Jazz Drum Heads Review - Remo Renaissance Ambassador

[@alanpeterson4205]

I love the renaissance heads and have them on my DW mini-pro Design Series kit (18" BD) Satin Black. For years I had a gig with a jazz trio in a local restaurant where I had to master playing really quietly all night and these are the heads I settled on. The Fiberskyn heads I used for a long time as well but they seemed kind of thick to me. I read that Jeff Hamilton uses a Fiberskyn Diplomat on his snare drum and I went for that on my other kit (20" BD), and that fixed my perception of the problem. I love the sensitivity of the renaissance heads as well as the look. On the 18 in front however I have a coated ambassador resonant because I don't like to see into the drum where I have small muffling pads I've made. I'll have to try those Calftones next time! Thank you Von, sounds great as always.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Alan thanks for the great comment and for sharing your experience! I'm glad the Renaissance heads are working well for you. Yes, the diplomat Fiberskyns are preferable for more sensitivity and response. I just put new Fiberskyns on my snare and toms today. My Calftones wore out and I had a full set of Fiberskyns ready to "roll". Personally, I use Diplomats on my snare and rack tom and an Ambassador on my floor tom. The Ambassador gives me a more controlled and meatier sound which I like on my floor tom. Thanks for the kind words too and keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@JMcNultyDrums]

Great review. I'm going to have to work on the lateral flutter you're doing at 3:20.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Jonathan always my friend! Flutter away! It's one of the best things about playing brushes. Ain't no fluttering with sticks...

[@mellilore]

Ludwig coated heads do have a very tough coating (both "medium" and "heavy") and I like 'em pretty much when it gets brushes time.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for sharing and keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@boomerguy9935]

Thanks for giving them a fair chance. Your conclusion is right on. The main reasons I use these (along with Renaissance snare/resonant heads) is 1. low volume acoustic venues with trios in which I use a lot of brushes 2. the surface lasts much, much longer than the Remo coated Ambassador coating. Great video!

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for chiming in here and I'm glad you saw the video! I really appreciate the recommendation and it was exciting to try a new drum head. Yes, the brushes sounded awesome and I can see how they'd be perfect for your trio gigs. If you've got any video of your gigs, I'd love to hear them in action. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@reddieseled]

I recently bought a couple of new ambassador heads and also couldn’t believe how quick and easy it tuned up. If you look at the hoops they don’t have the crimped edge anymore

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for sharing your experience here! That's great news. Maybe Evans inspired them to change their design? In any case, I too have noticed lately that Remo heads are not as tedious to tune any more. Keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@rondeangelis7384]

nice demo Von, I'll stick with my Evans 56 and fiberskyn. If it works for you then certainly good enough for me 🤙✌

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Ron for the comment and kind words! I just wore out my Calftones and swapped them out for Fiberskyns. Diplomats on my snare and rack tom with an Ambassador on my floor tom. Love the sound! Just can't go wrong with either Calftones or Fiberskyns. It's really too bad about the Renaissance head. I was really hoping it would be the sound and feel I was looking for. Still, the brushes response to the texture is magnificent. Hope the video was helpful. See you at the School my friend 🤙

[@carlupthegrove262]

Nice Video. I've used Renaissance heads and really like them. However, once I began using Aquarian Modern Vintage I like them even more so that's my head of choice right now..... second would be Remo Fiberskyn. The Evans 56 seem a little 'heavy' to me and they tend to ripple fairly quickly. They do sound nice when new.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Carl for sharing your experience and for watching! Now, maybe I have to do another video about the Aquarian head! LOL. Is this the one: amzn.to/49lmvqI I shared the affiliate link to double check. If not, please paste a link here to let us know exactly which one you use. I want to get it and try it out. Thanks again and keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@carlupthegrove262]

@@jazzdrumschool Modern Vintage come in MV Thin and Medium and also MV II and Deep Vintage. The last two are 2 ply heads, probably not best for jazz. Link below.

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks Carl! Didn't find a link so here's an affiliate link for anyone interested in checking out: the Aquarian Modern Vintage drum heads: amzn.to/3V0ml28 Thanks for supporting the channel!

[@NintenDub]

Ive never even heard of these heads. I love jazz but cant figure out how to get into it on drums. I dont have sny teachers around and though ive played for 20 years, i dont know the rudiments or have tesl technique. Its sad i know. But i do have a calftone on my acrolite.and i like it

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for your comment and for watching! It sounds like you're interested in learning more about Jazz drumming! I have a really super drumming course called Intro To Jazz Drumming: jazzdrumschool.com/course/intro-to-jazz-drumming that will give you a solid understanding and playing foundation for Jazz drumming. You might give it a look. I have quite a few students at jazzdrumschool.com who live in remote areas with no Jazz drum set teachers close to home. They've found the courses helpful. I hope to see you at the School soon too my friend and keep swinging 🤙

[@НиколайАксёнов-ч4з]

Hello. I would like your advice. Is it worth drilling holes in the lower hi-hat for a clearer sound?

[@NintenDub]

Probably not. Define "clearer" . You could put the bottom on top, and top on bottom. If they're not expensive decent hats, drill away. You could get some good results though.ive never done it though. Or get another set of hats or 2, and play around using two tops, or two bottoms etc etc

[@НиколайАксёнов-ч4з]

@@NintenDub Thank you. I have a Bosphorus traditional dark.

[@NintenDub]

@@НиколайАксёнов-ч4з those are decently expensive no? Never hurts to try,but you can't go back so...

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for watching and for the question! I'm not sure about that one. I for one, wouldn't drill hols in my hats. I know that they do make bottom hats with holes: amzn.to/3T3Gl41 It's an affiliate link just to show you an example. Istanbul also has a set: amzn.to/49m9c9x Both sets like the bottom hat is flat. I'm not sure how it would sound on a regular hat with the bell. Maybe ask a local drum shop what they think. Hope that helps and keep swinging my friend 🤙

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for chiming in here and for watching!

[@NOAHCASAS]

THAT REMO SOUND WAY BETTER I WONDER HOW THE WHOLE DRUM·SET ON THE TOMS SOUND WITH THOSE SAME HEAD I THINK IT HAD A MORE CLEAR FINE SOUND THANKS FOR THE REVIEW I MAKE LOOK INTO THESE HEADS

[@jazzdrumschool]

Not sure how they'd sound on the whole kit but they're probably decent. Keep swinging 🤙

[@stretch1807]

what ride is that on your right? it's tasty

[@jazzdrumschool]

Thanks for the kind comment! I’m using a 20” Zildjian Kerope on the right and a 20” Zildjian K Constantinople Flat Ride on the left. I’m also using mixed 14” hi-hats, Top: K Constantinople, Bottom: K Custom Dry (both top cymbals) Keep swinging my friend 🤙