*wild idea #20*

Maybe you could go around the inner perimeter of the rim with a Dremel tool and grind it thinner?

I was thinking of doing something similiar to the head, but I think it might weaken the glue/crimp too much.

I had the same problem with an 1949 WFL tom that no matter how you measure it is 10 3/8" in diameter.

I ended up making a custom flesh hoop for it and mounting a calf head. I know this isn't for everyone but it's not that difficult and works beautifully.

Thats on the idea of what I meant by "tweak" it...LOL!

mastro snare, Mr ludwig 2 told me some super cool stories about working in the hide room, his last statement was he hated it, any who, where are you able to get the hide's and the flesh hoops?? and would you do some for me?? very cool stuff. mark

I betcha it stank in that room... the type where you go home and take a shower and still smell like it.

I've bought my flesh hoops from Jeff Stern at http://www.sterntanning.com/

The hoops are inexpensive and need to be sized to the drum. Rebeats and Jeff are for sure the best sources of quality heads, although not cheap. Rebeats is at http://www.rebeats.com/calf_heads.html

I am pretty much a bozo at all of this and have only tucked heads this last couple of years, but it wasn't hard and I'm more than happy with the results.

I'm in Hawaii and that would make it hard for me to help you. You need the head and the rim present to get it right. The head needs to fit both and there usually isn't a lot of leeway.

I bought cheap heads from these guys: http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-New-18-Dia-Natural-Calf-Skin-Heads-1st-Quality_W0QQitemZ250452599566QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a5023630e

and I'm using them on my floor toms and they are fine although they seem to vary more than say my kick which is an actual Slingerland calf head. But those heads sound really good and I'd buy them again.

The jury is still out on this supplier:

http://www.drumfactorydirect.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14_92_102_161

I bought a head from them and it was like paper in a spot and I haven't gotten around to phoning them for a replacement.

Also there's always several on eBay used if you do a "calf heads" search in "Musical Instruments".

My guess is that there are people in most major cities who could do this for you.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]A metalworker or machinist should be able to grind that hoop for about $20 or so[/COLOR]

I came up with an interesting soluton that seems to be holding up. Picked up a crappy head from the store to try it on and so far it works.

I took my trusty dremel and made 16 equidistant cuts through the hoop, each about +-1/16". This reduced the circumference enough (about 1 inch) to make it fit into the tight rim. Effectively reduced the diameter from 16.5" to 16.25". It tensions up well, now just to wait and see the long term effects are on the head. Since it's on the reso side it should be fine. Then I can replace the head with a quality one.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]Complementi, Ragazzo !Cool1[/COLOR]

I'm speakless ...

Great idea, but wouldn't have believed, that it will work, unless you said it does ...

(hope this is correct English/American!).

Ralf