I was wondering what would be the best heads from aquarian for a drummer who likes to play with all styles, esp jazz and rock? I alraedy have some in mind but the one im most concerned about is the sn. heads:
SN-(top) Text. coated w/power dot (bottom)classic clear
Toms-Performance ll two ply heads clear)
And i already own a Super Kick l single ply clear bassdrum head

Thanks for the suggestions!

check out Aquarian's drumhead tips page on their website.

http://www.aquariandrumheads.com/drumhead_tips/default.asp

according to them, an all around setup would be:

snare = texture coated, single ply
tomtoms = texture coated (batter), classic clear (resonant)
bass = Super Kick I (batter), Regulator (resonant)

seems like you need a tougher setup that's still sensitive, so the TC w/ Reverse Dot seems like a good snare compromise.

but i've heard the Performance II's would be kinda dead sounding for jazz.  not opened up enough.  you might want something a bit more sensitive and open sounding like a Response 2 or if you want more sensitive, the Double Thins.

as for your bass drum, the Super Kick I is a great for that low low bottom end "boom", but for rock, you might want something with a bit more punch.  

a Super Kick II would keep that low booty, but being two ply is a bit punchier.  my buddy and I tried both on his Yamaha 22x16 and really liked the boomy punch of the SKII.

but, lots of guys here seem to favor the Force I.  much punchier and a more focused attack.  by the looks of it, seems similar to a Remo Powerstroke 3 which seems to be a rock mainstay for alot of bass drums.  Steve Smith uses the P3 for all his apps including rock & jazz, so i'm sure you'd be fine with a Force as well.

Don't get performance 2s, get response 2s. Depending on tuning those can give you all the rock thud you want, and will also be more sensitive and fuller sounding.

Jeepn, it sounds like you definitely wanna go for the Double-Thins.  If that's what you're looking for, you can't go wrong with the clears.

Again, a lot of head choices depend kit-to-kit.  I love clear double-thins on my old Tama Rockstars, but I recently switched out those heads (yeah, I know, stupid) to my new Tama Starclassic Maple kit and they just weren't working as well as the Evans Genera G2s that the kit came stock with.  Maybe it's the fact that the double-thin heads were sorta worn-out, but I'll probably be replacing the clear G2s with Aquarian clear Response 2s.

I'm not a fan of coated heads on toms (I know, dang near blasphemy around here!).  The only time I've ever put them on a kit (Tama Rockstar, my church's), I used Texture Coated Studio-Xs, which oddly enough were the perfect heads for the application.

Has anyone tried the carmine appice or tommy lee signature heads.

I would really like to try a heavy single ply head next.  Who makes one?  Or just go with a medium weight single and a power dot?  If they sound like remo CS's I will be very dissapointed.

dbl thins are too thin, response 2's and PII's are too heavy for me...Evan's G2 clears are close to my ideal head, but they just don't last and have a narrow tuning range.

as always YMMV

I have the Carmine Appice Snare, and so does my teacher!  We both agree this head kills... He just recorded with it and it sounds awesome.  It really holds up with the kevelar center..

dw

Ok, after our fine moderators' recommendations I ordered some new skins for the sonors.

aquarian classic clears with dot
high frequency resos "video gloss black"
regulator with the 7" hole. (impact 1 on batter as usual)

those suckers should SCREAM with that set up.

hopefully I'll dig them after I get used to them!

A, new term for me.. is that equiv to sharp, loud etc?  

dw

interesting choice of heads.  

the CC's are one ply, no?  i thought you were a dark, low tuned double ply kinda guy, Felix?

texture coated with power dot RULESSS


-lildrummer