Do a search through the threads here using "calf" and "rob cook" and such. You'll come up with lots o' goodies. In the meantime, go to Rob's site, Rebeats, and shop away for pre mounted calf heads. They are Stern heads he sells ... along with a few other tanners.

For Starters....here is what they look like !

Drummy,

funny you should mention calf heads........

I was just thinking I wish there was a thread about calf!

More and more I am thinking of using them.....BUT.........I want n. mint ones,not all trashed out........so I might have to buy them brand new from Rob Cook.

And maybe not use calf all around.....maybe just on the top,so less tuning hassles..........

I am shipping a 1948 Radio King set off to New Zealand very soon,and I told the purchaser that I have heard from MANY people over the years that these drums sound best if outfitted with calf,so he is going to buy some heads from Rob,Rob is going to ship them to me,I put on the kit.........off they go.

Doesn't it make sense? We use wood shells for our drums>(most do,anyway),hit them with wood sticks,use metal for our cymbals,but then put plastic heads on our drums? Seems like you would want "natural" heads also,just like everything else you are using.......

I know for sure that using a calf head on the top of your snare drum sounds real good......I used to do that some years back........

Blair

I think Earthtones are goatskin..... not calf.

I was visiting their website last year, as the prices seemed very low for calf skin heads, and is doesn't specify what kind of skin they use....... just says skin.

So I called them and found out that they are goat.

Goatskin doesn't make it bad... just not period correct. It's a demand/supply thing. Calf is wanted for coats, furnature, all kinds of stuff. Goat isn't as big of a deal, and it's prolly easier to work with.

Earthtone has my approval as a viable product.

I've got an Earthtone/Gold Tone head on my snare right now. Kevin, you're right, they are goat skin. Unless they did calf at some point but I've never heard of that.

Thanks for the info, mcjnic. I'll check more into Rebeats. Good to hear I can buy them all pre-mounted and ready to go. I'd rather pay a bit more for mounted than deal with all that tucking business.

And I'm kinda of on the same page as you, Blair. I think I'll start with a snare batter for now, and if I'm happy with that I'll consider tom/kick batters, but probably not resonant heads. Don't have all that much time to spend tuning, but I can probably swing a snare top.

Just making it clear that the brand name Rusty posted is goat.

And, there are plenty of cows around to make all the heads we may need....goat is just a cheaper alternative.

Glad you like your goatskins, although I've been reading some negative reports of splitting and poor customer service.

Ask Mcjnic about the customer service thing.... there have been a few threads......:)

If the head says "mounted" then it's ready to go. If it is says "untucked" then it needs mounted on a wood hoop.

Like I've said a bunch of times, the Columbia calf heads are great, light years better than Earthtones. I'm using them on my snare and floor toms and theones they sold me aren't a joke, they don't suck... they are real, valid calf heads for peanuts, they cost much less than plastic.

Mounting the heads on wood hoops isn't difficult, the first one I did came out perfect. Listening to plastic heads, by contract, is for me very difficult. x-mas2

Okay, thanks. One more question then. If I get a mounted calf head, do I still need to wet the head to aid seating, or is that step no longer required?