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Head Selection

Heads are yet another area of personal preference (when you get right down to it, even the most trivial thing can cause huge flame wars, like which drum key is the best or which kind of grease to use in lugs). Each type and brand of head plays, feels, sou nd, tunes, and wears differently, so there are a lot of variables to consider when deciding on heads. If the only thing you're concerned about is durability, then by all means, use strong heads. If not, then other factors, such as sound quality, become mo re important.

The only thing I can really do is discuss some of the differences and qualities of each type of head. Deciding which ones are right for you is purely your own choice.

Also, the only brand which I'm intimately familiar with is Remo. I've also used some Evans' and some Ludwigs, but that's about it. So I can't cover all the bases adequately.

Remo

Diplomat: The thinnest popular Remo batter head. The only thing thinner in a batter head is the Diplomat M5. Definitely not a hard rock head. I haven't used one in years - I don't recall their personality.
Ambassador: Medium weight. One of the most popular. It's very versatile, so it's used in many styles of music. Responsive to loud or soft playing, very vocal and tonal, nice sustain at all tensions.
Emperor: A heavy, 2-ply head. More muffled than an Ambassador because of the twin plies. By the way, Diplomat, Ambassador, and Emperor heads are all in the Weather King series.
PinStripe: Heavy, 2-ply, with a "special coating" applied to the outer area to further control tone (more muffling than an Emperor). I do not suggest this head be used live unless each drum is miked and you have a good soundman. Otherwise, hello cardboard box.
CS (Controlled Sound), also known as a Black Dot: A single-ply head with a large "dot" of Mylar in the center. The dot controls ring in that it suppresses a lot of the overtones. The dot also increases durability in that area. Also available with clear or white dots, or a coated version wit h the dot underneath.
FiberSkyn®: A synthetic head that simulates calfskin. Very mellow and natural, warm sound.
Ebony: Ambassador, CS, and PinStripe head made from black Mylar. This black Mylar has a slightly different sound than clear or white Mylar. [IMO, it's a wetter sound.]

Evans

Hydraulic: A 2-ply head with oil between the plies. The oil pretty much dampens any resonance and overtone. The epitome of that awful '70s sound. Picture a cardboard box filled with blankets and you'll know what a Hydraulic sounds like.
Genera Dry: Single-ply, with several small holes around the outside, and a thin ring underneath held only at the collar. This provides a very natural sound, but is slightly controlled against excess ring and overtones. [Nice snare head.]

That's about it for my head knowledge. So, which one is right for you? I don't know. Try them all. Yeah, that's expensive, but you'll never know unless you do. Personally, here's what I like:

Bass	PinStripe. Durable, no overtones, good attack. (I also muffle the hell out of my bass.)
Snare	Coated Ambassador, plywood tight. Dry, lots of ring, cuts like a hot chainsaw through a rotten tater.
Toms	Coated Ambassadors really tight. High, ringy, cutting. Or, clear Emperors sorta tight. Wet, tonal, nice attack.

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