Drummer John Tokarczyk of PepperDome, in the midst of rehearsing for the band’s upcoming tour in 2010, took some time to chat about his Yamaha Oak Custom kit (complemented by a Gretsch snare). We bugged him just a little bit more to find out why he uses Evans Heads on his oak kit and why. He first noted that he tunes the resonant head slightly higher than the batter.

Tell me, in general, what makes a good drum head for you. What do you look for in a head?

It basically comes down to the final sound the drum makes. I look for something that tunes well and will last a long time. If you have to constantly change heads that will get pricey fast. It’s not like buying a set of guitar strings.

How do the Evans Heads you use conform to these criteria?

In the grand outlook, I really do not have to change the heads very often, or tune very often. They create the right sound that I like to hear with the music I play.

Are the Evans Heads qualitatively better than other comparably priced heads or is it a subjective choice for you as a drummer?

Overall I feel Evans makes a similar product for the [same price as] their competitors. I feel the head choice is more based on the drummer -- what kind of drums they have, and what kind of sound they are looking for.

Are these heads durable? Do they take a licking better than other heads?

Yes they are. They do not seem to dent as quickly as others I have used. They tend to wear down fairly evenly which I suspect helps them stay in tune longer, as I have mentioned.

Do they sound better / different from other heads you have used?

For my application, music style, and the drums I use, I have found they sound the best.

Types of Evans heads Tokarczyk uses: