Meinl HE-Head-3000 8,5" Doumbek Head

The price and consistency of these heads make Meinl's doumbeks my preferred choice.

Easy to replace and a great sound.

Make sure you keep the tension evenly spread across all the screws (both when removing and replacing a head) - this will protect you from any warping of the shell and splitting of your new head. For example - if you number the screws 1 - 8 in a clockwise fashion, maybe start with 1, then, 5, 3 then 7, 2 then 6, 4 then 8, distributing the tension evenly and loosening/tightening only in slight increments. This protects the drum and the skin (both could break if the tension is out of balance), and leaves you with an evenly tensioned instrument.

It's also advisable to replace the upper part of the drum in the same position each time you replace a head - locking it in the same familiar position with the body of the drum. Maybe add a little oil to the screws to prevent any rusting - lengthening the life of your drum!

A final warning - don't wait long to remove a broken head. The uneven tension can warp of even break the body of your instrument.