DRUMHEADS

There are a variety of drumheads available on the market today. The three largest drumhead manufacturers are Evans, Remo, and Aquarian. Despite the fact that each company has materials and manufacturing techniques that are unique to them, most of their drumheads share several of the same basic characteristics. Listed below are the most common and popular drumhead "archetypes."

Single Ply Clear: Single ply clear heads resonate the most, giving a full, bright, sound with a lot of overtones. The Remo Clear Ambassador, the Aquarian Classic Clear, and the Evans G1 are all examples of single ply clear heads. These work great for drumset toms.

Single Ply Coated: These are single ply heads that possess a fairly rough, white, coating on their top side. The coating cuts down on the overtones, adds punch to the attack, and gives the head more durability. The coating is also utilized by drumset players for brush playing on the snare drum. The Evans G1 Coated, the Aquarian Texture Coated head, and the Remo Coated Ambassador are all single ply coated heads. Most players use these heads for their snare drums and toms.

Two-Ply Clear: These drumheads are made up of two-plies, and have fewer overtones than the single ply heads. They are also more durable. The Aquarian Response 2, the Remo Emperor or Pinstripe, and the Evans G2 Clear are all two-ply heads. If you're looking for a darker, more controlled tom sound, these are the heads for you.

Two-Ply Coated: The coating adds more durability to the two-ply head, and is a good choice for harder hitters. It also cuts down on the overtones, focusing the low end to give a fat, punchy sound. These heads are great for toms and snare drums alike. The Aquarian Texture Coated Response 2, the Remo Coated Emperor and the Evans G2 Coated are all two-ply heads.