Comments for Jeff Lafferty http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog The Musical Thoughts and Deeds of Jeff Lafferty Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:28:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 Comment on Drum Heads by Jeff http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/12/02/drum-heads/#comment-30 Jeff Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:16:46 +0000 http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/12/02/drum-heads/#comment-30 Hey Steve, I think the answer is "It depends". Are you looking for a sustained ringing fundamental with fewer overtones, or a shorter sound? Do you use brushes on toms, if so coated would be the choice. Coated heads add a touch of dampening, and a tiny bit more attack, at least IMO they do. In general, a warmer sustain will come from a thinner 2 ply like an emperor. A shorter, thick sound will come from a thicker single like an ambassador. I really think a great deal depends on the drums too. I play a yamaha recording custom kit in the studio, and I get a ton of sustain regardless of the head type. I sometimes play a high end premier kit live that is fairly old, it has ambassadors and the sustain is fairly short, despite large, deep drums. One head I have used quite a bit is the Aquarian Studio X. I love them, perfect balance for my taste. I am actually planning on re-heading the yamaha studio kit with ambassadors in the next month or so, I'll let you know how I think it sounds. I hope this helps you. Jeff Hey Steve,

I think the answer is “It depends”. Are you looking for a sustained ringing fundamental with fewer overtones, or a shorter sound?

Do you use brushes on toms, if so coated would be the choice. Coated heads add a touch of dampening, and a tiny bit more attack, at least IMO they do.

In general, a warmer sustain will come from a thinner 2 ply like an emperor. A shorter, thick sound will come from a thicker single like an ambassador.

I really think a great deal depends on the drums too. I play a yamaha recording custom kit in the studio, and I get a ton of sustain regardless of the head type.

I sometimes play a high end premier kit live that is fairly old, it has ambassadors and the sustain is fairly short, despite large, deep drums.

One head I have used quite a bit is the Aquarian Studio X. I love them, perfect balance for my taste.

I am actually planning on re-heading the yamaha studio kit with ambassadors in the next month or so, I’ll let you know how I think it sounds.

I hope this helps you.

Jeff

]]> Comment on Drum Heads by Steve http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/12/02/drum-heads/#comment-29 Steve Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:40:58 +0000 http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/12/02/drum-heads/#comment-29 Hey Jeff, I've got a question. Im a studio drummer working for a smaller studio in NC that's recording mainly light southern gospel and bluegrass music. I'm trying to find some different opinions on if i should use single-ply or double-ply heads. I haven't actually been playing in the studio for very long which is why i really don't know the answer quite yet. I've always liked double-ply better but under mics it just doesn't seem as effective. I appreciate your response! Thanks a lot! - Steve Hey Jeff, I’ve got a question. Im a studio drummer working for a smaller studio in NC that’s recording mainly light southern gospel and bluegrass music. I’m trying to find some different opinions on if i should use single-ply or double-ply heads. I haven’t actually been playing in the studio for very long which is why i really don’t know the answer quite yet. I’ve always liked double-ply better but under mics it just doesn’t seem as effective. I appreciate your response! Thanks a lot!

- Steve

]]> Comment on Drum Heads by Jeff http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/12/02/drum-heads/#comment-25 Jeff Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:02:04 +0000 http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/12/02/drum-heads/#comment-25 Hi Nathan, That "Warm, Rock Sound" is a pretty general description, and based very much on how you hear things. "Warm" usually comes from the drum itself (Materials, size etc), where "attack" tends to come from head and stick selection. In my opinion, a purer fundamental tone(Fewer overtones) and a longer decay time gives the impression of warmth, whereas more overtones and shorter decay time gives the impression of a colder sound with greater perceived attack. The best approach is to listen to some of your favoriete drummers, find a sound you want to recreate, and then research what kind of heads the drummer uses. Most of the top guys are endorsers, so you should be able to find them on the websites of the head manufacturers. I am not a fan of coated ambassadors or emperors on my kit's and yet, when I hear some of my favorite players, that's what they are using. I still choose not to use them on my kit right now because I don't like the way MY kit sound with them. What kind of drums do you have and what are the tom sizes? That might help me a bit. Finally, coated heads will give more stick attack sound, and dampening, so there won't be as much ringing out and with a non-coated head. Hope this helps a bit, Nathan. Thanks for stopping by! -Jeff Hi Nathan,

That “Warm, Rock Sound” is a pretty general description, and based very much on how you hear things. “Warm” usually comes from the drum itself (Materials, size etc), where “attack” tends to come from head and stick selection.

In my opinion, a purer fundamental tone(Fewer overtones) and a longer decay time gives the impression of warmth, whereas more overtones and shorter decay time gives the impression of a colder sound with greater perceived attack.

The best approach is to listen to some of your favoriete drummers, find a sound you want to recreate, and then research what kind of heads the drummer uses. Most of the top guys are endorsers, so you should be able to find them on the websites of the head manufacturers.

I am not a fan of coated ambassadors or emperors on my kit’s and yet, when I hear some of my favorite players, that’s what they are using. I still choose not to use them on my kit right now because I don’t like the way MY kit sound with them.

What kind of drums do you have and what are the tom sizes? That might help me a bit.

Finally, coated heads will give more stick attack sound, and dampening, so there won’t be as much ringing out and with a non-coated head.

Hope this helps a bit, Nathan.

Thanks for stopping by!

-Jeff

]]> Comment on Drum Heads by Nathan http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/12/02/drum-heads/#comment-24 Nathan Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:06:54 +0000 http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/12/02/drum-heads/#comment-24 Hi Jeff. Can you please help me? I'm having trouble deciding which heads I want. I was thinking of going for Evans G2 batter heads for my toms. My style is rock and I like a warm sound but with attack. I'm not sure which heads I want for that "rock" sound, if you know what I mean. Do the coated ones cut out too many of the overtones? Or on the other hand with the clear, are there two many overtones meaning I would have to use O-Rings like I am now with my stock heads (ProTone) Note: My kit is the garage and the walls around the kit are foam. Thanks heaps. Nathan. Hi Jeff.
Can you please help me?
I’m having trouble deciding which heads I want. I was thinking of going for Evans G2 batter heads for my toms. My style is rock and I like a warm sound but with attack. I’m not sure which heads I want for that “rock” sound, if you know what I mean. Do the coated ones cut out too many of the overtones? Or on the other hand with the clear, are there two many overtones meaning I would have to use O-Rings like I am now with my stock heads (ProTone)

Note: My kit is the garage and the walls around the kit are foam.

Thanks heaps.
Nathan.

]]> Comment on Drum Tuning Tools - Reviewed by Jeff http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/01/07/drum-tuning-tools-reviewed/#comment-23 Jeff Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:55:49 +0000 http://jeffreylafferty.com/blog/2008/01/07/drum-tuning-tools-reviewed/#comment-23 Hey Wayne! As you said yourself, proper emulation of a specific drummers drum sound comes from a few different factors. Tuning is certainly one of them, and I would say one of the most significant. I suspect the reason why drum dial hasn't released a "sound like this drummer-tuning guide" is because that would require some form of endorsement and or compensation to use the artists name. It's an excellent idea that would prove valuable to the drumming community. Hey Wayne!

As you said yourself, proper emulation of a specific drummers drum sound comes from a few different factors. Tuning is certainly one of them, and I would say one of the most significant.

I suspect the reason why drum dial hasn’t released a “sound like this drummer-tuning guide” is because that would require some form of endorsement and or compensation to use the artists name.

It’s an excellent idea that would prove valuable to the drumming community.

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