Drum Heads

[Campjacksonboy]

I did a search but didn't find anything that answers my question. Sorry if I missed an earlier post.

My drum needs a make over. It's been years since my boy poked that stick right through the batter head. Now the snare head is getting ragged.
(Could use new ropes now that I think of it)
Years ago I went to cooperman then Wunderlich but he never answers my e-mails. Is there anyone else that sells replacement heads at a reasonable price?
Frank Aufmuth

[verg]

Re: Drum Heads

Maybe Leo Brennen?

[dedogtent]

Re: Drum Heads

I did a search but didn't find anything that answers my question. Sorry if I missed an earlier post.

My drum needs a make over. It's been years since my boy poked that stick right through the batter head. Now the snare head is getting ragged.
(Could use new ropes now that I think of it)
Years ago I went to cooperman then Wunderlich but he never answers my e-mails. Is there anyone else that sells replacement heads at a reasonable price?
Frank Aufmuth

Frank, I asked about drum repair on another forum and received a nice reply which I won't post here but, this gentleman really seemed like he knew his stuff. We are going to give him a call. His name is John E. Shultz and here is his email address:

Home Email: johnnyz1234@hotmail.com

I hope this helps.

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: Drum Heads

You might end up paying half the cost of a new drum if you go through one of the big rope drum makers. I suggest DIY

http://www.mid-east.com/items.asp?Cc=Calf&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc=

For the batter head of a snare drum, I recommend what mid-east calls "thin" calfskin. "Thin" goatskin will work for the snare side. You can use the medium thickness for bass drums, but the "thick" ones are extremely hard to tuck.

You want the skin to be 4" bigger than the diameter of a drum. So for a 16" drum you need a 20" skin. The closest size mideast sells is 22" for about $20.

I have found the Pakistani skins to be just as playable as the fancy American skins. But since the tannery that supplied skin heads burned down last month, the American skins might be hard to come by. And for $100+ the European orchestral heads just don't make sense for a field drum.

[joewhitney]

Re: Drum Heads

I wouldn't write off Stern Tanning yet. Jeff Stern hopes to reopen his tanning business as quickly as his insurance policy payment will let him. As for those Paki heads, they always had a funny smell to them (sure they're calf?)

Joe Whitney
2nd SC String Band
Md Line Field Music

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: Drum Heads

BOSTON DRUM MANUFACTORY, NO 81 CORNHILL, BOSTON.

"Also, constantly on hand and for sale; single, by the doz. or in hundreds, a large assortment of DRUM HEADS, Extra fine and clear, and common Calf-skins, Goat-skins, and Sheep-skins."

I think the Paki skins are closer to what they had in the 1860's. Many of them are clear, like the ones mentioned above by Elias Howe's company. The whiter Pakis are more yellowish.

Modern treated calfskin goes through a process that makes them almost uniformly white, including running them through a thicknesser:

"Stern Tanning Co., Inc. has acquired the process and equipment formerly utilized by UNITED RAWHIDE of Chicago. We have modernized and improved on the traditional techniques and equipment in order to offer the highest grade premium calf heads. We guarantee uniform thickness and a quality finish (precision machine sanded and buffed) that rivals the finest heads."

The Paki heads do smell bad though.

[joewhitney]

Re: Drum Heads

Well that explains the funky heads that came with my Boston Drum Manufactory snare. Sure didn't look like calf to me.

Joe Whitney
2nd SC String Band
Md Line Field Music