If you’re looking for a new set of tom heads, you may be drawn to Evans’ popular line of Hydraulic heads. These things are loved by drummers all over the world, and they produce very specific tones.
In this review, we’ll elaborate on what those tones are, and we’ll explain which kind of drummers these heads will be good for.
These are batter heads, so they’re meant to be placed on the top side of all your toms. The pack comes with three of them, and the sizes are 10”, 12”, and 16”.
Each head has a 2-ply design, and there’s a layer of oil in between each ply, which is the biggest special feature of these heads.
They’re essentially designed to help your drums produce thick and heavy tones that are reminiscent of the drums in the 70s.
The Hydraulics are some of Evan’s most popular drumheads, so their quality is excellent. The tones they bring out of your drums are the biggest reason for drummers loving these.
They take away a lot of the sustain, leaving you with quick sounds that are packed with low-end.
They’re great in the fact that you don’t need to use much muffling when tuning, as they already take away a lot of the unwanted tones.
Each head in this pack has 2-ply construction, meaning there are two layers of film. However, there’s also a layer of oil in between that further decreases the sustain from your drums. It also helps in boosting the lower tones.
The pack that we’re looking at here is the glass color option, but you can also get black, red, and blue. The glass Hydraulics are basically just clear drumheads, but they have a slightly different name.
These heads perform extraordinarily well. They’re perfect for drummers who want tight tones from their toms. In modern music, tighter tom sounds have become more and more popular. They’re also great for styles like metal and hip-hop.
However, these aren’t the most versatile drumheads out there. You may be a drummer who loves your toms to sing out. These will cut the resonance short, which may lead to a bit of frustration when you try to tune your kit.
This tom pack is priced the same as most other tom packs from brands like Evans, Remo, and Aquarian. So, we wouldn’t say that it has fantastic value for the price. It’s priced competitively, but this is what you should always expect to pay for drumheads.
However, getting this pack as a single purchase is indeed cheaper than buying each drumhead individually. We suggest sticking with this if you want a full set of Hydraulic tom heads.
There are four color choices for the Hydraulic heads from Evans. These include glass, black, blue, and red. There are no sound differences between each color. They’re more just for aesthetic appeal.
It depends on the drummer that is playing them. If you’re someone who doesn’t play all that much, they’ll last years on your kit without wearing out.
If you play multiple gigs every week, they may only last a few months. It also depends on how hard you hit and how you tune them.
We think the Evans Hydraulic heads are a fantastic option for toms, especially for drummers who love tight sounds that are punchy and effective.
These just won’t be the heads for you if you’re a drummer that loves your toms to sing. They cut out a lot of the resonance, and that can often be a bad thing.
They’re very easy to tune, though, and the color options make them seriously appealing. That’s why we’d also say these are a great choice for beginner drummers looking for some new heads.
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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