Remo vs Evans Drum Heads (We Find Out Which Brand Is Best)

• In this battle of the drum heads, we pit Remo vs Evans against each other
• We dive into what makes them sound and feel different
• We help you decide which drum head is best for your playing style.

---

Of all the drum head companies fighting for our business today, it could be argued that Remo and Evans are the two titans, with Aquarian coming in a close third. It’s very unlikely that a beginner drummer will notice the differences between the two giants, as they have products that are very closely related and are in direct competition with one another.

For example:

• The Evans G1 coated heads and the Remo Ambassador coated heads are both single-ply 10mil heads.
• The Evans G2 coated heads and the Remo Emperor coated heads are both 2-ply 7mil heads.

It may be an exercise in futility to attempt to quantify the differences between these two cutting-edge companies, much like trying to explain the differences between Coke and Pepsi to someone who has never had either one.

So when it comes to Remo vs Evans, knowing these subtle differences between Evans heads and Remo heads of the same size, thickness, and intended use, could help you make a choice. So here goes:

Remo vs Evans Drum Heads (Which Is Best?)

Although the differences are subtle, Evans heads sound thicker with a more controlled sustain, while Remo heads have a bit more sustain and an open sound. Evans focuses on new technology to incrementally increase the quality of its products, while Remo (the first company to produce Mylar heads) focuses more on tradition and a classic sound.

As a touring musician, I play on backline kits most of the time. When you open the snare case, you never know what you’re going to find inside or what head is going to be on it. I tune it the best I can and then leave it to the sound crew to make it sound good in the house. Then I just play the gig.

In this situation, there is never enough time to analyze the finer qualities of a particular drum head. So for this article, I will not only be sharing my own experiences, but I will also be turning to other pro drummers who I know personally.

I will also be turning to the forums and YouTube to see if I can get a general consensus on why drummers prefer one brand over another.

	Sound	Feel	Durability	Opinions
Evans	More Attack	More Relaxed	More Durable	Plasticky
Remo	More Sustain	More Responsive	More Classic	Bouncy

The Sound

Certain words keep coming up in drummer forums when trying to explain how something sounds. Warm, open, controlled, heavy, punchy, and the list goes on and on.

I have a friend who worked in a music store for years and said that if he used the term “warm,” he was more likely to make a sale.

There are, however, a few words that I think will be helpful when describing how drum heads sound. The terms “attack” and “sustain” are far more helpful than “warm” or “open.”

If you compare the Evans G1 to the Remo Ambassador, The attack is different. Since the ply of the heads is virtually identical, the general consensus is that it has to do with how the coating is made and applied. On the Evans G1, you are more conscious of the attack. On the Remo Ambassador, you are more conscious of the sustain.

Keep in mind that these are differences that you have to learn how to listen to.

Wondering which drumsticks are best for beginners? Here’s our pick.

The Feel

There is also a difference in the feel of Remo vs Evans. And again, it may be in large part to the coating.

Remo heads seem to be a bit more responsive. But again, the difference is very subtle.

One drummer told me that Evans heads feel like they have already been broken in–like they have been played on for a few weeks.

Another drummer told me he could never get used to playing on Remo heads, and to him, they feel too bouncy.

It is plain to see that once a drummer gets used to a specific head, they usually stick with it for their entire career.

Durability

Evans has been very innovative when it comes to the manufacturing process. The Level 360 technology removes the need to “seat” the head. One Evans spokesperson said:

”Evans drum heads are now, honestly, the only drum heads on the market that fit your drums regardless of what you have”.

The Evans UV1 is a process of coating the drum heads so that it lasts much longer than any other coating on the market.

That said, most die-hard Remo enthusiasts would never give up the sound and feel they love so much just for a more durable or long-lasting head.

One pro drummer said:

“Once a Remo Ambassador snare drum head gets worn in a bit, well, that’s when it starts to feel and sound great. It starts to give you that classic sound of what a drum should sound like.”

Opinions of Others

When considering Remo vs Evans drum heads, It should seem obvious by now that the question isn’t which drum head is better.

But which drum head is better for you?

After reading countless forum threads from Reddit to DrummersWorld regarding Remo vs Evans drum heads, the opinions varied widely. Most of these opinions were directed at the brand and not used by the opinion giver.

Remo users say that Evans heads sound “plasticky.” Evans users say that Remo heads don’t sound modern. This is not surprising. Chevrolet owners criticize Ford. iPhone users criticize Android.

We all want to feel like our choices are the best.

So then I turned to YouTube videos that conduct “shootouts.”

Even after listening to several of these, I still conclude that the differences are minimal.

Why Choose One Over the Other?

So the question remains: why does a drummer choose one brand over the other?

Many drummers start playing on a particular brand of head and become loyal to that brand forever.

A gig without the presence of the Remo crown insignia logo on top and center of the snare is enough to send an avid Remo loyalist into a panic attack.

A beginning drummer may start out using a particular head because it is the choice of their idol.

When I was a boy, I asked a friend of mine why he used the black Steve Gadd signature drumsticks. After avoiding the question for a time, he eventually had to admit that it was because Steve Gadd’s signature was on them.

Some drummers use a Remo head on their snare but then use Evans heads on their toms.  Some drummers use one brand as a batter head and another brand as a resonant head. You are an artist. There are no rules.

Wrapping Up

If you are just starting out, your heads can make a big difference in your signature sound, even if you don’t know what that sound is yet.

Drum head choice is a huge factor when considering the genre of music you will be playing.

For a detailed look into the best heads for Rock, Jazz, and Metal, check out this great article: 7 Best Snare Drum Heads (For Rock, Jazz, Metal)

If you have idols, who play in your style or genre, look into what heads they are using. If you have a budget for it, try out different brands and see what feels right to you.

Even if you are just starting out, get some advice from drummers you trust, try out some different heads, and go with your gut feeling for now. You can always change later.

Don’t forget to check out our post on The 12 Best Drum Solos Of All Time