Remo drumhead shootout (part 3): Ambassador Coated, Ambassador Vintage Coated, Ambassador Fiberskyn

Part 1:    • Remo drumhead shootout (part 1): Fibe...  
Part 2:    • Remo drumhead shootout (part 2): Fibe...  

Time to try some new heads on the toms! I was ready to replace the Remo Ambassador CS Coated Black Dot I had been using on my toms, and I thought I’d try some Remo Ambassador Vintage Coated heads, which I’ve never used before. Apparently they are a two-ply version of the well-known Ambassador Coated heads.

So, for this comparison, I’ve tried…

0:04 Remo Ambassador Coated
0:56 Remo Ambassador Vintage Coated
1:52 Remo Ambassador Fiberskyn

I used the standard Remo Ambassador Coated for many many years, but a few years ago, I decided I needed something that would let me articulate notes a little more easily. I tend to tune my toms in the medium-to-low tension range, which means that some heads (like the Ambassadors) can get a little flabby. And that makes it tough to play more intricate figures. So, I’ve been switching between the Ambassador Coated CS and the Ambassador Fiberskyn, both of which reduce the movement of the head.

In this comparison, I found once again that the Ambassador Coated (while sounding great) were a little too flabby for me where I like to tune them. I still love these heads, but they work better when you tune them tighter. And I tune my heads to specific notes (C – G – D for 10 - 12 - 14), so tuning tighter isn't an option.

But I really liked the Ambassador Vintage Coated. That second ply makes the head a little stiffer at the same tuning and only slightly less resonant for my playing. I would totally use these for rock or jazz.

I still do like the Fiberskyn heads too. They are mellower and more muted. But they have a very nice fundamental tone, so I love them for jazz and for some rock—especially if the rock is a little mellower or if you were going to mute the heads in some way anyway.

Equipment:
DW maple drums: 10, 12, 14-inch toms; 20-inch kick, 6x14 snare
K and A Zildjian cymbals
Blue Dragonfly overhead mics (one directly over the snare, another behind the low tom; both the same distance from the snare)
Shure SM57 mics on snare and toms
AKG D112 on the kick
Apogee Element 88 A/D interface
Logic Pro X with only a little buss EQ and Waves L3 limiter
Fujifilm X100T camera
Final Cut Pro