I have spent a little time on an 80,s Phonic kit and detailed for a Friend,He had clear emps top and clear amb resos tuned low,and they sounded decent,but when I detailed the kit I tried clear ambs on the 12,and it still had plenty of low end but I liked that it was livelier and more responsive.Those 9 ply shells have plenty of bottom end,and because they are thick and straight sided they seem to really take on the sound of the heads used,if you read the sound description on a coated amb,you should get that sound on the sonor toms.The phonics to me are clean sounding drums,You might try some clear single ply resos and throw the coated ambs on top for a little color.

Hi, I have the same drums, only with more tons, 18x24 ( 2 ) 10x10 12x12 13x13 14x14 17x16 18x18 8x14 .

I love two drum heads in these drums , a ambassador coated ( batter ) or cs dot ( batter ) .with cs dot these drums are VERY loud.

here some pics ( not all the kit )