The Evans EMAD is one of the most loved bass drumheads on the market. It has such a distinct sound that it is highly desirable for drummers who want a lot of punch from their kick drum.
Evans also offers an EMAD head for the resonant side of the bass drum, and you can get the two heads in a bundle.
We’ll review that bundle here to see if it’s worth the money. If you’re looking for a new set of bass drumheads, read on to find out if this option will suit you.
The biggest feature of the EMAD batter head is that you get switchable dampening rings to control the attack. With other bass drumheads, you need to tighten and loosen the lugs. With this one, you don’t need to alter the tuning to change how aggressive your kick drum sounds.
The resonant EMAD includes a port hole so that you can place a kick drum microphone through it. This allows you to get even more attack through your mix.
Both heads have single 10-mil plies, giving them the feeling of drumheads with more open tones. However, they’re designed to be highly durable.
The idea behind this bundle is that you can save money by buying them together. You’d spend closer to $100 if you purchased them separately.
The EMAD drumheads have been industry-standard options for several years, and it’s largely thanks to their high quality.
When thinking of the tones they produce, the batter head will offer a very punchy tone that will tighten the bass drum up.
If you want it to sound less punchy, you can remove the dampening ring that comes on it. If you want it to sound even punchier, you can add a thicker dampening ring.
The resonant head tightens the sound up even more, perfectly complementing the sound you get from the batter head. The port hole also dries the sound up slightly. It’s not drastic enough of a difference for drummers to be unhappy with it, though.
With that being said, some bass drums will still sound boomy with both these heads on. You could always place a pillow inside the shell to further cut down on that.
The batter EMAD head has brilliant construction quality. It’s highly durable, and it’s a drumhead that any drummer will be happy to take out on the road with them.
The design of the resonant head is a bit questionable, though. Firstly, the port hole is only 4”, which is a bit too small for certain microphones to fit through. If your mic is too big, you’ll need to consider cutting the hole to make it a bit bigger.
The other aspect of the port hole to mention is that it sits quite low to the ground if you keep the Evans logo straight. Most drummers would prefer it to be higher, so you have to rotate the drumhead to get it there.
As you do that, the Evans logo sits at an angle, which isn’t ideal for drummers who like all their logos to be straight.
However, that isn’t enough for us not to suggest the resonant head. It work’s brilliantly, and you won’t have any issues if you don’t mind those factors we mentioned.
One important thing to mention about these EMAD heads is that they make the bass drum feel quite tight. That affects the performance when it comes to rebound from your bass drum beater.
If you’re used to playing heads that are loose, it may be quite an adjustment. If you typically put a lot of muffing inside your bass drum shell, then you’ll feel right at home here.
There aren’t many drummers that don’t love how the EMAD feels, though. Since it’s a single-ply head, you get the same feeling as a single-ply head. However, you get the benefit of dampening, which is typically what you get from double-ply heads.
The price-to-value of this package deal is a big selling point. If you were to purchase each drumhead separately, you’d be paying over $100. When buying this bundle, you’re paying much less than that.
So, it’s the perfect option for drummers who are looking to replace both their front and back bass drumheads.
However, the EMAD drumheads are still fairly expensive compared to other bass drumheads out there. If you’re happy using a more affordable drumhead, the package deal here may not be that attractive to you.
The Evans EMAD drumheads are brilliant drumheads for recording. The tight and punchy bass drum sound is often utilized in studio settings, and these heads allow you to get that naturally before bringing the kick drum to the EQ. That makes your bass drum easier to work with.
Also, all bass drums should have a port hole when working in a studio setting, and the built-in port hole with the EMAD reso head is ideal.
These heads also work wonderfully in live gig settings. If you want that tight kick drum sound that people will feel in their chests, the EMADs will do the trick.
However, you’ll need to consider different heads if you want a rounder sound with more resonance.
Overall, the Evans EMAD Bass Drum System is a solid option for drummers looking for new bass drumheads. If you already love the EMAD batter head, you’ll love the resonant head that comes with this bundle.
If you want a more open and resonating tone, this bundle may not be the best option, as the built-in dampening makes it difficult to achieve that open tone.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
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