I am literally in the same boat. I have some calf that I use, but I would like another alternative. I have also not been overly impressed with the fiberskyns.

I will hover over this one for some insight, too. Thanks for creating the thread.

I had a set of Renaissance emperor heads on a Ludwig kit's toms for a bit, trying something different from the fyberskyns I was using before then. The advertising at the time swore they were closer to calf than anything they made before. They sounded more like regular coated emperors to my ears. In the end I thought the fyberskyns were closer to actual calf sound and feel.

Funny thing is, in recent times I've tried the "vintage ambassador" heads and found them closer in sound and feel to calf than the fyberskyns were! Maybe its just me, but I swear they were closer to the real thing.

:2Cents:

Oh, and for the record, I've been a proponent of Aquarian heads over the years, but I never found their "vintage" series heads to sound anything like calfskin. They sounded the same as their regular texture coated series to my ears, which sounds almost the same as a Remo ambassador. (The regular single ply, not the vintage a) So I understand where you are coming from with those.

I currently use Remo Renaissance as reso heads and Remo Skyntone as batters on the Leedy set below. I find that the Skyntones have a warmer overall tone and more calf like stick attack than Fiberskins. I don't care for the Renaissance heads as batters at all. They were created for the tympany and sound that way to me. The Leedys are 3 ply maple/poplar/maple shells.

I use the new standard Aquarian coated with their Classic Clear reso on the Slingerland set. They have a really nice, thick calf like tone and stick attack that I'm sure is helped by the 3 ply mahogany/poplar/mahogany shells. It's the ideal Slingerland sound I've always heard in my head!

So, I went to my local Sam Ash and believe it or not, they had some Renaissance heads I was able to scope out. To add what you guys have mentioned...they didn't seem that they'd be very warm or calf-like in sound. They were almost transparent looking...but might make some good reso heads, though.

I was also able to check out a Skyntone head, and it did seem like a good alternative to calf. I bought the 14" they had, so I'm gonna try it out on my snare.

I agree that the Aquarian Vintage heads don't sound or act like calf at all, which is why I don't care for them.

As for the Remo Vintage Ambassador heads...I love 'em! I have a set on my 2006 Ludwig Classic Maple kit with clear Ambassador resos, which makes for the best combo of heads I've tried on that kit.

I think I'm gonna try the Skyntones as battes and Renaissance heads as resos on my '49 Leedy kit. I'm thinking that might be the winning combo. Thanks for the replies, Fellas!

i like the skyntone heads as well.

i have used renaissance heads in the past, and i liked them, but they aren't all that calf-like - except for the snare side head. it actually is pretty close to using a calf snare side.

all that said, i really do like the renaissance as bass drum heads. i wish remo would do the skyntone in bass drum sizes.

I've never heard it said that Aquarian Vintage heads were supposed to be calf-like. I should think they're supposed to emulate old coated Ambassadors, and for that, they suite me just fine. I use the Modern Vintage, not the American Vintage. Not sure of the difference between the two. The most calf-like head I've used is the Powerstroke 3 Fibreskyn. I won't use real calf unless they're already on a drum. A pitfall of being Vegan?

Stephen

Hey Orangemi,

Can you tell me what time period Leedy (Slingerland) made maple 3-ply shells or was it the natural maple shell finish kits that also had a maple inner ply? There is a 60's Leedy kit with the same finish as yours at my local Guitar Center, although it's been drilled for aftermarket tom mounts. DOH

After reading this post, I'm wondering if it is also maple. It appears to be mid-sixties...one of the last years for a Leedy kit.

I may have to give the Skyntone another try. I've never played calf, so there's noting to compare it to...but I did like the feel.

I have a 13 Taye I've souped up and it has the Earthtone skin head (what is it, goat?)... I like the feel of it, and it has a pretty Motown sound to it. Really, the snare sounds great. It may be just the additional thickness that helps the sound.

But the Skyntone sounds like it might be a good choice for snares and toms. Does it also come in various plies?? Back when I bought mine, I was into very thin heads...

Uh...maybe I should just check Remo's site!

Hmmmm

Skyntones only come in single 8-mil ply but seem thicker and definitely have a warm tone to them. I'm going to order a 13" and 16" for my Leedy kit, but need to offload some Aquarian American Vintage heads first. Just posted 4 of them up for sale.

Here is the link if anyone is interested: http://vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?p=209395#post209395