That's good advice I see you are getting. Yeah, the coated heads are more for a jazz sound (or some may say 'vintage') OR you can go with clear heads for more of a modern rock sound. Both are used for all styles of music, as we are comparing styles with types of sound - and we are just giving you the common uses....but it really is a matter of personal preference. Listen to many other drumsets. The studio rings are typically used with clear heads. My advice, would be to follow my advice (clear heads, tune to the shell, use studio rings) BUT ALSO make sure you listen to drums with coated heads to get a sense of the sound they give. This is your choice you need to make, not ours. Most, if not all of us have used both, many continue to for different applications, but most of us also have our preferences. Keep in mind that these (sound-tone-head selection-------versus----style of music) are 2 different variables, though related, though not etched in stone. I'm sure you can figure out that the head selection determines sound, which apply to different types of music better. Listen to alot of kits with different heads before you buy heads. I do not have first hand experience with the Jammin Sams heads, just reported to me by a veteran drummer friend of mine who I highly respect (that they work well). Meanwhile, those deals offered up to you in the last post are great deals financially and surely you will be happy with those heads if you can afford them. We both just need to inform each other of the results if/when we try the Jammin Sams heads. I do have some and will be using them sometime this spring/summer and will report the results.
PLIES: Most guys on here (and the current trend I believe) use single ply heads. 2 and 3 ply heads were more popular in the 80s, though some still use them. 2 or 3 ply heads will give you more attack (even perhaps a slappy sound that was very popular in the 80s with the use of Remo Pinstripes) and less resonance; and the single ply head will give you a good balance of it all. No, single ply heads do not damage easier, as they are thicker than a given single ply on a multiple ply head.
The advice you are reading for BD is great advice. I have not tried OsakaBop's technique....and could be used with any type of head...with differing results. Consult OsakaBop on that....BUT Please report your results when you try that so we can hear more feedback on that technique. BTW, when you can afford it, I throw my vote (again) behind the Aquarian SK1.
Please remember to show us some of the shiny results when you are finished with your cleaning/polishing!!! This is where you are really going to be inspired to keep going and wish you had even more time to do this stuff. Just be sure not to neglect your relationships and responsibilities and become an unbalanced addict like some of us (myself included) have struggled with before.
BTW - where do you live (sorry if I missed that)?
Have fun!
John
