With the help of the Blue Devils percussion staff, Evans created the new Hybrid-S Marching Snare Batter and the System Blue Marching Tenor Heads with Sound Shaping Technology.

Based on the Hybrid batter series design, the new Evans Hybrid-S (Hybrid-Soft) Marching Snare Batter features two unique fibers that, when blended together, deliver a soft and sensitive feel with a warm, full, and tonally rich sound with superior snare response -- exactly what one of the world’s top marching ensembles, ahem the Blue Devils, would want. Soft but still durable, the Hybrid-S has a softer feel that works for younger hands, along with wider response that makes smaller lines sound big. The Hybrid-S ($90 to $95) is available for a significantly lower price than the original hybrid.

Designed in cooperation with the Blue Devils percussion staff, the System Blue tenor head (shown below) is a 2-ply design with 7mil top-ply and 7.5mil bottom. According to Evans, this combination delivers tonal clarity and projection while also increasing durability and pitch stability, reducing the need for frequent tuning. The series also uses Evans’ Sound Shaping Technology, a damping technique that targets unwanted overtones and provides the control needed to enhance attack, projection, and note definition. The damping pattern on each head also provides a visual reference for the optimal "playing zone" for each drum, offering a target for less experienced lines.

About the new releases, Jim Bailey, the Evans Educations Manager, comments, "Pairing up with the Blue Devils and countless other top marching corps has allowed us unrestricted resources when designing new marching heads. The Hybrid-S Snare Batter Heads and System Blue Tenor heads have been corps tested and player approved, and we’re thrilled about what these new heads are going to do for drum corps and marching bands worldwide."

The Evans Hybrid-S Marching Snare Batter heads list for $90 to $95 (MSRP), whereas the Evans System Blue Tenor Heads are $26 to $34 (MSRP). Both are available now. For more information on Evans Drumheads, visit evansdrumheads.com.