Many drumheads are made with a specific niche in mind. They could be made for extreme durability, sensitivity, darkness, brightness, or even a certain style of music. But what if you want drumheads that will sound good in as many situations as possible? In that case, you’ll need versatility – heads thin enough to sing on most drums, thick enough to handle most volumes, with a broad tuning range, and that sit towards the middle of the tonal spectrum.
We previously discussed versatile snare heads and bass drum heads, but now we’ll get into tom heads. We picked 7 models we like best for all-around drumming. Again, these may not be the ideal picks for some specific tasks, but they do most things well. They’re the kind of heads that can get the job done almost anywhere – from a low-volume coffee shop gig to a fully-mic’d stage show. Using the information here, you should have an easier time picking the model that’s best for you.
On with the list! These are the 7 best tom heads for all-around drumming.
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Evans Clear G12
Specs:
1-ply, 12-mil
No coating
The Evans Clear G12 is the only non-coated 12-mil single-ply head available from a major manufacturer. All other options are either coated or made up of two plies. We’ll discuss the coated versions next, but the clear design has its own benefits. The lack of coating will give you a cleaner tone and added projection. Whether you want the extra brightness of a clear head is a personal preference.
The thickness of the G12 is what makes it so versatile, striking a balance between standard 10-mil single-ply heads and standard 14-mil 2-ply heads. You get a little bit of everything with a 12-mil head, which is what versatility is all about. Compared to most 2-ply heads, the G12 isn’t as durable, but it’s more sensitive. Compared to most single-ply heads, the G12 isn’t as sensitive, but it’s more durable. 12-mil heads also split the difference in tone between the two standards thicknesses.
As we mentioned, the clear version of a G12 will have a cleaner and brighter tone, along with more projection than the coated versions. Those differences aren’t big, but should be considered. The clear version also has more surface durability, simply because coated heads show more wear.
In Short
Evans Clear G12 heads could be a good choice if you want a clean tone and usually play at moderate volumes. 12-mil heads can hold up to loud drumming, but they’ll perform better if the majority of your playing is more balanced. These heads tend to work very well on smaller-sized toms, since they don’t have a second ply to restrict vibration. The Clear G12 has a medium tuning range, a good amount of resonance, and good sensitivity for softer playing.
See Evans Clear G12
Remo Coated Ambassador X
Evans Coated G12
Specs:
1-ply, 12-mil
Coated surface
Combining a 12-mil single-ply base with a coated surface, the Remo Ambassador X and Evans Coated G12 are two of the most versatile drumheads you can buy. These heads have a good mix of sensitivity, tone, and durability, making them a good fit for many types of drums. Players who like the pointed attack of a single-ply head, but want some added warmth, usually get good results with these heads. Like the clear G12 above, coated 12-mil heads strike a nice middle ground of both sound and performance.
The Ambassador X and Coated G12 are even included in our Most Versatile Snare Heads, demonstrating how well-rounded we consider 12-mil coated heads to be. They work equally well on snare drums and toms. It’s common for players to buy these heads for their snare drums first. After liking the heads in that context, they outfit their toms with the same models. The end result for those players is a uniform sound, look, and feel.
Differences
There are differences between the Remo Ambassador X and the Evans Coated G12. They have the same basic specs and a similar sound, but subtle distinctions differentiate them. If you prefer a slightly brighter tone, a livelier resonance, and a bit more articulation, the Remo Ambassador X would probably be the better choice. If you would rather have a warmer tone and purer resonance, the Evans Coated G12 would likely be better for you. None of those characteristics are necessarily better or worse – it just depends on your personal tastes.
In Short
Overall, either of these coated 12-mil heads can work on just about any drum for all but the loudest of players. They do much of what the Evans Clear G12 does, but with a warmer tone. Like the Clear G12, these coated models are especially effective on smaller tom sizes. They also have a good deal of sensitivity for lower volumes, along with a fairly long sustain. Having two brands to pick from with this design is another plus.
See Evans Coated G12
Remo Coated Vintage Ambassador
Specs:
2-ply, 7.5-mil + 3-mil
Coated surface
The Remo Coated Vintage Ambassador is the first 2-ply head on this list, but it’s not your typical 2-ply design. Usually, 2-ply heads are made of 2 equal halves. The Vintage Ambassador is made up of a 7.5-mil ply and a 3-mil ply. This head essentially combines a Coated Diplomat and a super-thin snare-side Hazy Ambassador. That may sound like a weird idea, but the results create one of Remo’s most versatile heads.
As you might imagine, the Vintage Ambassador shares similarities with both single-ply heads and double-ply heads. In terms of sensitivity, it’s more in line with a single-ply head. It’s not quite a sensitive as any of the single-ply 12-mil heads we’ve discussed so far, but it’s certainly more sensitive than your average 2-ply drumhead. Due to the 10.5-mil total thickness, it’s perhaps the most sensitive 2-ply head on the market.
The 2-ply design also creates a warmer tone and less sustain than single-ply heads. As is the case with all 2-ply heads, the plies counteract each other slightly when the head vibrates. On the Vintage Ambassador, the plies are so thin that the effect is subtle, but it does impact the sound. When compared directly to the coated 12-mil single-ply heads above, the Vintage Ambassador has a slightly warmer tone and a softer feel.
In Short
The Remo Vintage Ambassador would be a good choice for drummers who might normally play single-ply heads, but want a warmer tone and slightly less resonance. In both sensitivity and brightness, it falls in between the 3 previous heads on this list and the 3 upcoming heads on this list. Finally, while the 10.5-mil overall thickness gives this head its unique mix of sound and performance, it also makes it the least durable head we’ll discuss.
Remo Clear Emperor
Evans Clear G2
Aquarian Clear Response 2
Specs:
2-ply, 7-mil + 7-mil
No coating
2-ply 14-mil heads are among the most popular drumheads in the industry. The design has been around for decades, creating a solid reputation among drummers of all types. Although they’re the thickest heads on the list, they can be very versatile on the right drums. These heads have a durable design, a warm tone, and a lower tuning range. The lack of coating also creates that little bit of extra sustain to help the head breathe.
If you’re looking for versatility, standard 2-ply heads tend to perform better on larger diameters and higher-quality shells. These heads can sound a bit choked on small drums if the drum doesn’t have enough natural resonance. A 10″ tom on a student drum set, for example, will likely have a very short sustain with on of these heads installed. If that’s a sound you like, there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s something to be aware of. When you get around the 12″ diameter or so, toms tend to get a bit more forgiving. Mid-level kits and up usually have more built-in resonance on all sizes.
The styles you tend to play most should also be considered when deciding between thicker and thinner heads. We’re going after versatility here, so it’s assumed you’ll play a variety of styles and volumes. If most of your playing is in the medium to loud range, one of these 14-mil heads could be a good choice. You’ll get the extra durability that comes with thickness. While these heads are not ideal for soft volumes, they can still get the job done without sounding out of place.
Differences
There are small tonal differences between these standard clear 2-ply heads. A common way to compare them is in terms of brightness. The Remo Emperor is slightly brighter than the rest. It has a more vibrant attack and tone than the others. We consider the Evans G2 to be in the center of the three options. It has a more mellow tone than the Remo, but it’s a bit livelier than the Aquarian. Finally, the Aquarian Response 2 is the darkest option on this list. Its tone is simpler and controlled. These differences are subtle (and in some ways, subjective), but they may help you decided which one is best for you.
In Short
These clear 2-ply 14-mil heads could be a good choice for players who usually play in the medium to loud range, have semi-pro or higher drums, and like a lower tuning with less sustain. These thicker heads aren’t very sensitive, but they have extra durability. If a thicker head sounds good for you, the three brand options also allows you to choose a more specific sound.
See Evans Clear G2
Wrap-Up
Those are the models we think are the best tom heads for all-around drumming. They’re all high-quality heads and can all be versatile on the right drum set and player. Hopefully we provided enough information to help you know which one or two are the best options for you.
By Peter Treuden – About the Author