How to Choose a Bass Reso Drumhead

There are a few different options when it comes to bass reso heads. But how to choose a bass resonant head really comes down to your desired sound and size. Knowing the size of your bass drum is important as not every bass reso head is available in every size, so it’s wise to start with that. Once you have your size, decide whether you’d like a mic port hold in your bass reso head. This allows you to put a drum mic inside the kick drum, which can be helpful for recording as well as live situations.

Once you’ve chosen a size, you’ll want to focus on the tone you’d like or, perhaps, the aesthetic you’re going for. Bass reso drumheads can make a visual statement. You can celebrate iconic artists like the Beatles or customize a bass drumhead to have your band’s name on it.

EVANS Bass Reso product pages have great explanations of what you can expect from each head. EMAD bass reso, for instance, offers an offset 4” microphone port in a single ply of 10mil film, plus a foam dampening ring around its edge. EQ3 Coated also have a 4” mic hole and are coated for extra warmth, plus enhanced pitch, focus, and attack. You can even get the classic warm, full, and rich tone of synthetic animal hide with Calftone.

So to sum it up, choose your size, choose your style and sound, and let your bass tone resonate!