I started playing drums in 1970- the heads available then were limited- especially in my area. As I became more adept and experienced I tried many different heads and combinations. The 'more available' drums I purchased and restored for fun and turnover: (older Pearl, MIJ stencil, Peace, Tama) seemed to 'sing' more with pinstripes.That is: deeper yet enough ring/ full and present miced or unmiced.

Then when I purchased higher quality drums: (Slingerland, Ludwig, DW) I still gravitated back to the pinstripes after trying single plys- Why? I guess because even with the 'better quality' shells- the overtones cleared by them fit 'MY' music and style... (although sometimes I like different resonants depending on shell material).... I think each individual drummer has 'that sound' they prefer- and no matter the shell type- will use whatever head they feel achieves that- If it sounds good to you- Go with it!

I think pins originally were made to give that thuddy bassy eq`d 80`s sound on toms.

I also found that if you had a bad sounding cheap MIT or MIJ kit that pins would muffle harsh overtones and get that cheap kit sounding much better in most cases.

The outside portion of the head was single ply,and looked different than any other head.I also found the pins to have longer decay than any two ply head.Maybe the pinstripe and the two plys it encircled was the magic recipe to quell harsh high overtones and add low frequencies to the sound?

The other thing that always confounded me was that in my experience pins were horrible on Bass drums,how could a head that controlled high frequencies and accentuated bass on toms so well could not do so on a Bass drum?

Good point; I find that pins on bass drums work best as a reso head, but make sure the drum is empty of any lanndry

MIJ if found cheap- the heads that go (if it needs them and they usually do) On are The Heads you haven't used on your other sets.

You "use" up the heads and if acceptable "put em on the MIJ"

Silver Dots work. Pinstripes..

anyway that's what I did..

Chance to (get rid/use up) heads that were sitting

That metal hoop(s) on that bass drum; with a pinstripe was awesome

1st pic is how I found them; then transformed- note I converted the unmatching single lug- 8X12 into a snare..

20/12/16/ Torodor/ with an other brand 12)

that set was built like a brick out house. Fond memory. Never again for $50 (incl. Yamaha gigmaker stands and pedals, 2 Zildjian 14" HH's, 1 Chinese Heavy 20" Radian XL Ride cymbal. $50.

I purchased a Coronet 20" bass drum which sounded absolutely stunning with the factory heads. Hit and miss I think.

But the pins are great equalizers...

It fattens them up

whereas on your hi end drums pins dots might deaden too much.

on MIJ it gives them some body

plus you really have to really hit mij

so thicker heads feel right

like putting fat tires on a base 77 75hp VW Rabbit so as to have some drama in the corners