[COLOR="Indigo"]That is interesting, too...because, like g292...I have found Aquarians to be MORE than just unforgiving...I have stopped using them altogether on any drum pre-mid60's.
My experience has been that Aquarians (particularly the coateds... but really almost all of 'em) are actually the tightest-diameter heads out there...and there is absolutely ZERO play in those metal rings.
Matter of fact...quite honestly...sometimes even the American Vintage ones don't even come thru for me....even though they are marketed as such, I have had a number of old shells which they do not work on (and not because the shells were out-of-round, either).
Which is too bad, because I really like their heads...but I don't even try 'em any longer on my renovations.
Another good possibility, reputedly: Ludwig Coated heads. Their rings are more flexible than any other mfr's. and ther is some nice "play" in the fit...
The criticism of 'em would be that their coateds sound a bit flat. Not bad really, but not quite as alive as an ambassador or a nice Evans J1.
actually...J1's have a bit of play in 'em too, so I have used them successfully in tight situations also....and those are a GREAT line of heads, if one likes that old-school open, airy sound.
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