Evans Expands Afro-Cuban Line

After years of careful development, Evans drumheads has announced that bongo and timbale heads have joined the Evans Tri-Center Conga head in Evans Afro-Cuban drumhead line, which will be on display at Summer NAMM at booth 2001, 2111 and 2109.

The new heads have already made a splash in the Afro-Cuban music world, and have been eagerly taken up by such Afro-Cuban greats as Jesus Diaz, Johnny Blas and Johnny Almendra. The timbale and Tri-Center bongo heads follow Evans groundbreaking Tri-Center Conga heads, which are now used by legendary congeros Giovanni Hidalgo, Doc Gibbs and Richie Flores, and are made using similar processes.

The Tri-Center bongo heads are laser-cut for precision, and employ the same Tri-Center Dot technology as the conga heads, which helps eliminate unwanted overtones and enhances fundamental. The heads sound remarkably similar to natural skin heads, respond in clean pitches, project well in the highest and lowest frequencies and feel good to the hands. The timbale heads have a non-coated etched texture that retains the attack and sustain of a clear head, but still has the warmth and depth of a coated head. Evans Afro-Cuban heads breathe like natural skin, with none of the problems associated with skin. They can be played in any weather, or under hot stage lights without needing constant readjustments.

"We came out with the Tri-Center conga heads about two years ago, and surprised a lot of people," remarks Evans Brand Manager Michael Robinson. "When Giovanni Hidalgo started using them, it opened even more eyes. Now, with the new timbale and Tri-Center bongo heads, the line is even deeper, and theres more to come. Everyone whos tried them so far has told us the same thing: This is exactly what weve been looking for."