I've been using Aquarian American Vintage heads on my Gretsch Round Badge toms for years. They fit the slightly larger shells perfectly but more importantly, they sound and feel amazing and are very warm. Good luck!

Ditto. I use the medium coated Aquarian American Vintage heads all around including the snare side. Supposed to replicate the sound of calfskin

Ditto. I use the medium American Vintage heads all around, including the snare side.

I use Remo Coated Ambassador, but I usually tune them in the high register because I mostly play Jazz. If you have struggle to fit the regular ones, the "Classic Fit" models will work great.

After reading quite a bit I think this is how I'm leaning right now. American Vintage Med for the batter heads and the Thins for the reso's. Going down from the Vintage Emperors, I don't think I can go all the way down to the Thins and I usually like a thickness imbalance between my reso and batter. I am new to Gretsch's though, I assume they react to the difference similarly to most other drums.

These are the RB Gretsch (besides two snares not pictured) I own. (Since 1975 and 76)

I did own a Yellow (Gold) Satin Flame set but sold that around year 2000.

So. The 16x16 Red Glass I converted to use as Bass drum. Coated Ambassador batter Fiberskyn resonant. the 8x12 Red Glass (1968 hex head drum) Fiberskyn batter. Coated Ambassador resonant. the Red Wine Pearl (1966 set round head screws) 8x12 Fiberskyn coated ambassador resonant. 14x14 Fiberskyn batter. Clear resonant. The 14x 20 bass (is the worst offender) Fiberskyn 3 batter. Clear Pinstripe resonant.

Snares, 12s, 14s, 16s, aren't tight fitting. 20" bass drums (pearl covered) are possibly the worst. Stock heads will not go on BUT believe it or not "tune" anyway. Once hoops Ts and rods are on; I don't see/think it (tight head) makes much difference.

I don't carry the 20" bass out often. I use the 16" 12" (red Glass) and 14" (Red Wine pearl) a lot.

I also own- bought new- old stock still sitting in the Gretsch warehouse- direct from them thru a dealer in 2010:

14 x 18, 9 X 10, 10 X 12. and 12 X 14 Satin Rosewood Gunmetal Broadkaster 6 Ply.

Head fitting not an issue (still on all stock heads) on them.

I have never bought oversize heads for any of my RB drums. I have the 16" mini set (with the 20" bass option I never use) and the 18" Broadkaster 6P set. I have from my RB over the years, 1-12 1-14 and 1-20" original Round Badge head(s). in my stock of heads. If "I cared" about that 20 and needed to use it I might go for some oversized say Aquarian vintage. But haven't had to and it sounds thunderous enough

I don't have oversize drums but do have two Gretsch snare drums. I have been using the Aquarian American Vintage medium weight batter heads on all my drum set drums. Instead of a thin American Vintage resonant head on the tom toms, I use regular Remo Diplomat snare side heads and no muffling at all, wide open. I have found this combination to work very well for every style of music except for maybe really loud rock and roll. I recommend you give it a try and see what you think about the sound. I came up with this idea when I was a kid and my father got me an old Ludwig 10" by 14" marching snare drum that I used as a jazz tom. I was too poor to buy new heads and liked the sound so later on I tried a snare side head on my 14" floor tom and I have been using them for 40 years. Good luck.

I have Remo coated Classic Fit. Sounds fantastic on my red glass Progressive Jazz kit.

That is one fine looking Progressive Jazzer!