Remo Fiberskyn vs Ambassador head--is it worth it?

I tested a Remo Fiberskyn head against a Remo Ambassador head to see if there was a discernible difference. Listen and decide for yourself!
@christhedrummerkimball

[@HaloAdmiral]

Were this Fiberskyns Diplomat, or Ambassador weight?

[@christhedrummerkimball]

I use the Diplomats.

[@chillpillology]

wow thats a horrific sounding snare regardless of the heads. The low tuning is a nonstarter in both scenarios. Might as well just get a super pitted supraphonic on the cheap.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

I like a high-pitched snare sound for jazz and symphonic music, but most classic rock I like uses a lower-pitch. I prefer that fatter sound on my 1940's wood Slingerland snare rather than a metal snare, but since I didn't pay much for the Pearl snare I'm using with the North I'm not too worried about it. Thanks for watching and voicing your opinion!

[@hurster]

It's a certain sound. And it sounds fine for that certain sound. And that certain sound is a very legitimate sound.

[@jimflys2]

Hmmmm. The old Pearl Jupiter snare in 6 1/2x14". It is a brass shell drum with chrome plating. Parallel action snare throw to mimic the Ludwig Super Sensitive or the Rogers Dynasonic. To be honest, I don't care for any of those systems of snare throws. I frankly can't tell the difference in sound between a Ludwig Super Sensitive and a Supraphonic. Love how the Supraphonic sounds. I really don't care about the rather dry, staccato sound of the Dynasonic. Never have. And I LOVE Rogers drums. Just not that snare. Now, to your Pearl Jupiter. A few things going on there that have to be tuned out to sound right. The low tuning just is not working. The higher tuning is better. May need to really work with variations of the bottom head tension. Probably a coated CS black dot might mitigate some of that Hum. For snare buzz, well the overly complicated design of such thow offs were designed to have the snare wires lay down just on the head without stretching across it. Less tension means more sustain. There is probably no snare bed in it because of the design of the P snare mech. The snare bed in most good sounding snares forces the wires to more unevenly contact the head, which is also by nature having to be over tuned at the snare bed to get it conform. Thus it introduces some needed muting. The snare wires being pulled up against the bottom head also mute the drum. LM400's etc. Acrolites, All sound great. Mostly you have to stop allowing the over resonance of the drum itself. That will kill some of the snare buzz. So assuming the bottom head is pitch higher than the batter, try turning the lugs adjacent to the snare wires down by 1/2 turn each. See if it helps. Then tune the other 3 lugs on each side a little tighter. Leave the snare wire lugs alone. See if it helps. Literally, you are trying to tune out that resonance by not allowing the vibration such a perfect path of resonance. I would tune this drum in the mid to high range. The low range just needs a wallet on it to kill that hum. Steve Gad always used a Zero ring to control his LM400. He also advocated detuning lugs next to the snare wires for this issue. Pearl snares always sounded decent I thought, but that Jupiter does not. I think it is because it has that snare system. I have very occasionally run into a drum in the shop that will have literally NO snare bed in it. They buzz and rattle like mad with a conventional throw off. Cutting a bed in a wood shell solves this issue. I know how to create a bed in a metal shell drum, but I am not going to suggest it. i think having the parallel snare system, well, it would not matter putting a snare bed in it. Essentially, it is doing what it was designed to do.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

All great ideas, I really appreciate your thoughtful comments. I was trying to keep the snare tuned lower to get more of a big, rock sound to go with the North vibe, but I think you're right; higher would sound better. I just swithed to a Fiberskym batter head which I really like. I'll play with the snare head tuning a little, then I might just sell the snare drum and use aTama snare I have which really sounds great. Thanks again for all the info!

[@BubblegumBrown]

@@christhedrummerkimball yeah. It's sounding a little choked with the snares. Loosen them slightly, then tune the rods directly on either side of the snare bed down a bit and the others up a bit. Don't mind unequal tuning, as snare beds keep that from being possible. You'll still get a rock sound, but it won't sound choked out. Also, check out the page SOUNDS LIKE A DRUM

[@christhedrummerkimball]

@@BubblegumBrown Will do, thanks again for all the tips!

[@kevinmcgovern5110]

The snare buzz issue at lower tunings sounds like a bed issue I had years ago with a Ludwig Black Beauty. Sent to Ludwig and they fixed the shell by resetting the beds.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

@@kevinmcgovern5110 I think you're right; I had to modify the bed on an old MIJ snare I have to get it to sound good.

[@danlc95]

I'd back off the reso and snug up the batter.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

I like a tight batter head because of the stick response, but on the other hand, I like a lower-note snare for certain rock songs. I guess I just need multiple snares! :)

[@edoardovittori1190]

I have been recently testing many snare drum heads to deepen my taste and knowledge about. As far as I can say, I must tell that either regular coated ambassador and fiberskyn 3 Diplomat are great heads (I do not like much FS ambassadors, 'coz they start to be a but 'heavy' in terms of thickness and overall tone) for a snare drum. It just does depends on which style and recording/Performing needs you have. Personally, I do not use fiberskyn on metal shells because I think they better blend with the warmth of the wood but it's just a matter of taste. Your 'G' starting tuning is just too low to me, doesn't sound at all the snare drum, to me and my ears (unless you're into a scenario where that sound just works as you need and it's the perfect fit). Again, personal taste. To your Pearl Jupiter, I would just stick to Coated Ambassador, or try a CS Coated and insist on tuning options. As I have never owned that specific model, am not aware of possibile defects concerning snare mechanics.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Thank you for your thoughtful comments! I've started using Fiberskyns on the North and my sewer pipe set (I'll be doing a video on that soon) and I like their warm sound and thinner thickness. I'm not sure how long they will last, though. Coated heads seem to be more durable.

[@edoardovittori1190]

@@christhedrummerkimball I kinda of agree about Fiberskyn's warmer and thinner thickness. Bear in mind that diplomat ones are 7.5 (or 7) + 3 external film, to come to an overall 10/10.5ish thickness which almost resemble a natural ambassador (10mil). This is why I prefer them in diplomat weight rather than AMbassador ones.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

@@edoardovittori1190 I'm using the Diplomat Fiberskyns, too.

[@ronaldbogdenjr7262]

I wish I could send you a picture of my northdrums my Facebook Ronald bogden Jr , they sound good

[@christhedrummerkimball]

Can you private message me on facebook?

[@BeerZerkeraidean]

Yea That pearl snare is bad. I played a crappy Gretsch snare for way to long. just throw it in a volcano and get a Mapex even the cheapest Mapex off their poplar kits is is a big step up. But I am just a Pearl shell hater.

[@christhedrummerkimball]

I think you're right. I have a Tama snare drum which is not one of their higher-end models, but it really sounds great. I think I'll start using that one. Thanks for the input!

[@BeerZerkeraidean]

@@christhedrummerkimball Yea Tama makes good stuff.

[@jiboo6850]

i just got the new Mapex Comet in Indigo Blue. 20-10-12-14 and it's such an insane quality for the price! 500 bucks brand new! i just can't believe it. i keep staring at it in awe. i'm like "how??". Evans G1 top and bottom everywhere and totally open, those drums are singers! i'm honestly on my butt. such well made poplar shells. they have a nice low end and good attack. i totally could record with those. absolutely!