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New to forum and questions!!! Last viewed: 3 minutes ago

Posts: 7 Threads: 3

Hi there all! I'm new to this forum and this is my first post.

I'm putting together my dream set of mid-late 70's Ludwig blue vistalites.

The lineup currently includes 14x24" bass; 5x14 snare; rack toms: 8x12, 9x13, 10x14, 16x13; floor toms: 16x16, 16x18. I'm mounting on a Gibralter rack system with plenty of Zildjans to go around.

What I remember from my teenage years was the big sound of the vistalites and I want to re-create that rich sound I remember. Many of the drums have old silver dots or Evans heads on them. So I want to reskin these drums to get the best sound, and I'm looking for suggestions!

I've been looking at the Aquarian website and they have some nice sounding heads. As I said, I want that deep rich sound with a nice pop attack. I'm not sure if I can get a bright attack and rich, deep sound without too much resonance, but I'm all ears.

Suggestions?

Thanks,

Posted on 13 years ago
#1
Posts: 5550 Threads: 576

Welcomeaquarian pinstripe should work great there made for a shot gun effect or evans hydro's

April 2nd 1969 scarfed pink champagne holly wood and 65/66 downbeat snare, and , supra same year very minty kit old pies
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp





once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Posted on 13 years ago
#2
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

Welcome to VDF!

There's a reason why so many vistalite drum kits have clear black dot or clear silver dot heads... they produce precisely the classic vistalite sound you're looking for.

I have owned/played several vista kits over the years. Replace the heads with clear black or silver dot heads, tune em up, and you're good to go.

If it ain't broke... don't 'fix' it. Silver dots for vista's, highly recommended.

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 13 years ago
#3
Posts: 776 Threads: 114

+ 1 on the dots!

Posted on 13 years ago
#4
Posts: 5550 Threads: 576

i actually agree with john but ive been a shot gun player for years before the turn around and after experimenting, i found hydros add a deeper sound now by accident i was playing my slingy 20 in. bd no front head , and it has a aquarian pinner with center dot and it sound's so good i had a jam the other day switching up bd's and this beat them all at the moment so all of the above works as silver dots on my ss octa -plus it sounds unreal for being original and its been proven they don't stretch out and loose there tune so, i'm way over the top here but it all works good luck

April 2nd 1969 scarfed pink champagne holly wood and 65/66 downbeat snare, and , supra same year very minty kit old pies
66/67 downbeat with canister
Super 400 small round knob
1967 super classic obp





once the brass ceases to glitter, and the drum looses its luster, and the stage remains dark, all you have left is the timbre of family.
Posted on 13 years ago
#5
Posts: 146 Threads: 24

I've owned at least one set of Vistalites for the past 20 years. My $.02...

Any kind of head with a "dot" on it totally kills the tone. That, and it deadens the action off the head, which makes the drums harder to play (for me at least).

The best head combo I have found for Vistalites is clear Aquarian Response 2's on top with Aquarian Class Clears on bottom. For bass, I use either an Aquarian SKII on the batter with a Remo Clear Ambassador up front, or a Remo Emperor w/ a felt strip on the batter and a Clear Amb up front.

And I have no idea why anyone would want to use coated heads on a Vistalite kit. I guess if you are using the kit to record, where it doesn't matter what the visual effect of the kit is. But live... Half the reason why you buy a Vista kit is to show off the translucent quality of the shells. Using coated heads just kills that, IMO.

Posted on 13 years ago
#6
Posts: 229 Threads: 15

I totally agree with L.v.B. Got to go with clears on the Vistas! Ambassadors on the toms and Aquarian SK on the kick. Your kit will explode and look great!

Posted on 13 years ago
#7
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