Just wondering why you would never use "Earthtones" again? I put one on my 18" kick and it sounds fantastic, but I never used calf.
I would use them if given the choice of plastic or them, and I don't doubt that your kick does sound fantastic.
Here's why I'll never buy them again:
- having used calf, I think it's much, much better sounding... that's why historically drummers used calf over goat
- wooden flesh hoops don't add a nasty harmonic like the aluminum does
- I don't like the way they are mounted... the Earthtones all developed severely steep collars. I don't like high pitched drums generally, and I don't tension my snare tight, but the collar on my Supra stretched so much that now the rim only sticks up maybe 1/8":
[IMG]http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp231/kaaawa2000/head.jpg[/IMG]
And there's no way of re-tucking the head to make it right, I just re-tucked a head that's probably from the 50's and the collar's like new
- after talking to Earthtone I don't think they've tested or used their products, they were 100% clueless about what a slunk head was, and even the function of a snare bottom head. They are a middle man for the heads which are made in Brazil.
- I can put together a new snare head out of calf that I can re-tuck years from now for $25 or buy another Earthtone that will be useless in a year for near double
- with calf and wood hoops, when a large head, like a kick breaks you can cut it up and make smaller heads from the broken head
- you can buy 48" cow hides and cover your whole kit from the same piece - how cool is that?
- calf has a better sound with the tip of the stick - goat is thumpy