If you’re the type of drummer who plays multiple genres, going from a loud rock show one night to a soft dinner gig the next, you might need a snare head that performs well in any situation. Even if you’re lucky enough to have multiple snare drums for different occasions, you may have a favorite drum you’d like to use at more of your shows. The key in any of these cases is a versatile snare drum head.
Of course, most drumheads can be used to play any genre, at any volume, on any type of drum. However, the majority of those heads are tailored to more specific use cases. Not so with the most versatile drumheads. These heads aren’t perfect in every situation (no drumhead is), but their well-rounded nature means they’ll get the job done in a wider variety of situations.
These heads are thin enough to hear subtleties at lower volumes, thick enough to handle more aggressive playing, have a wide tuning range, and work on all quality levels and types of drums.
A couple of notes
Something to keep in mind about the versatility of drumheads: it’s often wise to lean towards slightly thinner heads to keep your options open. It’s easy to add some external dampening to decrease the amount of sustain a drumhead has. On the other hand, it’s much more difficult to increase the amount of sustain a head has. We kept this in mind when choosing this list.
You can also check out a specialized site like DrumheadSelector.com if you want more specific and personalized drumhead options. The list below aligns with many of the heads on that site’s “All-Purpose Snare” section, but we’ll get into more detail here.
On with the list! These are the 6 most versatile snare drum heads for all-around drummers.
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Remo Coated Controlled Sound
Evans Coated Power Center
Both the Remo Controlled Sound and Evans Power Center have a 10-mil-thick base and dots adhered to the bottom side. The standard single-ply thickness provides a good deal of sensitivity, while the dot adds both durability and some resonance control.
Something particularly nice about using these heads is the amount of built-in resonance variability you’ll have. When playing on the dotted area of the head, the sound tends to be fairly dry. Between center and rim, the resonance increases significantly. That’s the case with most drumheads, but the effect is enhanced with dotted single-ply heads.
The Remo Controlled Sound and Evans Power Center could be good choices if you have a darker drum that you want to use for multiple styles. Drums with a mahogany, poplar, or basswood shell, or a vintage wood snare, for example, could be made more versatile with this type of drumhead.
See Remo Coated Controlled Sound
Remo Coated Ambassador X
Evans Coated G12
We hear at Drum Intel really like 12-mil single-ply heads. On snare drums, these heads are especially versatile, with a great blend of warmth and articulation. When installed on brighter drums, the 12-mil thickness takes the edge off the tone just enough, while not decreasing sensitivity to the extent of a double-ply head. On darker drums, 12-mil heads are thin enough to retain some articulation to your tone.
You also have lots of options when tuning 12-mil snare heads. They have, arguably, the widest tuning range of any snare head on the market. That alone increases versatility a lot. The sweet spot tends to be in the medium-low to medium-high pitch range, however. If you’re looking for very high or very low tunings, another head on this may perform better.
Many drummers who currently use this head previously used other industry standards. If you’ve generally played with a standard 10-mil Remo Ambassador or Evans G1, but would like some extra warmth, these 12-mil heads could be worth a try. The benefits of the extra thickness may outweigh the slight decrease in sensitivity. If you’ve generally played with standard two-ply heads and find yourself wanting more sensitivity, a 12-mil head could be a great option for you, as well.
Overall, Remo Controlled Sound and Evans Power Center snare heads could be great options for all but the loudest of players, on just about any snare type. If you want a safe choice with ultimate versatility in mind, these models should do the job.
See Evans Coated G12
Remo Coated Emperor
Evans Coated G2
Evans Coated UV2
The Coated Emperor, Coated G2, and Coated UV2 are the thickest heads on this list. They’re each made of 2 plies of 7-mil film (14-mil total thickness), and produce a classic sound that many players like.
In terms of versatility, we recommend these with one caveat – while 2-ply heads can be versatile on most drums, a second ply will diminish articulation. The plies subtly counteract each other while vibrating, darkening the tone and attack of the head.
If you often play low-volume shows that require precise articulation, like many traditional jazz gigs, it’s probably better to go with another head on this list. On the other hand, if those low-volume shows tend to consist of pocket grooves, one of these 2-ply heads should fit right in.
These heads tune lower and have more controlled resonance than any of the other heads on this list. Drums that are naturally bright, like drums with brass, steel, or acrylic shells, or drums with heavyweight components, could be made more versatile by using one of these 2-ply heads.
Finally, there are differences in sound and functionality between these models, despite the fact they’re the same thickness. The Remo Emperor is slightly more articulate than either of the Evans, but with less durable coating. Evans G2’s and UV2’s have a slightly rounder tone, with more durable coating. The UV2 coating, in particular, is extremely long-lasting.
See Evans Coated G2
See Evans Coated UV2
Wrap-Up
Those are our picks for the most versatile snare drum heads. Not all drumheads work well in a variety of drumming situations, but the heads on this list certainly do. That’s why they’re so popular. Hopefully, we helped you narrow down the options to a specific model that’s right for you!
By Peter Treuden – About the Author
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