Differences between Evans Genera HD and EC2 on snare?

sciomako

Silver Member
Hi,

I couldn't any discussions about this. And Evans doesn't provide any audio samples for EC2.

Evans Genera HD has a floating control ring.
Evans EC2 has an SST ring.

How different are they when used on snare? Which approach is "boxier"?

I think a similar question applies to Remo Pinstripe vs Remo Powerstroke 4.
 
I've seen many EC2's used on toms. I know people like them because of their shorter sustain and control (dryness?). The chart on their website shows this head has a darker tone.

I actually use the HD (plain - no vent holes) on my maple DW Collectors snare. Your snare composition will also influence the tone you get (maple, bubinga, steel, brass, etc.)
I was searching for a tone brighter than the HD Dry, but with SLIGHTLY more control than the ST. The HD fit right in with a nice bright tone and great control. Those vent holes make a big difference in tone and dryness. The material used for the HD heads has a bright resonance to it and is not overly dry like the HD Dry.

Drop a PM to our resident Evans Rep here - EvansSpecialist and ask him. He's very knowledgable and saved me wasting another drumhead purchase.
 
Two of my snares, and the snare I play at church have an EC Reverse Dot head that is one ply, not an EC2. I have been thinking about getting a Genera Dry batter head for my Mapex Saturn snare, which still has the coated Ambassador that came on it.

I do not know how they are different sonically, but I want to try something different with my best snare. Peace and goodwill.
 
I've seen many EC2's used on toms. I know people like them because of their shorter sustain and control (dryness?). The chart on their website shows this head has a darker tone.

I actually use the HD (plain - no vent holes) on my maple DW Collectors snare. Your snare composition will also influence the tone you get (maple, bubinga, steel, brass, etc.)
I was searching for a tone brighter than the HD Dry, but with SLIGHTLY more control than the ST. The HD fit right in with a nice bright tone and great control. Those vent holes make a big difference in tone and dryness. The material used for the HD heads has a bright resonance to it and is not overly dry like the HD Dry.

Drop a PM to our resident Evans Rep here - EvansSpecialist and ask him. He's very knowledgable and saved me wasting another drumhead purchase.

Thanks, BigDinSD.

Here is my situation: I have a Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kit placed in my garage for practice. Since the kit is for practice, what matters is the sound from my point of view behind the kit. The combination of a not-too-expensive birch snare and a small enclosed space make the snare ringing/overtones really prominent which in turn causes very ugly snare buzz whenever I'm not hitting dead centre.

At the moment, I managed to workaround it by putting a tom reso head (!) on the snare side. But it also makes the snare sound like "underwater" when I hit the centre. (I have G2 on the batter side atm.)

My current thinking is to try either HD or EC2 on the batter side and Hazy 500 on the snare side. I'm also thinking of replacing the 1.6mm hoop with 2.3mm.

Any other suggestion?

p.s. I'll pm EvansSpecialist. Thanks.
 
Here is a short YOUtube I did using said EC2 SST on my snare. I loved the sound. I have it cranked but you get the idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Txy-MzSWwU&feature=g-upl

I also tried a hazy 500 on the snare and took it off. It was too dead. Obviously not very sensitive, but if are going to really pound on it and don't choke your snares it may be OK
 
Here is a short YOUtube I did using said EC2 SST on my snare. I loved the sound. I have it cranked but you get the idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Txy-...&feature=g-upl

Sounds really good to me. Very balanced.

I also tried a hazy 500 on the snare and took it off. It was too dead. Obviously not very sensitive, but if are going to really pound on it and don't choke your snares it may be OK

"Dead", that's what I need in my tiny garage! It won't be deader than the "incorrect" 7.5mil head I have at the moment on the snare side! :)
 
Thanks, BigDinSD.

Here is my situation: I have a Yamaha Stage Custom Birch kit placed in my garage for practice. Since the kit is for practice, what matters is the sound from my point of view behind the kit. The combination of a not-too-expensive birch snare and a small enclosed space make the snare ringing/overtones really prominent which in turn causes very ugly snare buzz whenever I'm not hitting dead centre.

At the moment, I managed to workaround it by putting a tom reso head (!) on the snare side. But it also makes the snare sound like "underwater" when I hit the centre. (I have G2 on the batter side atm.)

My current thinking is to try either HD or EC2 on the batter side and Hazy 500 on the snare side. I'm also thinking of replacing the 1.6mm hoop with 2.3mm.

Any other suggestion?

p.s. I'll pm EvansSpecialist. Thanks.

So some ringing and off center snare buzz?

Probably start with a drier head with more control. Possibly HD Dry, HD, ST Dry for batters. Heck, that EC2 SST sounded pretty good from GRUNTERSDAD.
If you trash one of your drumheads, make a remo/studio ring and try that. Works magic sometimes, but will be pretty dry.

I have experienced that ugly off center snare buzz. By going with a drier head and tight snare head tuning I managed to get rid of it. I think much of that nasty off center snare buzz comes for the excess ringing. Though others may tell you to loosen the reso head, tuning (snare + batter) is also a large part of the ringing and buzz. I myself use the Hazy 300's for all my reso heads. I think if you dry things out, the buzzin should diminish.

I'm not sure what impact the 2.3 rims will have, but perhaps go with the heads first. I've gone with die cast (batter and reso side) hoops on my DW Collectors maple along with the HD it just gives that sweet, sharp, bright - controlled crack. But those are not cheap.
 
I have experienced that ugly off center snare buzz. By going with a drier head and tight snare head tuning I managed to get rid of it. I think much of that nasty off center snare buzz comes for the excess ringing.

That's what I think too.

Though others may tell you to loosen the reso head, tuning (snare + batter) is also a large part of the ringing and buzz.

I've spent 2 weeks trying many many different combinations of tuning -- loose top, tight bottom, loose bottom tight top, loose 4 lugs around the snare bed, de-tuning some lugs, etc ,etc. Nothing of them works so far.

I'm pretty sure if I use this Yamaha SC Birch snare in a bigger venue, it won't be an issue. The excessive resonance I have only must be caused by my tiny garage...
 
After a drier head is considered, next take a look at the snare wires. Make sure none are bent against the reso head and they are perfectly aligned when tightened. I had snare wire end-plates hovering over the bearing edge that caused a buzz.

BTW, I'm one of those that mega cranks the batter, reso AND snare wire tightness.
JBC (Just Before Choking).
 
After a drier head is considered, next take a look at the snare wires. Make sure none are bent against the reso head and they are perfectly aligned when tightened. I had snare wire end-plates hovering over the bearing edge that caused a buzz.

BTW, I'm one of those that mega cranks the batter, reso AND snare wire tightness.
JBC (Just Before Choking).

Thanks, BigDinSD.........................
 
Based on the experience you described, I'd recommend going with the Genera HD or HDD, not the EC2S. The EC2S will have a "boxier" sound on snare drum, where as the the HD or HDD will be a bit tighter, crisper.

@BigDinSD- Thanks for pointing @sciomako in my direction!
 
Based on the experience you described, I'd recommend going with the Genera HD or HDD, not the EC2S. The EC2S will have a "boxier" sound on snare drum, where as the the HD or HDD will be a bit tighter, crisper.

@BigDinSD- Thanks for pointing @sciomako in my direction!

Thanks! I'll give them a try.
 
Based on the experience you described, I'd recommend going with the Genera HD or HDD, not the EC2S. The EC2S will have a "boxier" sound on snare drum, where as the the HD or HDD will be a bit tighter, crisper.

@BigDinSD- Thanks for pointing @sciomako in my direction!

You're welcome Ben - and thanks again for all your help. I've also ordered the HD for my 13x6.5 Artwood snare.
 
I didn't care for my Stage Custom Birch snare, for the same reasons, until I put an HD Dry head on it. Now it sounds just right. YMMV
 
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