Choosing the Best Drumheads | Which One Works Best for Metal?
What’s up, drum fans! Welcome to another golden content by yours truly — the Drum Center of Portsmouth! Today, we’ll discuss one of the most important accessories for every drummer — drumheads.
Ah, I think we’d all agree that drumming isn’t only just a hobby. It’s an emotion, an experience, and an extraordinary feeling. I mean — it’s nice to pound your way through an incredible metal drum set to help work out those little frustrations and shake off some life problems, right? And it’s also nice that you’re able to do that without worrying if you might break the drumhead! Especially if you’re into the metal and rock genres, where hitting it fierce, fast, and frantic is the only way to deliver a thunderous performance.
Ah, when you’re hitting all the beats and everything clicks — drumming to rock and metal music definitely is an exhilarating feeling. But like what I’ve said, to achieve that, you need to have the right kind of kit, including the all-important drumhead. However, we live in a time where anything and everything seems to have endless options and variations. So how do you choose the perfect drumhead that fits your style and genre? What are some of the best choices for metal drumheads?
Stick around and I’ll make sure you’ll find out. Because here at DCP, we’ve always got you covered. So, are you ready? Here are the 7 Best Drumheads for Metal in 2024!
Essential Factors to Consider When Buying Metal Drum Heads
With so many options in the market, choosing the right metal drumhead can quickly translate into spending hours and hours of trawling through online reviews to find the perfect fit. But to tell you the truth — there is no “best” option. Why? It’s simple. The most suitable option depends on countless factors, which might differ entirely from the person standing next to you.
We all have our own tastes and style. So the “best” drumhead that perfectly works for you will mainly depend on those two factors. As well as the kind of music you play, your brand preference, and even the budget acceptable for you. See? A lot to consider for a drumhead, right?
But to make things a bit easier for you — we’ve prepared four (4) essential factors that you can consider when buying drumheads for metal. Check them out!
Think Sound
As a drummer, one of the most crucial vocabularies you’ll encounter are words like bright, warm, balanced, dry, and wet. These terms are associated with the sound that a drum delivers. And take note — if you’re checking out the market to buy some drumheads, you may want to take some time to understand them better. Especially for newbies out there!
To put it simply — just think of the overall tone being on a spectrum. Bright is often thought of as a higher pitch, while Warm is considered a darker tone with a lower pitch. Sitting right there in the middle of those two is called a Balanced tone which is, yes you've guessed it right, not too high and not too low. Dry is how we describe a drum that has very little ring or sustains, while Wet means there is more ringing or shell noise after being struck.
Remember — choosing the right sound can take some practice. You might not recognize them that easily and that’s okay! For novices, it may simply be a case of learning as you go, but with time, you'll easily be able to differentiate between different tones and begin to understand what kind of sound you like.
One-Ply vs Two-Ply
The number of plies offered by different models is also something you'll often encounter when it comes to purchasing a drumhead. Usually, you can choose between One-Ply , Two-Ply , or Three-Ply . Each option is accompanied by different sounds, overall benefits, and drawbacks.
One-Ply drumheads often come with a brighter sound than the other two models, with lesser attack and more sustain. The major downside of only having a single ply is that it usually compromises durability. After a heavy-hitting session, you might see more grooves and dents than you'd ideally like.
On the other hand, Two-Ply or Three-Ply drumheads come with much tougher skin, which increases durability and provides more attack and less sustain. You'll notice that with multi-ply models, the beat doesn't last as long as single-ply drumheads, which leads to some people claiming that the sound is more “dead” when compared to a one-ply drum. A bit harsh, I know. But there is certainly a difference and you’ll be able to notice it.
Coated or Clear
Another variable that can completely change the sound of a drumhead is whether it's Coated or Clear.
Coated essentially means that the drum has a thin lining that alters the overall sound. It delivers a damper, warmer tone with slightly less overtones. On snare drums, coated heads are much more popular than clear options, while on toms and bass drums, they generally give off a more mellow sound that works well if you want to mix the sound with other instruments.
On the other hand, Clear drumheads usually deliver a slightly brighter tone with more sustain and attack than coated options. They are generally the go-to option for louder situations, so if you're a dedicated metalhead, this might be the best option.
Tuning Is Everything
Well, with a lot going on in choosing the “best” drumhead for metal, it can be easy to get carried away with the specifics. And while it’s important that should consider these factors, how you tune them shouldn't be discounted. Never.
Let’s say that you bought a coated drum that reviews claim to deliver a warm, dark tone. Alright, that’s fine. But you should also understand that it’s not just limited to delivering only warm and dark tones. Because by simply changing the evenness of the tension across each lug, you can increase or decrease the sustain depending on how you’ve tuned the head. That right there is the importance of Tuning. It’s also why tuning can sometimes feel like an art form and can take years to master fully. But hey, it's worth all the effort!
By tightening each tension rod in a diagonal pattern and slowly moving around, you will immediately notice that you can tune the drumhead high or low, depending on your preference. While there is plenty of flexibility with tuning, you often can't simply make one drum sound like a completely different model. You can certainly push them in the right direction, but in the end, different models have very different sounds.
Top Drumheads | DCP’s Expert Picks
In this edition of DCP’s Expert Picks for the best Metal Drumheads, we’ve got to give the Remo Pinstripe Drumhead a huge vote. I mean, it’s definitely a favorite here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth for a reason when it comes to quality and durability! On the other hand, you also can’t go wrong with Evans. The EC2, Onyx, and UV2 Drumheads are all on the list and they won’t disappoint. All three are of top-notch quality and aligned to everyone’s affordability as well. Especially the UV2 which brings the meaning of the word “durability” for drumheads to whole new levels.
1. Aquarian Super 2 Drum Head
SPECIFICATIONS
*Coated batter head — excellent for toms
*A Safe-T-Loc hoop that prevents the head from slipping
*"Responsive Tuning" thanks to its Sound Curve collar
*2-ply, 7-mil, and 5-mil heads have a mellow and warm sound
*Sold individually so that you can choose your size
TOP SELLING POINTS
+An excellent mid and low-end sustain
+Balanced sound and great resonation
+Options for different warm or wet tones
DISADVANTAGES
-A more expensive option than most
-Slightly narrow tuning range
Number one on the list is the Aquarian Super 2 Drumhead which is dubbed to be the “New Kind of Two-Ply Head” by many. It is known to produce a great attack, projection, and depth that more advanced drummers and heavy hitters will love. It’s designed with a patented Safe-T-Loc Hoop which prevents the drumhead from slipping and a Sound Curve collar design to assist responsive tuning. So whatever genre you like to play, the Aquarian Super 2 Drumhead is here to save the day!
If you’re into producing warm and mellow tones, try the Aquarian Super 2 Drumhead. But if you’re aiming to deliver a wet attack on your performances, the Clear Aquarian Super 2 Drumhead is the one you’re looking for. Oh, and it also comes in two (2) ply variations — 5mm and 7mm.
2. Aquarian Performance 2 Drum Head
SPECIFICATIONS
*Two plies of 7mil film
*An outer control ring with sealed edges
*Aquarian's vacuum process eliminates air bubbles and wrinkles between the two plies
TOP SELLING POINTS
+Easy to tune
+Great for loud drumming
+A nicely controlled drumhead
+Suits a wide range of genres if you play for more than one band
it
DISADVANTAGES
-Can't be tuned for the bounciness
Coming up next is this beautiful Aquarian Performance 2 Drumhead that delivers a deep, fat tone reminiscent of the thick classic rock sound — perfect for a wide variety of styles and genres. That’s right, especially metal!
This drumhead is perfect for metalheads and also drummers who move between bands and genres. The Aquarian Performance 2 Drumhead is manufactured with the Aquarians Vacuum Process Technology, eliminating wrinkles and air bubbles in between two plies.
Oh, and these Performance 2 drumheads are designed for loose tuning to get that sought-after depth and punch with no over-ring. It’s also sealed around the edge to achieve that extremely deep sound on the tom-toms. Sweet!
3. Evans EC2 Drum Head
SPECIFICATIONS
*Two clear plies of 7mil film
*Control rings around the drumhead
*Sound Shaping Technology, which, according to Evans, delivers a more balanced and pre-EQ'd sound
TOP SELLING POINTS
+A bright, cutting attack, perfect for loud environments
+Great for live playing
+Excellent co
REASONS TO AVOID
-On the more expensive sides
Listed at number three is the Evans EC2 Drumhead which comes in clear, coated, or frosted variations. The Evans EC2s are known to be tuned up quickly and easily bringing out the optimal tone of your drums. It delivers a deep, mellow, and incredibly rich sound — making it one of the top options for drumheads because it has already proven itself in live performances time and time again. Yes, like metal!
The Evans EC2 Drumhead is manufactured using the Sound Shaping Technology featuring an edge-control ring underneath the two plies of 7mm film. This allows for easy control of vibration, dampening of higher overtones, enhancing the low end, and enabling a wider tuning range for your drums.
4. Evans Onyx Drum Head
SPECIFICATIONS
*Two plies, each of 7.5 mil
*Black coating
*Clear, frosted, or coated available
*A 5" offset microphone port
*Sizes range from 18" to 26"
TOP SELLING POINTS
+Great durability
+Perfect if you're looking for that ‘darker’ sound
+Tunable using the EMAD system
DISADVANTAGES
-The sound probably won't suit everyone
-Its sound can be a little restrictive
Taking the number four spot is the Evans Onyx Drumhead which if you ask me — stands out among the rest of the drumheads on this list in terms of appearance! That’s right, its frost coating gives the drumhead a stylish matte black appearance that’s truly eye-catching. Moreover, it also delivers a dark sound, increased attack, and low-end response — killing it both in style and performance!
The Evans Onyx Drumhead is incorporated with Evans Level 360 Technology, extending the level playing surface of the drumhead all 360° around the drum. This actually resolves the age-old dilemma of drummers consistently struggling to fit traditional synthetic drumheads into drums.
Oh, and the best part? This drumhead also has a Vertically Enhanced Collar Design which guarantees an even contact surface resulting in ease of tuning, extended pitch range, and optimum quality of sound. Now that’s phenomenal!
5. Evans UV2 Coated Drum Head
SPECIFICATIONS
*Extra-strong coating
*Two plies of 7mil film
*Available in sizes 8″ to 18″
TOP SELLING POINTS
+Very responsive to brushes
+Hugely versatile and will last longer than most
+Easily adaptable to different styles of music
DISADVANTAGES
-Not the brightest of sounds
-A decent but mid-grade attack
The number 5 spot is taken by the beautiful Evans UV2 Drumhead! Featuring the famous UV-Cured Coating Technology, this drumhead is absolutely perfect for drummers who play hard rock or metal!
This one’s a thunderous all-rounder capable of smashing out various sounds and tones — that’s right. You can go crazy and all-out with the Evans UV2 Drumhead! It’s extensively tested with some of the heaviest hitters in the industry. Therefore it’s extremely durable and at the same time able to deliver a great tone, especially for versatile snare drums or toms with a warm, full-packed attack. Simply put — if you’re not a fan of changing your drumheads too often, the Evans UV2 Drumhead is what you need!
6. Remo Clear Pinstripe Drum Head
SPECIFICATIONS
*Two plies of 7mil clear film
*A control ring
*Added dampening
TOP SELLING POINTS
+It holds up very well even under intense drumming
+Very focused sound and shorter sustain
+The control rings add some emphasis to the attack
+Excellent tone
+Easily tunable
DISADVANTAGES
-If you're using a transparent surface, it probably won't be responsive enough for brushes.
Sitting at number six is the Remo Pinstripe Drumhead sporting that classic rock-style drumming you’ll definitely love. Here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth, we’re actually huge fans of Remo drumheads. Drums sound like drums when you use Remo heads on ‘em. The way it should be!
So if you're looking for the perfect drumhead for metal, you can't go wrong with the Remo Pinstripe Drumhead. Although it was initially designed for jazz music, this drumhead has long been reigning supreme in the world of rock and metal. Dave Grohl himself even famously used them during his time with Nirvana. Cool, huh? That alone speaks volumes about the quality and reputation of the Remo Pinstripe Drumhead!
There’s even room for keys, a pencil slot, your wallet, and a mobile phone. And last but not least — plenty of room left over for your drumsticks!
7. Attack ToneRidge2 Clear Drum Head
SPECIFICATIONS
*A unique split-level design that helps to disperse some of the high frequencies
*Two plies of 7 mil
*A dark, punchy tone
TOP SELLING POINTS
+Attacks Dynaflex Polyester film adds outstanding durability
+Excellent value at the cheaper end of the spectrum
DISADVANTAGES
-A unique sound that might not be to all tastes
Finally, we’ve got the Attack ToneRidge2 Drumhead claiming the final spot! This one’s a great choice for heavy hitters out there who like a dark and punchy tone with excellent control. And yes, it’s definitely a favorite for drummers in metal, rock, pop, gospel, and county genres. Oh, and it’s also made with the popular Attacks Dynaflex Film and our U.S. Duracoat Coating — making it more durable and versatile!
Have you got a Metal Drumhead that caught your attention? Shop more options only here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth!
And there you have it! The 7 Best Drumheads of 2024 from huge companies like Attack, Remo, Evans, and Aquarian. All are available only here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth — the largest independently-owned drum store in the world!
Limitless possibilities await passionate drummers like you here at DCP. And although there have been so many options for drumheads, always remember to choose whatever your style, sound, and budget tells you to. That is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a drummer. But if you’re having a hard time, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly professionals! I assure you, that it will be our greatest pleasure to help you shop here at DCP.
Oh, and if you’re looking for more options on everything about the world of percussion — look no further because we’ve got ‘em all! We don't simply stock the latest and most popular models, our boutique collection is simply second to none. Whether you know exactly what you want or feel you need to browse, you can ask our dedicated staff every question under the sun.
Rock on, drummers. And see you soon here at the Drum Center of Portsmouth!
Check out more awesome instruments and accessories here at the largest independently-owned drum store in the world — DCP!
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