. He knows the market for vintage MIJ is expanding faster than any of us could have predicted merely one year ago and is squaring up the Z-100 heads to take a direct hit on coated Ambassadors. I am finding less ringing and unwanted overtones with these Aquarian heads. The coating is not going to flake off like some others, and it makes for some very cool brush work.

The only other heads that are cheaper are Attacks, but they are the clear single ply and they are best as reso heads. You can get a 5 pack of them for around 30 bucks delivered to your doorstep.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ATTDHAPACKB

Let me echo Jons comments, the Z100 heads are really, really nice.

While I find them just a little bit thin on tone, you cant beat the value.

If youre fixing up an MIJ kit, they are a very good bet.

I have used both the Z100 and the Aquarian Vintage and I tend to like the tone of the American Vintage better...they sound more like the old 50s calf heads than the Z100s. And they look so darn cool, too.

But you cant go wrong with the Z100s on an MIJ set. They do very, very well.

PS.....Hi Jon!! Hope youre doing well.

Let me make an "adjustment" to my experience. I am using the Z-100 on my modified 3 ply kit (mod=maple veneer interiors added by me) and they are amazing, much cleaner tone than the Ambassadors. I cannot comment as to how they sound on the thicker shells.

I am getting ready to do another CoffeeHouse Re-Creation for a customer. It will be a 15-10-13. I will be using a Ludwig 6 ply 15" floor tom for the bass and 10" & 13" 6 ply Pearl shells for the rack and floor. I will use whatever heads I have for these. I have a bunch of NOS 10" Remo heads for that one and many different 13 and 15 heads to choose from as well.

Plus it never hurts to buy American!