sometimes i care depending on how old or new it is. but i generally have a stack of good used heads. so i usually switch them out anyway.

if i buy something to resell then i don't care. the used heads that come on them are usually really used. so i switch them out and clean the drum to look more presentable before i sell it.

MOST of what I buy is to fix up and resell. I've also found that a lot of my customers are likely to change heads to their "favorites" regardless of what's on them. So I only buy new heads if I can't find presentable heads in my "stock." It's amazing what a little 90/10 rubbing alcohol and goo-gone can do to clean up used heads that aren't beat up too bad... and how much better it makes a refurbished kit look!

Head condition is no issue as far as I am concerned. If a reso head is in great condition and matches what I was planning to use on the kit anyway then bonus! I will putz about on a snare with a good batter head to see what that combination might sound like Otherwise all the heads get replaced immediately.

It's never a problem. I expect to find 'used heads' on 'used drums.' If the heads need to be replaced, I figure the added expense into the price I'm willing to pay.

It's never a good idea to put used heads from one drum onto another. Once a head has been (seated) tuned up on a drum, it conforms to the bearing edge of that drum. If you use it on another drum later, it'll never really conform to the new bearing edge making it hard to tune or to keep in tune. Or, so say the geeks at Evans.

John

I will say that a nice head or heads makes for better photos and might entice someone that might otherwise be uninterested

By the pictures, I thought I was getting fairly nice coated heads on my '58 Slingerland kit when I bought them. What I got was beat-up smooth white heads and some no-name ringy reso heads. That didn't bother me too much. I had planned on using Aquarian American Vintage heads anyway.

My "new" '67ish Slingerland kit came with a decent Emperor X on the 13, but it sounds very dead, which may be the result of the no-name reso. The 14 has an almost new looking smooth white C.S. Dot batter and an Evans Resonant on it, which sounds OK. The BD heads are crap, so I'm replacing them. I'm putting some decent used heads on it to use this weekend at a St. Patrick's festival - it's a sparkling green pearl kit, so I have to use it for this gig! Yes Sir After that, I'll put the others back on and use them since the kit will be my practice kit for a while.

All that said, I don't really concern myself with head condition when purchasing a used kit. I know that the seller, more than likely, is not going to do me any favors in that department. So, I plan on putting new heads of choice on after I take possession. As some of the others have said, I will put a matching set of decent used heads on a kit that I'm selling, but I've only sold 3 in my time.

Timely post..

I am going to sell my double bass,double tom,double FT Premier kit from 1975,and was thinking of putting all new Aquarian Texture Coated heads on the kit..to the tune of $130.00.

Would that not be to my advantage?I always feel the drums will look their best with new heads...

Blair - it all depends on 'what' you're selling. If you're looking to get a decent price for a collectable vintage kit, presentation can be everything. New round of heads is appropriate for 'high-end.' But, for player grade kits... it's just impractical to add another $150. in heads to a kit you plan to flip.

So, (finally, the 'point!') with low-end players, heads don't matter so much as price and overall condition, for high-end vintage, new heads are a must for best presentation. How does that sound?

John Nowat-Eyemeen

I have always run ambassadors and emps and I never add new heads as it always seems like painting a house you do it and the person who buys it wants another color or another brand of heads in this case save your money let them choose for themselves..