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Fiberskyn on Slingerland bass drum, should I???

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Hello all,

I found a 1951 24x14 Slingerland bass drum and it needs new heads.

I was thinking of Remo fiberskyn power stroke 3s front and back, what do you reckon?

It has the original calfskins on it which don't sound that bad....took me a while to get used to them, but I'd like something a little warmer and fuller but still keeping that amazing old drum sound.... somewhat.

The music I play is a blues roots style that gets a little funky, not hitting too hard.

Looking forward to hearing your ideas.

Thanks,

Gregg.

Posted on 15 years ago
#1
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You might try a coated pinstripe for the batter and a fiberskyn for the resonant side. The pinstripe would last longer for heavier playing. I've also used that combo substituting a coated powerstroke batter and got a good sound.

Posted on 15 years ago
#2
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From Gregg

Hello all,I found a 1951 24x14 Slingerland bass drum and it needs new heads. I was thinking of Remo fiberskyn power stroke 3s front and back, what do you reckon? It has the original calfskins on it which don't sound that bad....took me a while to get used to them, but I'd like something a little warmer and fuller but still keeping that amazing old drum sound.... somewhat.The music I play is a blues roots style that gets a little funky, not hitting too hard.Looking forward to hearing your ideas.Thanks,Gregg.

You really can't get any warmer sounding than real calfskin......

Posted on 15 years ago
#3
Posts: 3972 Threads: 180
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Ditto what LD said.

I would add - Fiberskyn heads as a bass reso are ok...only ok. They have a knack for sucking all of the boom out of the drum and killing the resonance...which is the point of the reso head, by the way. So, They look cool, but they really don't do the job well.

WITH ONE possible EXCEPTION: If you were to get a THIN Fiberskyn to use as a bass reso...that might work. I've used the Amb and the PS3 versions. Don't really like either one as a reso. Both are too thick and too dead. If you do try the Dip version...let us know how it sounds. Thanks.

Posted on 15 years ago
#4
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From mcjnic

Ditto what LD said. I would add - Fiberskyn heads as a bass reso are ok...only ok. They have a knack for sucking all of the boom out of the drum and killing the resonance...which is the point of the reso head, by the way. So, They look cool, but they really don't do the job well. WITH ONE possible EXCEPTION: If you were to get a THIN Fiberskyn to use as a bass reso...that might work. I've used the Amb and the PS3 versions. Don't really like either one as a reso. Both are too thick and too dead. If you do try the Dip version...let us know how it sounds. Thanks.

Aquarian American Vintage would be a better choice or Remo Renaissance....but I still stick with my original statement that you can't get any warmer sounding than real calf....everything else is just trying to simulate calf. Why simulate it when you already have it??

Posted on 15 years ago
#5
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I have a 22" BD with a FS amb. reso and a clear PS3. Sounds good to me.

Posted on 15 years ago
#6
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Sorry but the statement that you're using calf and want to go to plastic to try something warmer is kinda out there!

To me the Plastic Era is over, it seems so old now.

All the plastic heads I've seen like Remo's are smooth Saran Wrap on the underneath, and used as a reso, a calf batter mixes with that and sounds horrible. Plastic and leather have different frequencies and a calf with a plastic head sounds like playing C and C# together on the piano.

Try hit a plastic head and then a calf head when they aren't mounted on a drum and it's obvious that the calf has a much lower resonance frequency and a higher ratio of fundamental to harmonics, or simply more bottom.

Posted on 15 years ago
#7
Posts: 2212 Threads: 95
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I won't disagree with calf, it has a great warm, resonant tone. I played a killer 24" bass drum last week that had an Aquarian super kick II with a little foam thrown in for good measure. One of the best bass drum sound I have ever heard.

Posted on 15 years ago
#8
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The thing with especially a kick is that you're really playing the room. There's some rooms where if you stomp on the floor it doesn't sound bad.

So whether you "trigger" the room with a calf or plastic head is just that part of it.

I had times where Remo Ambassadors sounded really great - especially with the front head off of my 22" RB with a soft pillow in there - ugly but I still like that sound. Haven't played that way in a long time. When I was a kid in the late 60's you'd have to be a real gorf (word?) to keep your front kick on.

No one I knew back then had a front head on their kick. Along the lines of checkered pants and pen pocket protectors. First drummer I ever saw where I considered it might possibly be cool was Lenny White with Return to Forever in '75.

Posted on 15 years ago
#9
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