Radek Owczarz is one of the best studio and touring drummers in Poland. He has collaborated with some of the platitum-selling acts on the Polish scene, such as Kasia Kowalska, Pilichowski Band, Edyta Bartosiewicz, Patrycja Markowska or Jan Borysewicz.
Very recently, we hooked up with him to make a test of a few sets of Aquarian heads. This time around, it’s time for:
Aquarian Response 2 Clear 14″ and 18″
1. The test
The test was carried out in professional studio conditions, at the CLC recording facility in Piaseczno, Poland. We put the heads on a Ludwig kit (Radek himself does not remember what model it is, maybe you could help?) and a Ludwig Supraphonic LM402 snare. The batter skin on there is an Aquarian Response 2 Coated, while the bottom head is Aquarian Classic Clear. The resonant bass drum head is Aquarian Regulator, while the batter head is Aquarian Force I. The resonant skins on the toms are Aquarian Texture Coated. Obviously, the batter heads are Aquarian Response 2, sized 14″ and 18″. The toms were tuned with the help of the Tune Bot device, and in the following fashion:
- Low tuning (14″ – pitch D#, 18″ – pitch G#)
- Medium tuning (14″ – pitch F#, 18″ – pitch B)
- High tuning (14″ – pitch A, 18″ – pitch D)
2. Basic specification of the Aquarian heads tested by us:
- Series: Response 2 Clear
- Size: 14″, 18″
- Plies: 2
- Thickness: 14 mil (7 mil + 7 mil)
- Colour: Clear
- Character: Full, clear, open, articulate attack
- technologia Aquarian’s Vacuum Process™
- Application: Toms
- Size: 6″ through 28″.
3. The product and the sound
The process of manufacturing Aquarian Response 2 Clear heads features the patented Aquarian’s Vacuum Process™ technology, which eliminates air bubbles and wrinkles between the two plies. As the heads we were sent were brand new, we cannot say if it doesn’t happen as they wear out. However, being familiar with the manufacturer’s approach to quality, we don’t think an event of that kind should occur. The Aquarian Response 2 Clear 14″ and 18″ are classic, thick, double ply, heads with a clean, full, open sound and strong attack, which makes them ideal for rock. They will also perform nicely in other styles of music because the higher they are tuned the more singing tone they produce, which is more than welcome in jazz, fusion, blues or pop.
4. Summary
We think we should Radek Owczarz himself sum up the whole experience:
“These heads sound great in all tunings. I deliberately chose not to play too many gospel chops or fast stuff so everybody can hear what they really sound like. Generally speaking, all the Aquarian skins we tested here speak (or rather sing) for themselves and don’t need much talking or writing about. All you need to do is to put on a pair of good headphones on or use some decent speakers and just listen.”
Producer: http://www.aquariandrumheads.com/
Distributor in Poland: http://www.musicinfo.pl/
OUR VERDICT: 5/5
Advantages:
- Very well crafted
- Great dynamics in all tunings
- Warm, full, round, singing sound qualities with articulate attack
- Air bubbles and wrinkles between the two plies eliminated
- Price
Disadvantages:
- None
Drummers and Drummerettes! It’s time to put the 14″ and 18″ Aquarian Response 2 Clear heads to the most important test of all, i. e. the en.beatit.tv viewers’ test! Exclusively for you, we give you Radek Owczarz!
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