Does any one know if there is any real difference between the Remo Black Max and the Remo White Max ( other than the color).

They're made of the same materials, other than the dye used for the Black Max. The Black Max has a slightly darker tone and supposedly detunes in sunlight a bit faster than the White Max (which makes sense because the black color would absorb more sunlight and thus get warmer).

Once the Black Max Head gets detuned ( due to sun eposure ),all you have to do is tighten the head again to maintain the same quality sound right? Or once the head detunes it is no good, it needs to be replaced.

Um, It has to be tuned back up again. It only has to be replaced once it has been beat to heck and the tone changes (and cannot be fixed with a tune up; i.e. "dead head").

Hey everyone,
All the info. You guys are putting up is definately helping me out alot. I need some help with some of the terms used to define different sounds. Can some one explain to me what some of these terms mean.

-Brighter sound quality / tone
-Warmer sound quality / tone
-Darker sound quality / tone
-Edgy tone
-Firmer feel
-Softer feel
-Enhanced projection
-Attack
-Wide attack
-Sharp attack
-Dry attack
-Dry tone

I know it's a long list of things but if some one could explain to me what these terms mean, it would be truly appreciated.
Thanks, Javier

Most of them mean what they sound like.

-A bright sound is high-pitched and sharp. Sounds that are described as "warm" have a sound that is full across the spectrum, and are a bit less "bright." Dark is, of course, the opposite of bright. Think of cymbals being bright sounds, bass drums being dark sounds, and then think of how the difference applies to snare drum tuning.

-I guess an edgy tone is one that is cutting, and stands out a lot to your ears. That is, lots of high-end response.

-Firm/soft feel is self-explanatory, I think. A drum that has a firm feel will not have as much give as a drum with a soft feel, to your sticks and your hands.

-Projection is how well the drum can be heard, particularly from the audience perspective. A drum with good projection can easily be clearly heard from long distances, like for instance across a football field.

-Attack is the initial "hit" of the note; the beginning of the sound. In other words, the sound that occurs the instant you hit the drum. Wide attack means a longer, bigger sound; sharp attack means a more defined, short sound. An example of a wide attack would be playing a large timpani with a soft mallet, while a sharp attack would be like the sound a spock drum produces.

-Dry attack and tone mean the sound is not very resonant or warm, and may be a bit choked off or muffled.

Thanks, I think understand a little better now.

Thanks,Javier

How do you know when a top Head is too tight, and how do you know bottom head is too tight. I use The Remo Clear Ambassador marching heads but I dont know when t stop cranking it up.

Thanks, Javier

The oversimplified answer is that with experience, you'll know the right tension when it sounds good. The catch is that it takes time and trial & error to gain that experience.

For a more specific suggestion, HERE is a Q&A session on Remo's web site where Bret Kuhn, former Cavaliers caption head, gives suggestions with specific pitches. He suggests tuning plastic bottom heads to a D and White Max batter heads to F# for high school caliber players. (What kind of top head are you using?)

The heads we will use are either Remo black max or Evans MX Gold. By high school caliber players do you mean that they tend to play more messy, or dirty? I am just trying to get the drums to sound really nice, no matter what level players.