Remo Silentstroke Review: The Ultimate Solution for Quiet Practice?
Are you looking for a way to practice your acoustic drum kit without having the police called on you? If you live in an apartment, have close neighbors, or just need to keep the volume down at home, you’ve probably heard of mesh drum heads.
In this review and accompanying video, we are taking an in-depth look at the Remo Silentstroke series. I currently have these set up on my teaching kit in 10, 12, and 14-inch tom sizes, along with a 20-inch bass drum head.
I have used these for years for teaching and personal practice. Below, I’ll break down the good, the bad, and the essential maintenance tips you need to know before you buy them.
What Are Remo Silentstroke Heads?
Remo Silentstrokes are single-ply mesh heads designed to replace your standard acoustic drum skins. Remo claims they offer a "real feel" while being significantly quieter than traditional heads.
The main goal of these heads is to transform your loud acoustic kit into a near-silent practice setup that still resembles a real drum set.
The Reality: Volume vs. Feel
Do they live up to the marketing hype? Yes and no.
The Volume (The Good News): Remo states these heads are 70% quieter than regular heads. I absolutely agree with this claim. If your primary goal is the quietest practice possible, these will not let you down. They are incredibly quiet, making them perfect for apartment living or late-night sessions.
The "Real Feel" (The Honest Truth): Remo claims these offer a "real feel." I have to disagree slightly. When playing these, it doesn't feel exactly like a traditional acoustic drum kit; it feels more like playing a high-quality electronic Roland V-drum kit or high end yamaha electric.. Nobody has truly nailed a low-volume head that feels exactly like acoustic mylar, but these are pretty close.
Tuning Mesh Heads for Tone vs. Feel
A major advantage of Silentstrokes over standard rubber practice pads is that they are tensionable. You can tune your toms and snare.
You generally have two options when setting them up:
Tuned High: You can get quite a lot of tone out of the heads.
Tuned Low: This is my preference. Keeping the tension lower makes them feel a bit more like a traditional, slacker drum kit. I would pick the feel over the sound any day when practicing.
Check the video above to hear a demo comparing high tuning versus low tuning on these heads.
Durability and Essential Maintenance Tips
I’ve had this low-volume setup for about five or six years. The current tom heads shown in the video are about three months old, but my bass drum head has lasted nearly two years. ( More about that in a moment )
They are very durable and well worth the money, but only if you treat them right. Because they are essentially fiber woven on top of fiber and they have an Achilles heel…..
Critical Tip #1: Use Dedicated Sticks
You must get a fresh pair of drumsticks and assign them only to this kit.
If you use old sticks with chipped tips on anything sharp (like a cymbal edge) and then play the mesh heads, that sharp wood will snag and split one of the mesh threads.
Once a thread is broken, it acts like a crack in a cymbal—it will spread rapidly until a large hole appears. Your stick tips will get caught in the hole, and the head is ruined. If you use intact, smooth sticks, they will last a very long time.
Critical Tip #2: The Bass Drum Hack
The bass drum head requires extra protection right out of the box. A standard felt or plastic beater will wear through the mesh threads very quickly—I’ve seen beaters go through brand new mesh heads in two weeks.
The Solution: You need a patch where the beater makes contact. I make my own by cutting a square out of an old, discarded regular drum skin and gluing it directly onto the mesh head where the beater hits. This DIY patch has stayed on my kick drum for two years and completely solved the wear issue.
Final Verdict: Are They Worth It?
If you are looking for the absolute quietest way to practice on a full-size kit, the Remo Silentstrokes are a fantastic investment.
They are slightly more expensive than standard heads, and perhaps pricier than generic mesh brands, but their longevity (when cared for properly) makes them worth the cost. They work great for my teaching setup and my own low-volume practice needs.
Where to Buy: If you want to quiet down your kit, you can purchase Remo Silentstroke heads through the affiliate links below. (Purchasing through these links helps support the channel and website at no extra cost to you!)
Cheaper (but still good) Tama Set 1 Tama Set 2
Have you tried these heads? Let me know your thoughts in the comments on the video, and don't forget to subscribe for more gear reviews and lessons.
