Evans EC Resonant Drum Heads
JULY 2008 RHYTHM 103
B
ack in 1956, Evans was the fi rst
company to create synthetic
drumheads. Over fi ve decades later
the company continues to be a
highly distinctive brand with a reputation for
innovation. Since their introduction in 2005,
the company’s EC1 and EC2 batter heads have
won many plaudits, to the extent that Evans
has now decided to fi t Edge Control rings to a
new range of resonant heads.
Build
The theory behind the Edge Control ring is
that it dampens the head without choking it.
This is, of course, something that all the other
makers of heads think that they have cracked
too. Evans points out that where other
manufacturers’ heads feature damping rings
that are fi xed all the way into the hoop, the
Edge Control ring is placed a centimetre in
from the glue ring, thus allowing the head to
continue vibrating all the way to the hoop.
Evans claims that the design means that that
edge vibration is controlled rather than
eliminated, leading to a more centered pitch
and a ‘desirable mid-range frequency bump’.
attain in equal measures. EC Resonants have
been designed to add focus to the sound and,
when paired with appropriate batter heads,
the results are certainly impressive. In a
controlled environment such as a studio they
could be particularly useful.
Verdict
The Edge Control ring from Evans is a clever
piece of design that pretty much fulfi ls the
manufacturer’s claims. Employing it on
resonant as well as batter heads was, I
suppose, inevitable, but at the same time it
seems a fairly bold decision.
With the head already being 10 mil thick,
the added effect that the Edge Control ring
brings makes for quite a dense-sounding
head. In the right setting, there is no question
that the Edge Control Resonant heads work
extremely well, bringing extended depth
and warmth to drums. While they are ideal
for creating a big, fat tom sound, they do
need to be combined with sympathetic
batter heads.
Rating ✪✪✪✪✪
EVANS EC RESONANT HEADS
From £14.95 New EC Resonants from Evans bring its Edge Control technology to the heads
on the other side. Adam Jones tunes in
THE EDGE CONTROL RING
runs a centimetre in from the glue
ring, allowing the head to vibrate
all the way to the hoop
PRICES
6" £14.95
8" £15.50
10" £15.95
12" £16.95
13" £17.95
14" £18.50
15" £19.50
16" £20.95
18" £25.95
HEAD
CONSTRUCTION
Single-ply 10 mil-thick
fi lm
IN-BUILT
DAMPING?
Edge Control ring
CONTACT
Summerfi eld Music
1 Vance Court
Blaydon on Tyne
NE21 5NH
Telephone
0191 414 9000
Website
evansdrumheads.com
ESSENTIAL SPEC
EC Resonants are only available as clear heads
and are constructed from a single 10 mil layer
of fi lm. Glued to the bottom of the head (that
is the side that faces in towards the drum) is
the Edge Control ring. It is 12.5mm wide but is
ventilated into two 4.5mm-wide strips for the
majority of its circumference, meeting at four
points for its full width. The ring has a brushed
silvery fi nish that makes it resemble a strip of
metal. Evans won’t say what it’s actually made
of – only that it is defi nitely
not
metal.
Hands On
I tested the EC Resonants on a variety of
drums. They infl uenced the sound across the
board in varying degrees and in certain
situations really excelled. I found them most
effective on naturally warm drums fi tted with
slightly drier-sounding batter heads. In these
circumstances, the EC Resonants made quite a
difference, noticeably fattening up the drums
without stifl ing their resonance or tone. On
brighter-sounding, thinner-headed drums the
EC Resonants didn’t have such a decisive
effect, as brightness and fatness, while not
being mutually exclusive, are not easy to
RHY152.gear_evans 103 15/5/08 1:05:40 pm