I have a 6.5 x 13 tama artwood with a clear ambassador batter head with a hazy 300 snare side, I don't remember why I put that head on there but it is one of my favorite sounding snare drums.
I've seen a few drummers using clear batter heads on their snares. Mainly because they're acrylic etc. I saw a video of Neil Peart at the Buddy Rich memorial. Probably the first time I've seen a clear head on a wood snare. Does anyone use a clear batter head? I'm thinking of trying it with an emperor x
I have a 6.5 x 13 tama artwood with a clear ambassador batter head with a hazy 300 snare side, I don't remember why I put that head on there but it is one of my favorite sounding snare drums.
I put a 14" twin ply clear head on my Pearl steel shell snare as a temporary replacement for the (original) head - it sounded better. I replaced it with a coated Ambo, which I changed again for a Genera HD dry as the Ambo left it too open and the drum rang like crazy.
I found the twin Ply clear preferable to the Ambo on that snare but couldn't live with the looks. I don't know why but clear heads on snares look odd to me - I have no problems with clear tom batters. I believe the coating is there for brush work (something I still have to learn). I may be wrong but I don't see any reason why you shouldn't use clear heads on snares.
The good ole black dot was a popular snare head in the 70's and 80's.
Yep, I used a black dot for a little while, and I think also a silver dot. I was playing in a rock band (1982-1986), we covered the heavier side of top-40 (like Night Ranger).
I went through quite a few heads. I went back to Ambassadors/Emperors just because they were always easy to find / in stock.
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Premier - A. Zildjian - Evans - Vic Firth
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Not sure if the EC frosted with reverse dot is considered a clear head. I have always used coated heads on my snares and this EC is the first one that is clear to me.
Specific drags, grace notes, etc., have a better feel with coated heads...........especially if you are using nylon-tipped sticks like I do.
We were taught in school to always use a coated head on the snare drum.
I prefer coated Emps............will ring less than the Ambos.
Gretsch USA & Zildjian(What Else Would I Ever Need ?)
I'm sure a black dot has made its way onto my snare at some point, but not an out-and-out clear head. IMO, it makes the snare look cheap (like a Sears catalog special), but I don't know how it would sound.
I'm sticking with coated.
I own 3 acrylic snares and each has a clear head. I'm using Evans 360 and a G2.
I've played snares with clear heads before (not my own, but others) and they sounded fine. Compared to a coated head they were a little brighter with more overtones. I prefer coated heads on snares and toms (even my 6" LP Micro Snare has a coated head).
I only used black dots on a wood snare I had in the late 80's. I liked the sound. Most recently have used the Ludwig silver dots. Atlanta Pro Percussion stocks them believe it or not.
RDM/Damage Poets
UFiP TAMAHA Zildjian
REGAL TiP
AQUARIAN
Depends upon the sound you are going for.
I use an Attack clear on a Pearl FF brass pic and love the overtones it allows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnnlO-XWIsE
I recently put Evans EC Reverse Dots on my Black Beauty and Acrolite snares and I really like the sound - especially for recording.
If they made a clear head but textured it some how for brushes I might try one.
all the best...
I just can't do it. It has nothing to do with the sound, it is purely a visual thing.
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