My days of struggling with Remo's inconsistency and lack of QC are over. I've switched to Aquarian.
Their coatings are more durable, the films are seated in the counterhoops much more evenly, they're super-easy to tune.... I could go on and on. I've been running the Super2 coateds on tops of toms and the Classic Clears on the bottoms. Studio X coateds on my snares. They seat well and it's very easy to distinguish pitches from lug to lug -- making tuning a breeze. The feel is very good too. That was Evans' downfall when I tried them on toms and snares. They just felt dead under my sticks.

Roy Burns rocks!

Did the "weapon" have any part in your conversion?

I tried the super 2s and wasn't terribly keen on them. I'm running focus-x clears on my toms and focus-x coated on my snares. Note that the coating on the weapon is still fine--and it's been how long--7 or 8 months?
I guess I'm just partial to the single plies.

I agree with how easy the Aqurians are to tune especially on bigger drums and kicks. Jeeze, we sound like a frigging ad for Aquarian. Forward this thread to Roy and see if we get an endorsement.

Hey Todd,
Exactly right. "Project Weapon" was definitely the straw that broke the camel's back.

Roy paid me to write that review! No, just kidding.

Aquarian Studio X w/ power dot on all my toms and snare, Aquarian Super Kick II Bass Drum Heads for both of my best friends...been using them for years with no exceptions (add my drum tuner to them and presto!). I used to use hydraulic glassdrum heads from Evans (loved watching that oil go all over the place!) but I do not see myself changing in this lifetime.

Do you use the "regulators" on the resonant side (of the kicks)?

I use SK1s with "regulaotrs" on the resonant side. I run them wide open. Nice big sound that's not out of control using those heads.

I don't use any muffling or damping on the snare or toms either. Focus x does a great job. No moon gel or nuttin.

I haven't gotten into the kick heads yet. Just replacing snare and tom batter sides as needed so far.
However, I'm restoring a 70's Gretsch kit. That 20" kick will get Aquarians, as well as the toms (I already put Aquarian American Vintage heads on them). I'm thinking of the Force I coated on the batter side of the kick, and an offset ported reso side. But, if the kick shell proves to be a bit oversized in diameter, I may go with the American Vintage heads there too. They're slightly larger in diameter to accomodate older drums (pre-Keller invasion).

Hey everyone, thought I'd wake this thread up and re-heat it a bit. It was a very interesting and useful conversation.

I'm planning to switch to Aquarian but wanted to get your thoughts on the "Super 2" verses the "Response 2" head. The "Super 2" sounds good for me since I am a "slack head" but I'm worried they might over damp.

Thanks...

Figured I'd re-heat this thread one final time since I tried a number of different head combinations on my "problem child" 12" tom.

The Aquarian Super 2 was a really nice head. It tuned up well and had a nice "substantial" sound to it. Unfortunately it was too mellow for the sound I like from the Yami's.

The Response 2 head gave me more of the attack I was looking for but had to be tuned too high to get the wrinkles out of it. I'm a slacky not a tighty so I'm sticking with my "traditional" pin stripes since they give these drums the perfect attack (in my opinion obviously) despite the tuning hassles.

What I did do was put a set of Aquarian Classics Clears on all the bottoms and this had a real nice effect. Warmed the drums up a tad and the bottoms tune up (and stay tuned) real easy now.

I also threw a Super Kick II on the 20" and it's S W E E T! Sound guy we had this past Saturday was gushing over it.

I agree my kick never sounded so good than with this 22 on the head. Plus I hope it doesn't break on me on stage like the Pear protone

That's the kind of nightmare that can keep you awake in the middle of the night :-)

Where did the head break? Was it a punch-through hole where the beater hits it, or a tear near the shoulder? You must have a strong foot!!!

Good to hear. I use the Super Kick II on both my kits. That head can't be beat (no pun intended) I just switched to coated emperors on the toms and like them better than the Evans G2's but I may try more Aquarians in the future.
Question for Steve...I have 2 Dunnett snares, 1 Titanium and 1 Milkwood Monoply. Ronn Dunnett purposely undersizes his shells so the bearing edge makes contact in the flat part of the head. Is there a coated snare head you would recommend for that kind of application? I'm using CS coated dot underneath now.

Thanks