Timbale heads

Top_Jimmy · Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 1:26 pm Post subject: Timbale heads

Just wondering here. Do all timbales have white, slick, plastic heads? Can you switch the heads out with, say, standard coated or ebony heads to play around with tone? How hard is it to tune a set of timbales? Is there a big difference between a cheap set and an expensive, named set?

styles2281 · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:57 am Post subject:

Hey,

I've seen Timbale heads that are clear. I don't believe I've ever seen anyone play a coated timbale head, but that's not to say that it would sound bad. In context of what you're doing, you could put any head on the drum, but it may not have a signature timbale sound (which is a thin, unmuffled sound).

As far as brands, I suppose it's like anything else. You get what you pay for. A cheap timbale is likely to be made of a bad metal and have poor (easily stipped) lugs. Extremely expensive ones tend to be more paying for a name rather than a product. I find LP's mid-grade stuff to be well-priced and excellent instruments. You can also look at Toca (made/distributed by Kaman products, who also distributes Gibraltar Hardware).
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bytor · Admin Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 5209 Location: Kansas

Yeah, I agree with styles here. You can certainly put a coated head on a timbale, but coated heads have a warmer sound, which is kind of contradictory to the open, bright, ringy tones characterizing the traditional timbale sound. I also agree about LP's intermediate level gear. Generally, it's good bang for your buck.

Top_Jimmy · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 10:42 am Post subject:

Thanks, guys. I've been looking in particular at the LP Thunder timbales in brass, those 10" deep 15/16 jobs. I also saw out on the Evans site that they make specific timbale heads, so I could give those a try. Agreed, I want to keep that unique timbale sound, so changing heads around won't be a primary concern. Thanks again for the info.

Top_Jimmy · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:15 am Post subject:

Ok, I've had those LP TP Thunder timbs in brass on the list for about a year now, so they're sitting in my front room in the shipping box waiting for Christmas eve (don't think I'll be able to wait for Xmas day). Got them from Musician's Hut and they shipped out of Nashville Monday. I'll post again after I bang them around. Should be a good complement add to the kit