Snare Heads question...

[Scott_M]

As my snare collection is slowly (but steadily) growing, I find myself wanting to set the different drums up to make their inherent characteristics due to shell material, depth, bearing edges, hoop type, etc. a bit more distinct and pronounced from drum to drum.

Since it's not uncommon for me to end up tweaking the tunings for the drums I've brought with me to better fit a band/recording session, I'm thinking of looking to the qualities of different types of heads and combinations to try and make those characteristics more distinct from drum to drum - the warmth of the maple, the brightness of the steel, etc..

With that in mind...
Any thoughts on what heads to use to better bring out the unique voices of the drums I have listed below? Aside from the 12x5 Prolite (already setup with Coated/Hazy Diplomats), they all pretty much still have the stock heads, or Remo Coated/Hazy Ambassadors (single-ply 10mil/3mil).

What different types and thicknesses - Coated CS (Reverse dot), Powerstroke 3, Renaissance, Black Suede, etc..., Diplomat, Ambassador, Emperor, or something in between?

And what about the snare side - Clear/Hazy, Renaissance, Suede, etc, and what thickness; Diplomat, Ambassador, Emperor..?

In the pic (for reference):
12x5 Prolite - Silver Sparkle
14x5 Prolite - Steel
14x5.75 Hilite (HD-500) - Creme White
14x6 Prolite - Snow Tiger
14x6.5 Performer (D-456) - Steel
14x6.5 Kompressor - Aluminium
14x6.5 Vintage - Red Oyster
14x6.5 SQ2 - Med Beech - Rosewood finish

I'm a Remo guy, so if someone wants to suggest an Evans, Aquarian, Attack, etc, I won't take offense and will most likely end up using Remo's closest equivalent.

[DaveInNZ]

I always say use a Coated Ambassador over a Hazy Snare Side as the starting point, but to veer away from that is obviously personal preference. That said based on some of my own snares I could offer some of my own preferences, as below:

HD500 - I have one with Coated Ambassador on it currently, but I also have an HD700 with a Coated Reverse Dot CS on it, and I prefer that vibe, so I'm tempted to try that on the 500 too.

D456 - I've found on all of my ferromanganese snares (except the HLD588) that they all inherently have definite zones across the head where you can get quite different sounds. The centre of my 505 and 506 are already pretty dry, even with an Coated Ambassador on them, so I'd stick with that. The HLD588 responds well to a Centre Dot CS again.

6.5 Alu Kompressor, assuming you're looking at doing a Ludwig 402 Supraphonic, but better, stick some 42 strand wires and a Coated Emperor on it. That's a big assumption that drum will respond the same way as my Ludwig by the way

6.5 Vintage, I currently have an Ambassador X on it. I don't hate it, or love it. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's my least fave Sonor snare and I only have it because it matches my kit. That said, I think the opinion is up for review based on how mics respond to it rather than my ear. But, round over edges, don't stick anything too think on there.

As a side note, I want to try putting a Coated Powerstroke on a snare (ala Gadd) and see if I can generate a fat, dry sound without needing extra tools. From your list, I'd say the SQ2 would be the first one I'd try that on, but absolutely no idea how it would respond.

[Jules]

Scott, I have a STACK of Snare heads, unused. They are mostly Evans, but some others tossed in. I would make a nice package deal on one of each of all you would like to try. The points have been player points (or whatever the term is) have been cashed in on the Evans stuff, but none of the ones in the boxes have ever been installed on a drum. All factory fresh.
Let me know if you want a list of what I have.

[Jules]

Better yet...

There are some overlaps in the photos

[Scott_M]

Scott, I have a STACK of Snare heads, unused.

Cool. I may need to reach out. There's at least one that caught my eye...

[Scott_M]

I always say use a Coated Ambassador over a Hazy Snare Side as the starting point, but to veer away from that is obviously personal preference. That said based on some of my own snares I could offer some of my own preferences, as below:

HD500 - I have one with Coated Ambassador on it currently, but I also have an HD700 with a Coated Reverse Dot CS on it, and I prefer that vibe, so I'm tempted to try that on the 500 too.

How does that Coated CS on the HD 700 compare to using an Ambassador - the typical "focused in the middle, still rings out by the edge" and still retaining that warmer sound of that maple shell??

D456 - I've found on all of my ferromanganese snares (except the HLD588) that they all inherently have definite zones across the head where you can get quite different sounds. The centre of my 505 and 506 are already pretty dry, even with an Coated Ambassador on them, so I'd stick with that. The HLD588 responds well to a Centre Dot CS again.

The D456 and the Steel Prolite have a very similar sound, with the Prolite being a bit brighter and more articulate, and the D456 being a little dryer and having a bit more depth/body to the sound (likely due to depth and rounded bearing edges).
This has me considering Diplomats on the Prolite to lean more into that "sensitive/articulate" snare, and trying a Coated CS you mentioned to get a little dryer/focused sound for the D456.

6.5 Alu Kompressor, assuming you're looking at doing a Ludwig 402 Supraphonic, but better, stick some 42 strand wires and a Coated Emperor on it. That's a big assumption that drum will respond the same way as my Ludwig by the way.

This is the direction I was thinking of going with it. If I could find out what tunings Bonham commonly used, I'll really be able to dial it in to that type of sound. I'm generally not a fan of >24 strand wires, so I'll see how it sounds before swapping out the wires.

This has given me some good ideas to experiment with for my metal shelled snares. Thanks for the info!

Now to start figuring out what to do with the wood shelled ones.. the HD500, Prolite, Vintage, and SQ2...

[Scott_M]

I6.5 Alu Kompressor, assuming you're looking at doing a Ludwig 402 Supraphonic, but better, stick some 42 strand wires and a Coated Emperor on it. That's a big assumption that drum will respond the same way as my Ludwig by the way.

This is the direction I was thinking of going with it. If I could find out what tunings Bonham commonly used, I'll really be able to dial it in to that type of sound. I'm generally not a fan of >24 strand wires, so I'll see how it sounds before swapping out the wires.

Threw a Coated Emperor on the batter side of the Kompressor and set the tuning to 300Hz/400Hz using my Tunebot (as that's the numbers I've seen referenced).

The Emperor needs a little more tension than the Ambassador at that pitch, so it's got a little more presense to the playing feel. Sound wise, overall is very similar to the Ambassador, but got a little more "oomph" when I lay into it. Still plenty sensitive too. Definitely works for Classic Rock. I think I like it, but might consider a Powestroke 3X or Powestroke 4 next time just to tone down a particular harmonic if it persists outside of my practice space and I can't get it to mellow out with some tuning tweaks first.

[DaveInNZ]

Just as an aside to your experiments, I watched a video the other day of Derrick McKenzie of Jamiroquai fame playing a Supraphonic with what looked like a coated Powerstroke head. So that fat disco splat is entirely achievable too, and I would imagine, also entirely possible with the 6.5 Kompressor.

I've found that my 8" Kompressor, and the 5.5" Alu Record Custom both far, far, far outstrip the Supraphonic when sat over them playing them, but those differents translate quite differently to someone stood 5m away. The ring of the Supra is what helps it give that bark to an audience I think. Again, all very much depends what you're doing with it.

But for reference, my 2020 Supra is currently wearing Coated Emperor over Ambassador, Pearl 42 strand wires and I swapped out the 2.3mm hoops for Pearl Fat Tone 1.6mm hoops and that's a magic combination. The Fat Tone hoops have something about them which releases the best of the drum. I will be swapping a CS Dot onto it at some point as I want to compare it like for like alongside the Jon Theodore snare and Black Beauty, but that's a bit of science rather than the preferred set up.