Hey guys,
I have a single sided Camco bass drum I'm looking to get a head for. It currently has an old Evan's Uno 58 clear.
Do you guys use a different head on a bass drum with just the batter or do you stick to the batter head that works for you with a traditional 2 sided bass since the head is probably just going to have a pillow or blanket thrown up against it anyway?
Any success with a particular bass drum head when running just a batter?
Thanks.
Back in the 70's on my open basses I ran blue hydraulics for the look and the 'thud'-... today I think I'd go with a Remo PS3 as it has a warm open clear sound without a resonant on... but it's really up to you and the sound you are after- me/ I'd still want some resonance --even single headed. Good luck and experiment!
I use Remo emperor with black dots. Tuning is difficult alone because they do not sound the same in front of you as you in front of them.
I have limited experience with this, but I put Evans red hydraulics on my recently completed North kit (mostly because they look bad a$$) and I think they sound good...BUT a pillow is still needed to get a more typical bass sound, so the head is probably not a huge factor on the bass. Maybe a head with a built-in ring muffler would get you close without the pillow?
Thanks for the replies guys. I already have a Remo PS3 I could try and, the hydraulics suggestion is also interesting because I have a black hydraulic on the floor tom and I have recently put red hydraulics on my non- concert tom Roger's kit.
Besides sound, my biggest concern is with getting a good rebound with my bass pedal. I like to have a lot of rebound and I'm getting next to none on the single headed bass. Maybe some heads will naturally give more rebound? May have to mess with head tension, the type of beater, pedal spring tension to get the feel I like and speed. I'm not the fastest or most nimble with my foot due to some leg/foot numbness issues.
My opinion only- but I think the hydraulic will be 'less' responsive as far as rebound....the oil inside dampens quite a bit so other pre-damped heads may be better in YOUR situation- still- experimentation is the key!
Single ply beads are supposed to have a lower fundamental than thicker or double ply heads.
I’ve never bought in to this but you may want to try a clear diplomat with a pillow. Thought being with no air column to work against, the lower fundamental should allow higher head tension at the same pitch so you get good rebound. You might need an impact pad (flam slam) to preserve the head. I don’t know how practical it is to try since bass heads are not exactly cheap...
My first thought was a CS black dot head. That, and the hydraulics mentioned were the choices when everyone either had a concert Tom bass, or cut their front head out to make one.
