Ever since I first heard a kick drum with an EMAD drum head on it, I knew I had to have one on my kit. That was a requirement for me. It took until about 2 months ago, but the the first layer of ply (from the 2 ply head) actually busted. While that layer of ply was busted, I continued playing with it but could hear the crackles of the broken ply so I cut off the entire broken layer only leaving the second layer of ply as if it was an EMAD1. I must say, the sound is just as good.