The Evans EMAD2 is one of the most loved bass drumheads in the music industry. It’s commonly used by drummers that play all styles, and it’s a solid choice for making your kick drum sound great.
Evans have dozens of bass drumheads available on their product lineup, so why is the EMAD2 so popular? We’re going to find out in this review.
We’ll talk about the good and the bad, and we’ll help you decide if this is a good option for your next bass drumhead purchase.
The EMAD2 is a heavy-duty bass drumhead. It has two plies of film, with the inner ply being 10 mils and the outer ply being 6.5 mils. The combination of these plies is what gives the drumhead its iconic sound.
The head also comes with two attachable foam rings. One of them provides a lot of dampening, while the other doesn’t provide as much and leads to a more open tone.
While this is primarily a bass drumhead, you get a 16-inch version that many drummers like to put on their floor toms. It gives a floor tom a very deep and punchy tone.
There’s also a coated option available that gives a slightly more controlled sound. However, the clear version is undoubtedly the most popular, and you can find it a lot easier.
The Evans EMAD2 has amazing quality. The sound it produces is highly sought after by drummers who like tight and punchy kick drums.
The attack is very strong, and the drumhead gives a sound that is almost like a natural EQ’d tone.
Some drummers argue that the attack is too “clicky”, so it’s not a drumhead you should get if you like your bass drum to sound open and resonant. However, attaching the lighter dampening ring will get you to a good middle ground.
One of the best things about the EMAD2 is that it will make cheaper bass drums sound good. You can put it on any entry-level drum set, and you’ll get an incredible tone from the kick. That tone wouldn’t be as good if you put a single-ply bass drumhead on.
The EMAD2 is built very well too. The design of having two replaceable dampening rings is genius, and it adds a lot more versatility to the head. That makes it suitable for a wider range of drummers and preferences.
Some drummers have stated that the EMAD2 doesn’t last very long, but that’s typically due to a few heads being sold with factory faults. It’s the same as drumsticks breaking very early after purchasing them. It’s just a bad luck thing, and it doesn’t mean that all the EMAD2 heads aren’t durable.
In fact, most EMAD2 heads are incredibly durable. They’ll last many years of heavy use. You just need to make sure that you attack a kick drum patch to the center of the head to expand its lifespan.
The EMAD2 head is very responsive. Since it’s a double-ply head, you’ll get plenty of rebound when you tighten it.
The sound will be very tight when you dig your kick beater into the head. It will be slightly more open if you let your kick beater rebound off of it.
It’s a fantastic head to play with, as it just feels so good when your bass drum beater connects.
However, you won’t enjoy playing it if you’re not a fan of the tight and processed sound. In that case, you’d prefer performing with a single-ply drumhead with a more open tone.
As kick drumheads stand, the Evans EMAD2 remains fairly competitive in its price. Bass drumheads are always the most expensive type of heads to get, so you’ll spend a good amount of money on this thing.
There are kick drumheads out there that cost up to $20 more, so we’d say that the Evans EMAD2 has a good price-to-value ratio. That’s especially true, considering that you get two interchangeable dampening rings.
If you have a kick drum from a cheap kit, spending money on the EMAD2 will drastically improve its quality. So, it’s a good purchase through and through.
The Evans EMAD2 is only good for studio recording if you’re wanting the sound it brings out of your kick drum. For rock and metal, it’s perfect. You get that clicky sound that is so popular in heavy music.
For other styles that need open bass drum tones, it won’t be your best option. Even if you remove the dampening rings completely, it will still take a lot of the body away from your bass drum.
The EMAD2 is an amazing option for live gigging. The tight and punchy sound is perfect for cutting through a band while still keeping the strong low end.
This drumhead will make a huge impact on stage, and that will be strengthened even more when it’s going through a live PA system.
Again, it’s only a good option if it suits the style. It won’t be the best pick for something like a jazz gig where the bass drum needs to be on the lighter side.
The Evans EMAD2 is a very strong contender in the bass drumhead world. If you play rock, pop, or metal, it’s a solid choice to go with.
It’s also a good pick if you don’t like tuning your bass drum to have resonating tones. It’s tight and controlled. It’s also very strong and punchy.
If you want a more open tone from your bass drum, you should consider getting something a bit thinner. There are a few other options in the Evans EMAD line that may suit you a lot better.
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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