1-Ply vs 2-Ply Bass Drum Batter Comparison

1-Ply vs 2-Ply Bass Drum Batter Comparison | Season Four, Episode 20

Рет қаралды 18,541

2 жыл бұрын

Think you know the differences between 1-ply and 2-ply bass drum batter heads from obvious to subtle? We were surprised by the results of this comparison and had a blast diving deep (as we always do) into the intricacies of these heads. Hear them compared at three different tunings, back to back, with plenty of contextual demonstrations.
This season is made possible by our Patreon supporters. Join us on Patreon for access exclusive content such as Cymbal Sounds, our long awaited cymbal series, and MUCH more: sladl.ink/Patreon
PRODUCTION PARTNERS:
GIK Acoustics (sonic treatment): sladl.ink/GIK
AKG Audio (microphones): sladl.ink/AKG
Evans Drumheads: sladl.ink/EvansDrumheads
ProMark Drumsticks: sladl.ink/ProMarkDrumsticks
Signal chain:
Mics - Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB & OctoPre - MacPro w/Pro Tools 12.8
Recorded at 48kHz / 24bit
Overheads: (Matched Pair in Glyn Johns - Cardioid) AKG C314 sladl.ink/C314Pair
Snare: AKG C518M sladl.ink/C518M
Primary Kick: AKG D112 sladl.ink/D112mkII
No EQ or compression in use with drum demos unless otherwise noted
Acoustic Treatment:
GIK 242 Acoustic Panels: sladl.ink/GIK242
GIK 4A Alpha Pro Series Diffusor/Absorber: sladl.ink/GIK4aAlphaPro
GIK Evolution PolyFusor Combination Sound Diffuser/Absorber: sladl.ink/GIKEvolutionPolyFusor
GIK Tri-Trap Corner Bass Trap: sladl.ink/GIKTriTrap
Drums:
Peal Masters Maple Custom Extra with 60's Ludwig Acrolite snare
Cymbals:
14” Jesse Simpson Old K clone hihats, 22” Jesse Simpson custom ride
Drumheads:
Snare: Evans G1 / Snare Side 300
Toms: N/A
Bass Drum: Evans EQ4 & EQ3 Clear / EQ3 Coated White
Hosted by: Cody Rahn
Production & Consulting: Ben O'Brien Smith @ Cadence Independent Media
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Пікірлер: 81

@DrummerRIP 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve pushed myself to journey into single ply drum head experimentation. I never really understood a “slap” description until a tighter single ply & wow! I’m so glad I’ve pressed into so many unknowns as I’m able to do so much more now outside my norm of just 2 ply! Keep up the great work @soundslikeadrum

@footnotedrummer 2 жыл бұрын

I think it would have been cool to hear the differences with a harder beater (plastic, wood). Maybe a future episode?

@JonathanLadner 2 жыл бұрын

I have been using 2 ply heads for over 15 years and just recently made the switch over to 1 ply. I discovered the attack immediately that I had been missing. Everyone has their own preference and maybe it’s just looking for a new sound but I think I will be playing 1 ply for a while.

@marcusbrown87 2 жыл бұрын

My favourite bass drum head is a Remo Powerstroke 3 (single ply). Historically i've always played 2 ply heads because I play heavier music and use double pedals, so i've always gone for durability. One day my shop didn't have the 2 ply head I usually used so I bought the P3 and was pleasantly surprised. They seem to have the nicest feel and sound at all tuning ranges to me. The "slap" is the best i've heard and they sound so good tuned nice and low.

@macadoo2530 Жыл бұрын

Gonna be trying out the vintage ambassadors on my 6 ply ludwigs. They seem to be a good balance between the 1 & 2 play heads. Will see and report back.

@gdonaldson6711 2 жыл бұрын

The main difference I’ve found between 1 and 2 ply heads is the feeling when playing them. 2ply seems tougher to dig into compared to a 1ply but you can pretty much make them sound the same with tuning and muffling. Been using a gmad for years cos it’s kind of inbetween and has a huge range with the muffling to rings you get with them. Add an impact patch and it can last years as well.

@DidYouReadEULA 2 жыл бұрын

The EQ3 clear batter and black resonant have been my go to bass heads since they first came out years ago. Tried the EQ4 and EMADs when they first came out as well, they just don't have the same feel or sound the EQ3's have that match the sound I hear in my head for my preferred bass drum sound. All amazing heads, but EQ3's scratch my itch every time. Great review!

@johnboyc5 2 жыл бұрын

I’m a simple man. I slap on a powerstroke 3 and call it good

@yanb.193 2 жыл бұрын

You can spend hours watching videos, hundreds of dollars trying different heads, or you can slap on a P3 and go back to playing.

@lm8404 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed.. I do watch all these videos.. I use ps3 clear on both my 22” and 20” maple kick drums.. I don’t know, it sounds so awesome.. No reason to shift! Still these videos are great!

@Streichholztasche 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, agree. Also a P3 guy here, but i recently put a EQ4 clear on my Prolite. It just works as fine as the P3. Not a huge difference tbh, except the new head sounds and feels “fresh and new” - because it is obviously :D

@SoundsLikeADrum 2 жыл бұрын

Lots of people make mindless decisions. We’re here because we believe the details matter and there’s definitely a trade off between these two heads. Maybe a P4 would be a better fit for you but it’s tough to know unless you’re willing to experiment and learn. The two of us found gear that we liked ages ago but neither of us can fathom if we’d just stuck with it rather than exploring other options.

@Streichholztasche 2 жыл бұрын

@@SoundsLikeADrum well, maybe that’s why i keep on changing gear (brands, models etc…) - because of the new input i experience everytime i use something different. I make my decisions on playing or hearing other peoples gear, for example backline sets that are not my own or talking to other drummers, watching videos, and so on. When there is a nice head/muffling/drum combination, i’ll gonna try it on my own sets. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes not. I love it, to get to know all the different specs that drumhead companies offers, but it is an endless journey. So we are very lucky, to have you and your wonderful channel, to show off the differences of completely untouched, brand new drumheads head to head. Something, that i can rarely realize on my own. :D

@oblivionwalker8613 2 жыл бұрын

Both heads sound awesome at the medium & high-ish tensions, but that 1 ply RULES at the low tension. I have an Aquarian Deep Vintage II on my Tama B/B kick. I tune it medium tension, with the reso head suuuuuper loose, and a leftover EMAD ring duct-taped to the inside. The high batter tension creates a great rebound & pedal feel when I'm playing double kick stuff, but that low low reso still gives it a good sub-freq rumble. Fun stuff! Update: I went back to a Super Kick 1, this time adding a folded-up towel as we saw in a previous episode, plus a sandbag, rather than running completely wide open. Both heads tuned about a 1/4- to 1/2-turn above finger tight (so slightly more than JAW) and holy attack, batman! My B/B has never sounded so punchy!

@jonashellborg8320 2 жыл бұрын

Not for bass drum, but for snare and toms i’ve experimented a lot with single and double ply heads. As you say, they have a lot of overlap, and I find the difference, whilst noticeable, are subtle, especially when you get to playing the kit and other musicians are playing too. Still an important topic, for me managing low end is key for good sounds, and a little more attack, or a little more presence in low mids can make an important difference. Great video! Now to dig out that single ply bass drum reso head!

@johnreardon4944 2 жыл бұрын

Very accurate video. I'm a drummer who owns a small blues venue in Japan. The first house kit was a 1978 Pearl 24x14 with coated Emporer and coated Ambassador. Both heads had felt strips. Yes, it was great with no mic. It was on the too loud side. But the sound was incredible because of the luan wood and rounded bearing edges. Now we have a Pearl Reference Pure 22x18 with two coated Powerstroke 3s. Without a mic, the difference between the two bass drums at the same tunings was evident. Although I didn't compare switching heads, the PS3 gives a warm, musical sound at all volume levels. It's easier to control than the Emporer. My venue has an intimate and close sound so the PS3 works better for me. And obviously the Reference has a tone that matches many genres versus the 70's 24" that seemed to be a one trick pony for larger venue rock music. As of today, the Reference Pure still has the two PS3s, but the mic is an Audix D6 going to a QSC KS118 sub. The subwoofer volume is at minus 7. (It goes + and - 10). What we hear is a clear attack, punch, warmth, and the wood tone of the bass drum. It's so natural and authentic. Most venues have that boom sound, but this is the best I've EVER heard! The tuning is medium plus a little higher to activate the shell. When I play it onstage, I can both hear and feel the sound change between soft and loud. It's super sensitive and accurate. This is with and without the subwoofer. The subwoofer emphasizes it a bit more, but it's overall musical to the max. Again, small venue. 28 people. The 78' luan kit still has its place in a larger and louder venue. My final suggestion is to use the right heads for the venue and to consider if it's mic'ed or not. And to consider the subwoofer of the venue. With no sub, a mic'ed bass drum will come through the main PA with the higher frequencies of a single ply head. You'll project the attack better. Double ply with no sub or even with if you want that low fatter sound. I love this channel with a passion! Thank you always, SLAD!

@joeschlicht 2 жыл бұрын

I have one of those vintage Pearl Luan kits (20" Kick). It sounds incredible.

@johnreardon4944 2 жыл бұрын

@@joeschlicht They're great sounding drums!

@macadoo2530 Жыл бұрын

Nice assessment

@philwelch9218 2 жыл бұрын

Ambassador weight batter head with a Remo Sub Muff’l( I use only 1 of the foam inserts), on the reso, I use the same with a 5” hole cut with a small DW pillow resting against the reso! I get a very clear attack with good tone that I’m happy with!

@alejandroarevalo735 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry if you already addressed this in a previous video. I’m just wondering what do you guys think about the kick port. Does it really makes a difference in the sound?

@DZNTZ 2 жыл бұрын

Never have tried the EQ3, but I LOVE the EQ4 heads. The Emad and EQ4 are kinda gamechangers because they make a superb bass drum sound achievable by anyone. If you have decent bearing edges and a round drum - it WILL sound good with an Emad and an EQ4 reso. Don’t get me wrong - learning to tune your drums is essential. But it takes time. The Emad is instant thwomp. My “usual” setup is an EQ4 Calftone/regular Calftone, no port. It gives me a full sound that I can dial in with a felt strip or a Drumgee with a little hand towel. If I need a more typical rock/pop thud, I just throw an Emad on the batter side and that’s that. It’s too easy. With an Emad UV and G14’s on the toms, my bop kit sounds like a 13/16/24! I still utilize Remo and Aquarian heads, particularly on more classic/vintage style drums where they are aesthetically matched. But more and more I turn to Evans for a great fit and a great sound.

@oblivionwalker8613 2 жыл бұрын

G14's are magical! I love thick 1 ply heads like the G14, EC1, the Remo X heads, or the Aquarian Hi-Energy (great snare head btw. 14 mil with dot like the EC1 but no dampening ring.) I wish Evans made a "G14 EMAD." The GMAD is 12, and not bad, but something about 14mil just has that 🌠magic🌠!

@geoffcowan2384 2 жыл бұрын

I thought all three tunings on both heads sounded good and useable. I haven't used a single ply kick drum head since the mid eighties, and that was a really bad single ply head. Might have to try a decent one. Thank you for the video.

@DaPhunk73 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for another great video! Have never seen or heard the difference between the two heads shown as clearly as here. I myself have played Eq4 one ply for many years, and it suprises me that there is so much more low end in the 2ply. At least from the sound from the mics we are hearing. Was the difference just as big playing the drum in room, listening from the drummer seat?

@SoundsLikeADrum 2 жыл бұрын

The difference is definitely noticeable (I was surprised too) - absolutely worth experimenting with! -Cody

@Videogameguy74 2 жыл бұрын

my go to always was Remo pinstripes on tops and ambassadors on bottoms .. however my new kit when i applied those combos sounded awful .. i tried every drum head on the market .. i actually put two two ply heads on my drums and got a killer sound on the kit .. so now i use a Remo emperor on bottom and pinstripes on top .. it actually had all the attack and clarity i was looking for

@brent3086 2 жыл бұрын

That is exactly what I do. Do you have really thick drum shells? I find with thick shell the 2 ply batter and reso heads work a lot better than single ply heads

@waynebaker2452 2 жыл бұрын

Started off with Aquarian SKII and loved it. Play mostly rock so had to try the EMAD2 but didn’t like it as much especially with the patch. Played it a while but then tried the PS3 and baby, loved it with an Aquarian thin patch. After a month or so went back to the Aquarian to compare. Loved both the single ply PS3 and the double ply SKII. Still don’t care for the Evans EMAD 2 but maybe one day will try one of their single ply heads. The PS3 and SKII sound similar somehow and could live with either with a super thin patch. Great episode. Keep them coming!

@DZNTZ 2 жыл бұрын

The PS3 is definitely one of the best heads of all time. It’s versatile too, you can get a lot of very different sounds from it. (SK2 is no slouch either) That said, the single ply Emad heads are superb for rock/pop, and the EQ4 is good for everything. You should give them a try, you wouldn’t be the first to switch over. Don’t miss out on the Emad goodness based on your disappointing 2 ply experience (I think the single ply is a better sound). The Emad UV is a great rock sound and should last a good long while with the UV coating. Calftone Emad is super warm and smooth, less attack and more tone.

@lm8404 2 жыл бұрын

For sure.. P3 is just bangin for me.. for about a year now, many hours.. Love sounds like a drum.. They take care of a lot of my curiosities.. and when I’m ready to change up my sound… I know just about anything is possible.. and sounds like a drum has given me so much insight to possibilities. 100 snare sounds!! (Ps, I have coated P4’scon all my Tom’s!)

@jmfs3497 Жыл бұрын

Thinking about going 1-ply for my 18" kick for modern classical/jazz. I had Remo coated Ambassador on my 22" and loved the low resonance and long decay. The 18" came with a Gretsch "permatone" with a dampening ring, and I found it flat and dead. I swapped it out with the the thinnest undampened thing I could find at my local music shop, which was a coated Emperor, and it still feels/sounds too dead to me for my purposes. I am temped to go with coated diplomats and hazy resos for the whole kit, just to see what happens.

@ryanvalerio9979 2 жыл бұрын

what would happen if you remove 1 ply to 2 ply head? I really need your answer.

@piojorojo182 2 жыл бұрын

Ive been playing 2 ply heads for almost my entire life thinking that overtone control and decay control was the key to the kingdom. God was I wrong. As I got older, I tried 1 ply heads and it was the key to the kingdom! Used to have a Pinstripe and then a Powersonic on my 20 inch birch BD. I switched to Powerstroke and immediately noticed the dramatic change on the attack without loosing that low end. Also Played Coated emperors and Pinstripes on my toms. Now I use Coated ambassadors and the change in the response and attack on the toms was huge. But there is a downside in 1 ply heads. You must know what you are doing and what you are aming for, in terms of tuning. A poorly tuned 1 ply head can sound like crap, but a 2 ply head poorly tuned can be forgiving. But once you know how you tune your drums, the tone you can achieve with 1 ply heads is beautiful!

@jmfs3497 Жыл бұрын

I LOVE this response. I also love single-ply coated ambassadors on all batter heads. I play something more akin to modern classical and free jazz at this point, and going single ply with as much sustain as I can get is more like riding a wild horse, lol. You have to WANT to have that kind of interaction with your kit. They can choke out if you hit hard, but they really sing if you play to the drum's needs.

@DRUMSandBUBS 17 күн бұрын

I need this with the emad1 vs emad2. Iv never used the 2 but love the 1. I accidentally ordered the 2 by accident...im scared

@DoppelgangerShockwave 2 жыл бұрын

Personally, I prefer single ply coated batter heads on my bass drum and snare too. They're the drums that get used the most, and in my personal experience two ply tend to tear easily on my snare and bass drum because of the extensive use. For my toms, however, I always use two ply coated batter for that extra thickness and the additional warmth.

@greatdrumcovers1768 2 жыл бұрын

I was interested in seeing if a single-ply batterhead is easier to do doubles or the Bonham triplets on the bass drum over a double ply batterhead

@SoundsLikeADrum 2 жыл бұрын

I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily easier, the articulation is clearer to a degree but for me it has much more to do with the tension on the head and the pedal settings than anything to do with the head itself 👍🏻 -Cody

@johncollins5552 Жыл бұрын

Were two ply heads even available when Bonham was recording, I imagine he would destroy a single ply head on his 26 bass drum real quick?

@einjarjar 2 жыл бұрын

How about comparing the pre-dampened (both) heads with no muffling and nomal non-dampened heads with muffling? Something like EQ4+EQ3onyx vs. G1+G1reso+muffling

@SoundsLikeADrum 2 жыл бұрын

Too many variables for a realistic comparison without having it turn into more than a two-option comparison and that’s the stuff we’re saving for the day when we’re able to support the launch of a new series under SLaD dedicated to comparisons.

@einjarjar 2 жыл бұрын

@@SoundsLikeADrum Variables? Just to comparing is it usable to buy dampened heads instead of twiddling with a pillow?

@SoundsLikeADrum 2 жыл бұрын

@@einjarjar In the scenario that you proposed there are three variables; the batter heads, reso heads, and the presence of muffling. If the idea is to achieve a similar sound between both configurations, this is something we've already put together in an episode coming out later this year. But if it's a comparison of the performance of both setups, we prefer to stick to single variable of change for a more uniform comparison. After hundreds of videos, we've got a method to our madness 😉 Thanks for understanding!

@einjarjar 2 жыл бұрын

I can see only one variable; The method of dampening. If it is a pillow/etc. inside or if it is pre-built into the heads. I think the exercise id somewhat pointless if you try to make them sound the same. IMO it's useful to show what kind of sound difference there is if using pillow/etc. inside vs. pre-muffled heads. They will result the same kind of sound, but they have different characters/qualities/whatever. However.... Let's see what the future episodes bring in. Keep it up.

@drummercarson896 2 жыл бұрын

I love the 2 ply heads best

@davidperez5089 2 жыл бұрын

I'm an old man set in his ways, I've never had a 1 ply on my kicker. Never had it, nevy will... wait, never say never!?

@kryde101 Жыл бұрын

Hello. What's the snare model you use in this video ?

@SoundsLikeADrum Жыл бұрын

14x5” 1969 Ludwig Acrolite

@nickcollins9893 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting comparison, the amount of attack from single ply head at low tuning is very surprising! Single ply head: Low tuning 3:28 - 3:31 Medium low 6:17 - 6:22 High tuning 8:55 - 8:58 Double ply head: Low tuning 3:32 - 3:36 Medium low 6:22 - 6:26 High tuning 8:59 - 9:03

@thebarak Жыл бұрын

I know you focus on post-produced and recorded drums, however, to compare heads, I think it would have been better to have no objects (such as sandbags or blankets) inside the shell, and also no hole cut into the reso head. Empty bass drum (as designed), no holes, same beater, same tuning. Now that is a meaningful comparison.

@metothemoon1227 2 жыл бұрын

I’m surprised there’s not smoke coming off the tips of the sticks.

@DZNTZ 2 жыл бұрын

I don’t get it

@metothemoon1227 2 жыл бұрын

@Dan G Hi dan, I write this because of his drumming , it's so good haha

@robinjohnson6301 2 жыл бұрын

1-ply all day for me. I find 2-ply bass drum heads tend to sound quite boxy. If you use a patch on the bass drum, the 1-ply should hold up as well as any head.

@jasper36 2 жыл бұрын

I think you could have gone much, much tighter. Though it's a 22" you can still bring it up to jazz territory.

@SoundsLikeADrum 2 жыл бұрын

Oh absolutely! This was just a comparison in these ranges. We definitely could have gone higher but we chose to stay in a specific range in order to keep the video manageable.

@BlommaBaumbart Жыл бұрын

Now if at 10:35 we have a borderline unusable 2-ply, I think I want to live on that edge.

@sethwhite3424 2 жыл бұрын

Nice Camelback Cinema reference. :D

@mariorossipuzza 2 жыл бұрын

Cinemaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiai

@tendingtropic7778 Жыл бұрын

very nice, what snare is that?

@SoundsLikeADrum Жыл бұрын

That's a 60's Ludwig Acrolite.

@tendingtropic7778 Жыл бұрын

@@SoundsLikeADrum awesome!

@tendingtropic7778 Жыл бұрын

@@SoundsLikeADrum I want one

@davidsykes9331 3 күн бұрын

👍🏼

@tomanetopotomane1953 2 жыл бұрын

Remo powerstroke black spot and i'm happy.

@ruelsmith 2 жыл бұрын

mil = .001 of an inch?

@SoundsLikeADrum 2 жыл бұрын

Yep!

@morbidmanmusic 2 жыл бұрын

1 ply last about 1 session on my 16 toms.

@marvinfowlkes1 11 ай бұрын

I love 1 ply heads on the bass drum more than the 2 ply

@remygaron8311 2 жыл бұрын

I find evans drumheads to be better because the way they shape their hoop and the glue their using no cracking with their glue awsome thanks for those interesting vid 🇨🇦

@jojothetasmaniansassmonkey8866 Жыл бұрын

i wish i could have heads made with an evans collar/hoop and remo film

@jmfs3497 Жыл бұрын

I've played both, but... I like Remo's logo, lol. 👑

@jaredmcintosh4178 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, 2 ply all the way for me.

@remygaron8311 2 жыл бұрын

I use what the gig calls for single ply for jazz kit double ply for rock heavy gig 🤟🏼🇨🇦

@Ds_Drums 2 жыл бұрын

That is usually what I do as well. I tune the reso heads a bit tighter than the batter heads to get tone and projection and find single ply works for jazz while double ply with a lower overall tuning works for rock. My rock kit is birch wood so when I say lower tuning it is still a little on the high side because the birch wood gives a deep tone normally so the tuning can be higher and still gives a dark punchy sound. Cheers and happy drumming.

@liamfitzdrums Жыл бұрын

I once read that Tony Williams use to use a coated emperor on his bass drum batter side when he was playing with Miles Davis. This was on his black Gretsch drum kit.