Unlike acoustic drum kits, many electronic drum kits contain mesh heads instead of drum heads.
Playing on mesh heads has a number of advantages that we will explain in this blog. We'll delve deeper into what mesh heads are, why they're popular, and why they're a good choice for drummers looking for an electronic drum kit.
What are mesh heads?
Mesh heads are synthetic drum heads made from woven material, usually polyester or nylon. They are used on electronic drum kits instead of traditional (rubber) drum pads.
Mesh heads are used to protect it feeling of an acoustic drum set and to trigger the sound of hitting the pad. When a drummer hits a mesh head, the hit is registered by a sensor that converts the hit into an electronic signal that is then sent to the drum kit module.
The first mesh heads came onto the market in 1997 during the introduction of the first Roland TD-10. Manufacturers Roland and Remo (drum head manufacturer) introduced this new type of pad during a collaboration that offered the same look and feel as an acoustic drum head. Nowadays, mesh heads have evolved and become much more advanced.
Why are mesh heads popular?
Realistic playing feel
There are several reasons why mesh heads are popular with drummers. First, they offer a more realistic playing feel than the rubber pads that were often used on electronic drum kits in the past.
In addition, they are more resilient and responsive, giving drummers the feeling of hitting a real drum head. This is especially important for drummers who are used to playing acoustic drum kits.
Response
The diameter of most pads is approximately 10 inches. This means that they are smaller than most acoustic drum heads and therefore easier to position. The feel is identical for all pads, whether they represent a 10-inch tom or an 18-inch floor tom. This gives you the same response for all toms; something that is impossible with an acoustic set.
Noise level
Another advantage is that mesh heads are significant quieter are more environmentally friendly than rubber drum pads. They produce less noise for the environment, making them perfect for situations where you prefer to keep the noise level low.
Sustainability
Finally, mesh heads more sustainable then rubber pads. Rubber pads need to be replaced sooner due to wear and damage from playing, while mesh heads last longer. After frequent playing on a rubber drum pad, wear and tear may become clearly visible or the sensitivity may decrease after a long time.
Price
The disadvantage of an electronic drum kit with mesh heads is that they often... slightly more pricey are. However, an electronic drum kit with mesh heads does not have to be expensive. Examples of this are the Alesis Nitro Max Kit, Millenium MPS-450 or the Millenium MPS-150X E-Drum Mesh Set.
Some kits are equipped with just a mesh head snare pad, such as the Yamaha DTX6K-X E-Drum Set or the Roland TD-02KV V-Drums Kit. Because the snare is generally the most used pad, this provides a much more pleasant and realistic playing feeling.
💡 Tip: Want to know right away which kit suits you? Find out in less than 40 seconds with the selection aid .
Conclusion
Mesh heads offer a number of advantages: they are quieter to the environment, offer a more realistic playing feel and last longer.
If you want to get serious about drumming, it is definitely recommended to buy a drum set with mesh heads. If you just want to orientate yourself or play drums that suit you, an electronic drum kit with rubber pads will suffice. Most drum sets can easily be expanded with mesh heads or upgrade rubber pads with mesh heads.
You can read more tips about buying an electronic drum set here.
