Drumhead Guide & Comparison

Table 1: Drumhead Guide
Classic Rock Hard Rock
SNARE DRUMS
Batter Head = Hi-Energy
A patented head designed for exceptional durability, toughness and a powerful sound.
Resonant Head = Classic Clear Snare Side
Our most resonant and popular snare side drumhead.
TOM TOMS
Batter Head = Performance II
Designed for "loose" tuning and a deep, punchy sound with very little "after-ring". Lot's of depth!
Resonant Head = Classic Clear
Our most popular bottom tom tom head.
BASS DRUMS
Batter Head = Super Kick II
A Patented two ply head with a focused, forceful sound and floating muffling ring. Very durable when used with AQUARIAN'S Kick Pads.
Resonant Head = Regulator with small hole
Our most popular patented audience side head. No muffling needed with this popular combination of heads.
SNARE DRUMS
Batter Head = Hi-Energy or Texture Coated with Power Dot™
Resonant Head = Classic Clear Snare Side Head
Our most resonant and popular snare side drumhead.
TOM TOMS
Batter Head = Response II
A two ply head that "snaps" with attack and cuts through. Can be tuned tight, medium or loose.
Resonant Head = Classic Clear
Our most popular bottom tom tom head.
BASS DRUMS
Batter Head = Force I
A single ply head with special "vented" muffling ring. A very loud, powerful and punchy sound that really projects. Patent Pending.
Resonant Head = Force II
A single ply head with special "vented" muffling ring. May be used with or without a hole. Available in Black or White. Our most aggressive combination. Patent pending.
Pop/Mainstream Jazz
SNARE DRUMS
Batter Head = Texture Coated with Power Dot™ underneath or Texture Coated Response II is also a favorite.
Resonant Head = Classic Clear Snare Side
Our most popular snare side drumhead.
TOM TOMS
Batter Head = Double Thin
A thinner, more responsive two ply head for moderately hard playing. A very versatile, warm sounding head.
Resonant Head = Classic Clear
Our most popular bottom tom tom head.
BASS DRUMS
Batter Head = Force I
A single ply head with special "vented" Muffling ring. A very loud, powerful and punchy sound that really projects. Patent pending.
Resonant Head = Force II
A single ply head with special "vented" muffling ring. May be used with or without a hole. Available in Black or White. Our most aggressive combination. Patent pending.
SNARE DRUMS
Batter Head = Modern Vintage or Jack DeJohnette
A warm sounding head very much like calf skin. Great for brushes and sticks. Jack DeJohnette's head is excellent for jazz and fusion with a defined and full attack.
Resonant Head = Classic Clear Snare Side
Our most popular snare side drumhead.
TOM TOMS
Batter Head = Modern Vintage or Jack DeJohnette
Both heads are full, responsive and articulate. Vintage heads are a little mellow. DeJohnette heads have more attack.
Resonant Head = Classic Clear
Our most popular bottom tom tom head.
BASS DRUMS
Batter Head = Modern Vintage with Felt Strip
A felt strip mounted on the head for that great traditional sound. Can be used on both batter and audience side. Jack DeJonette drumheads can be used for that open jazz sound.
Resonant = Modern Vintage for an open more contemporary sound. Jack DeJohnette for a wide-open sound.
Table 2: Comparison Chart
Aquarian Remo Evans
Aquarian's Satin Finish outlasts all other coatings and will not "chip" off. A great traditional single ply coated head.
Coated Ambassador G1 Coated
These two ply heads snap with great attack and a full sound. They can be tuned tight or loose. The coated version has a "dry" and powerfull sound on the snare drum and toms.
Pinstripe/Emporer Clear or Coated G2 Coated/Clear
A special two ply marching tom tom head available in White or Black.
Emperor Smooth White/Marching Pinstripe None
This drumhead is sealed around the edge to create that really deep sound on tom toms. The Performance II is designed to be tuned loose for depth and punch with little over-ring.
None None
A great clear single ply drumhead. Perfect for the tops or bottoms of tom toms.
Clear Ambassador G1 Clear
These single ply heads are available in smooth white or black. Recommended for the bottom of tom toms.
Ebony Series/Smooth White Resonant Black
This clear single ply head features AQUARIAN'S patented Power Dot on top.
CS Black Dot Power Center for Snare Drums
A patented specialty snare head that features our unique Power Dot material for hard playing.
None None
A single ply coated snare head that features our Power Dot.
Coated Ambassador with Black Dot underneath Power Center Reverse Dot
Specialty snare head that features our unique Power Dot material for second line drumming.
None None
A very sensitive snare side head.
Ambassador Snare Side Genera Snare Side
A very sensitive snare side head that features a special laminate material on either side of the head by the snare beds.
None None
This series has the look, sound and feel of calfskin drumheads.
Renaissance None
These single ply heads are available in clear, coated, and Power Dot versions. All versions feature a light weight muffle ring adhered to the underside of the head.
None None
This is a thin, single ply head that is great for the resonant side of tom toms.
Diplomat Coated/Clear Resonant Glass
The patented Super-Kick heads feature a narrow muffle ring that is adhered to the backside of the head.
None None
The patented Impact heads feature a wide muffle ring that is adhered to the backside of the head.
None None
Regulator is a front bass drumhead that features a small floating muffle ring in the center of the head. Perfect companions for our Super-Kick and Impact series bass drumheads.
None None
The ported series front bass drumheads are available with a small hole off center or a large hole in the center.
Ambassador with 10" Hole None
Jack DeJohnette and Carmine Appice heads comprise the signature line.
None None
The Force I batter bass heads feature an acoustically vented muffling ring that is tucked into the hoop on the backside of the head.
Powerstroke 3 EQ1
These resonant side bass drumheads feature the same vented muffle ring and are available in Video Gloss Black or White. They come with a Port-Hole that gives drummers the option to place the hole where they choose.
Powerstroke 3 Ebony EQ1 Resonant Black
A marching bass drumhead that features our unique "Floating Muffling System". This head is available in Video Gloss White or Black with or without Power Dot. Features Aquarian's new Power-Play™ film.
None MX Bass
A traditional marching bass drumhead that features our new Power-Play™ film. Available in Video Gloss White or Black.
Ambassador Smooth White None
A special two ply marching head that features our new Power-Play™ film. Available in White or Black.
Powerstroke 77 None
A durable, yet sensitive marching snare side head.
SA Series Clear None
The Chieftain is a marching drumhead that is made of a special lamination of Kevlar® and Aquarian's new Power-Play™ film. Available in White or Black.
Falams K-Series Neutral With Dot None
A snare side Kelvar® head for marching snare drums.
Falams K-Series Snare Side MX Snare Side
A patented single ply marching tom tom head that features our Power Dot material and new Power-Play™ drumhead film.
None None
Table 3: Sound Characteristics
Sound Characteristics
SINGLE PLY MEDIUM WEIGHT DRUMHEADS
  • Clear single ply heads have an open sustained tone with a bright attack. There are full frequencies from top to bottom.
  • Coated single ply heads are slightly dryer with a focused attack. They sound warmer than single ply clear heads.
SINGLE PLY THIN WEIGHT DRUMHEADS
  • Clear single ply thin weight heads have an open sustained tone with a brighter response. They produce more high frequencies.
  • Coated single ply thin weight heads are slightly dryer with a bright, focused attack. They sound warmer than the thin clear.
TWO PLY DRUMHEADS
  • Two ply drumheads have a deeper tone, moderate sustain and a punchy attack. Low frequencies are more predominant than in single ply heads.
  • Coated two ply drumheads are more focused and produce a warmer sound.
  • Two ply heads that are glued at the perimeter bring out the lower frequencies from the head. They eliminate the high frequencies and overtones.
MUFFLING
  • Muffling of any type, whether designed into the head or attached to the top surface, is more effective when place near the edge where the higher frequencies are.
Drumhead Guide | Drumhead Comparison