Drumheads (the plastic membranes stretched over each drum shell) have a bigger effect on a kit's tone than many buyers expect, and they are also a wear part - which matters when evaluating a used drum kit, since the heads it comes with may not represent the shells' full potential.
Single-ply vs. double-ply
- Single-ply heads are a single film layer, producing more sustain, resonance and a brighter tone, but are less durable under hard playing - generally favored for jazz, lighter styles and studio recording.
- Double-ply heads use two thinner layers, giving more attack, a deeper tone, reduced overtones and shorter sustain, plus significantly more durability - the common choice for rock, metal and generally harder-hitting playing.
Coated vs. clear
- Coated heads have a textured coating that warms and slightly dampens the tone, and this texture is essential for brush playing on a snare - a clear head cannot produce a proper brush sound.
- Clear heads give a brighter attack and fuller sustain across the frequency range, letting the shell's natural character come through more, commonly favored for rock-oriented tones.
What this means when buying used
Worn, dented or overly stretched heads are inexpensive and easy to replace, so don't let poor-condition stock heads on an otherwise good used kit put you off - but do factor a full set of replacement heads into your budget, and understand that a kit's tone when you hear it played used may change substantially once heads matching your own playing style are fitted.
