How To Buy Timpani Heads Like A Pro
Congratulations!! You’ve made the big step and decided to update your timpani heads. You’re on your way to upgrading the sound of your drums!
You’ve now run into one of the most confusing purchases of your musical career. Hazy, Clear, Orchestral, Strata, TC-Series, TI-Series, Renaissance, Steel, Low-Profile Steel, Aluminum and that’s all before you’ve even start looking at model numbers! It’s enough to send anyone down a long rabbit hole that you just don’t have time to follow.
Don’t worry, we got you covered and you’ll soon be ordering timpani heads like a pro!
Where to Start
Here are the main things you need to know when it comes to buying timpani heads
Size of head needed
What type of coating
What type of insert
What Size Head Do You Need?
Step 1 - Find Your Drum Size
Note: We deal mostly with schools in the United States, so this post is about timpani that we see on a regular basis.
Extended Collar Drums
If you are in the US and have Adams, Ludwig, Majestic, or Yamaha timpani made after 1978, you’ll more than likely have these size drums: 32” / 29” / 26” / 23” / 20”. The exception to this rule is if you have the Yamaha 8300R series and chose the 27” / 24” options. It’s always smart to measure your drums to be certain that your drums are these sizes.
Regular / Standard Collar Drums
This is where things can start to get tricky. If you have older Ludwig, Leedy, Premier, Slingerland, or WFL drums that date before 1978, these bowl sizes can be either 32” / 30” / 29” / 28” / 27” / 26” / 25” / 24” / 23” / 20” so you need to measure your bowl sizes.
How to find your bowl size
To measure your bowl size, simply measure from one side of the bearing edge directly across to the other side of the bearing edge. You’ll probably find that they won’t measure exactly to a bowl size mentioned above, ex. 32 inches, but will be a little short. Don’t worry, just round up to the nearest whole number [22 1/4” rounds up to 23”]. There are a few exceptions but we’ll cover that next.
Measure Bearing Edge to Bearing Edge
22 1/4” Bowl Rounds Up to 23” Bowl
Exceptions
Here is a list of timpani that have odd sizes to watch out for:
Step 2 - What kind of collar do you have?
In general, there are two types of drums: Extended Collar and Regular / Standard Collar.
Extended Collar Drum
Extended Collar
If you have drums made after 1978, you’ll have what is called an “Extended Collar” drum. Simply put, these drums have an extra inch or more of timpani head between the counter-hoop [“rim”] and the bearing edge [the edge of the bowl]. Just trust us when we say this makes the drums sound better.
Regular / Standard Collar
These drums pre-date 1978 and have a half inch between the counter-hoop and the bearing edge. This was the original design on modern timpani until they switched to Extended Collar around 1978. These drums have a half inch between the counter-hoop and the bearing edge.
Regular / Standard Collar
In Texas or North Carolina and need
someone to change your timpani heads?
Step 3 - What size head do you need?
Extended Collar Drums
These drums require heads that are 2 inches larger than the bowl size. For example, a 32” timpano gets a 34” head.
Why? There is 1 inch of extra head on the left side of the drum and another 1 inch on the right side of the drum.
If you have Adams [see exceptions], Ludwig, Majestic, or Yamaha drums made after 1978, this rule will apply. As always, there are a few types of drums with extended collars that do not follow this rule and those are listed in the “Exceptions” section.
Regular / Standard Collar
These drums will require heads that are 1 inch larger than the bowl size. For example, a 25” timpano gets a 26” head.
Why? There is a half inch of extra head on the left side and another half inch on the right side.
**Special Note - if you have a Ludwig 23” timpano with a regular / standard collar, it uses a 24 1/4” head**
Exceptions
As musicians, we’re always chasing the best sound and there have been manufacturers that have made drums of different sizes in order to produce different characteristics of sound. If you have a set of these drums, be sure to check the Remo and Evans timpani head charts to find the correct head size.
These include Adams Philharmonic, American Drum, Hinger, Pre-1978 Ludwig 23” timpano, Premier Standard or Elite, and Walter Light timpani.
The Shortcuts
Above is the standard explanation of how to find what size head you need for your drums. Here are a few other ways to check for the head size:
1. Measure The Counterhoop
Measure from the middle of the counter-hoop to the middle of the counter-hoop on the opposite size.
Generally speaking this will get you roughly the size that you need without taking the head off, especially if you have extended collar drums.
We use this method to double check our first measurements, especially when working with regular collar drums.
Essentially, if it’s measuring about 25” across, then a 25” would work.
This is not 100% reliable so we don’t recommend doing this as your first option
Measuring the Counter-hoop
25” From Middle of Counter-hoop to Middle of Counter-hoop
Measure the Size of the Head
2. Measure The Head
If you’re comfortable replacing the heads, you can simply take the old head off and measure the head from one side to the other to get the correct size
3. Look for Model Numbers
If the head is off the drum, you can look on the side of the flesh hoop for some printed numbers [2425, 2500, 3108, etc] and those are the sizes.
We’ll discuss these numbers later
Model Number Showing Head Size [22”]
4. Watch Our Instagram Video On Head Sizes
Examples
Yamaha drum with extended collar measures 28 3/8” from bearing edge to bearing edge
This rounds up to a 29” bowl size
Requires a 31” head
Adams Professional drum with extended collar measures 31 1/2” from bearing edge to bearing edge
This rounds up to a 32” bowl size
Requires a 34” head
Ludwig regular collar drum measures 27 7/8” from bearing edge to bearing edge
This rounds up to a 28” bowl size
Requires a 29” head
Choosing a Head Coating
Glad you made it through the last section - that can be a bit confusing. Now comes the fun part of selecting what type of sound you want.
Hazy versus Clear
The Fundamentals
We may go into a deep dive on the history of heads in a different post but the short version is that they were traditionally made from calf skin. Calf skin produce a very warm and rich sound all while having a wide dynamic range, making them a great choice for top level performances. In fact, many of the top timpanists in the United States still use calf skin but they require daily attention and are very susceptible to changes in humidity which do not make them ideal for school use.
Instead, synthetic heads are standard practice and the great part is that you can choose what kind of sound you want your drums to produce.
Construction
Timpani heads are made from Mylar which is a brand name of polyester film. Think Kleenex for tissues. For you drum nerdz out there, a 7.5 mil film is standard practice. You can purchase timpani heads that are just this Mylar film or there are options to purchase heads that have a coating on them which cause the head to produce a different type of tone, articulation, and sustain.
Step 1 - Pick your film
Clear vs. Coated [Hazy]
Clear Heads are simply the Mylar film with no coating. While some versions are fully transparent, both companies have options that put a little color to them.
Tone: Brighter, Vibrant, “Open”
Sustain: Longer resonance and more overtones
Articulation: Stronger, more immediate attack on the initial note
Clear Mylar Head
Hazy Coating
Coated [Hazy] Heads have a textured layer that mimics the look and sound of natural calfskin.
Tone: Warmer, Darker, “Focused”
Sustain: Shorter decay with fewer ringing overtones
Articulation: Softer, less “plastic” sounding, better definition in fast passages
Step 2 - Evans or Remo?
These are the two timpani head manufactures in the United States for synthetic heads. Here’s the difference between their approaches to the manufacturing process.
Evans
Evans uses what they call “Level 360 Technology” which helps the head to sit flat across the bearing edge right out of the box, essentially omitting the seating process which is when the head conforms to the shape of the drum’s bearing edge. These are generally considered easier and quicker to tune out of the box.
Remo
Remo uses a more traditional approach to their heads which requires a seating process done by hand to form the head to the bowl shape. Although it takes longer to seat the head, the head is then perfectly formed to the bowl. However, if the initial seating is not performed correctly, the heads can be more challenging to tune.
Step 3 - What Texture?
Here are all the options for timpani heads from both Evans and Remo.
Evans
Evans has 2 types of timpani heads
Strata Series
Represents the sound and feel of traditional calfskin heads.
“Coated” head
Calfskin Colored
Warm, Dark, Focused
Evans Strata Timpani Head
Evans Orchestral Timpani Head
Orchestral
“Clear” head
White / Opaque colored
Bright, Clear, More Sustained
Remo
Remo has 3 series which are all available with a Clear or Hazy texture.
Renaissance Series [RC-Series]
RC Series Hazy
RC Series Clear
Professional grade timpani head
Available in Clear & Hazy / Clear heads have frosted appearance
Available with inserts / Most Expensive
Custom Series (TC-Series)
TC Series Hazy
TC Series Clear
A higher end version of of the standard series
Available in Clear & Hazy / Clear heads are fully transparent
Available with inserts
Standard Series [TI-Series]
TI Series Hazy
TI Series Clear
The baseline timpani head / Available in Clear & Hazy
Clear heads are fully transparent / Inserts not available
Most cost efficient
Choosing an Insert
On calfskin heads, the hide is tucked around a metal hoop. We call that metal hoop the “flesh hoop”. That term has transferred over to synthetic heads and it is in reference to a “U” shaped hoop made of aluminum where the Mylar is glued in place. In simpler terms, it’s the metal hoop around the outside of the timpani head.
What’s the purpose of an insert?
Stick with us here, we’re about to get nerdy.
The “U” shaped piece of aluminum is flexible and that means it does not stay consistently flat in between the tension rods of the drum. This creates a different pitch in between the tension rods as there is less tension on the head halfway between the tension rods. In other words, you can match the pitch at each tension rod but the pitch in between the tension rods won’t be the same.
Insert….. inserts.
Inserts help to add rigidity around the flesh hoop which creates a consistent pitch between the tension rods making the drum sound more clear [have a better pitch].
Insert Materials
Inserts can be made of either steel or aluminum. Steel offers more rigidity and the aluminum offers a bit of flexibility for drums and counter-hoops that aren’t perfectly round or flat.
Steel, Low Profile Steel, or Aluminum
What’s the difference?
Steel Inserts
Taller / high profile
Increases the projection of the drum
Does not fit all timpani [tension rods will not reach their casing]
This mostly applies to older, regular collar timpani
Steel Insert [Tall]
Low Profile Steel [Short]
Low-Profile Steel Inserts
Shorter / twice as thick as the original
Designed to accommodate a wider range of modern timpani models
Improves projection
Aluminum
Provides rigidity so the head maintains it’s round shape
Corrosion Resistant
Standard insert for timpani manufactures like Adams and Yamaha
Aluminum
Evans vs. Remo
Evans uses a standard low-profile steel insert ring on all of their heads while Remo has all three of the listed options.
Not in our service area?
We offer virtual help!
You Did It!
Congrats - you now know what type of timpani head you need and can confidently order your timpani heads.
Here are a few other details that may help in the ordering process.
SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)
This is the number that retailers use to keep track of what head is in the box. It’s normally consists of a series prefix, the size of the head, and the type of insert and film if applicable.
Evans
Series Prefix + Diameter (in inches)
28” Evans Strat Timpani Head
Series Prefix
ET - Orchestral Heads
EST - Strata Heads
Diameter: final numbers represent the head’s exact diameter in inches
29 inch = 29
24 1/4 inch = 2425
26 1/2 inch = 2650
Examples
34” Evans Strata Timpani Head
EST 3400
24 1/4” Evans Strata Timpani Head
EST2425
29” Evans Orchestral Timpani Head
ET29
26 1/2” Evans Orchestral Timpani Head
ET2650
Remo
Series Prefix + Diameter Code + Insert/Film Suffix
22” Remo Renaissance Hazy Timpani Head w/ Low-Profile Steel Insert
Series Prefix
RC - Renaissance Series
TC - Custom Series
TI - Standard Series
Diameter Code
Based on 1/16” increments of the outside diameter of the flesh hoop
Whole Inches: a whole number size is multiplied by 100
28 inch = 2800
31 inch = 3100
Fractional Inches: the final 2 digits represent the number of sixteenths past the whole inch
28 1/2 inch = 28 8/16 inch = 2808
23 1/4 inch = 23 4/16 inch - 2304
22” Remo Renaissance Clear Timpani Head w/ Low-Profile Steel Insert
Insert Ring - the first letter of the 2 letter suffix
Aluminum = R
Low-Profile Steel = L
Steel [High Profile] = S
No Insert [Standard Series] = 00 [Hazy] or 03 [Clear]
Film Type - the second letter of the 2 letter suffix
Hazy = A
Clear = S
22” Remo Renaissance Hazy Timpani Head w/ Aluminum Insert
Examples
RC-2800-LA
Renaissance Customer (RC)
28” Head (2800)
Low-Profile Steel Insert (L)
Hazy Film (A)
TI-2508-00
Standard Series (TI)
25 8/16” Head (2508)
No Insert (0)
Hazy Film (0)
TC-2200-SS
Customer Series (TC)
22” Head (2200)
Steel Insert - High Profile (S)
Clear Film (S)
What Different Companies Use
These are what heads different manufacturers put on their drums at the factory. Their heads may look a slightly different color from what you can buy as a consumer. Their heads will also have their logo on them.
Adams: Remo Renaissance Hazy w/ Aluminum Inserts
Ludwig: Ludwig Ensemble Smooth White Timpani Head [made by Remo]
Majestic: Remo Renaissance Hazy w/ Aluminum Inserts
Yamaha: Remo Renaissance Clear w/ Aluminum Inserts
Now you’re a pro on timpani heads! If you have any more questions, simply contact us and we’ll make sure you get the right size heads.