Next thing to do for this set is to have custom tucked calf heads of proper head weight ( gauge ) tucked onto skin wire rims. Leedy2 ~ you are the MAN for this job...I would not trust anyone else ! Head tucking is a lost art, even the preparation & selection of calf shins has faded into obscurity since the crafts men of the Chicago rawhide heads industry faded after plastic heads came into dominance. To my knowledge...Sonor drums still makes excellent calf heads for all sizes ! But I want a genuine vintage timbale sound from theses particular shells...not same as original Leedys but acceptable to me. These heads...mounted on skin wires in these sizes...will fit my Rogers...Slingerlands and other timbales in same size drums. Perfect combination ! A drummers dream ! Plastic heads are...plastic and come in various types for various kinds of drums they have their important role & place in drumming but never has plastic sounded or felt like skins. An old school trick for keeping the skins stable in room conditions where humidity changes effect the head tunings, is 2 things : First...have a simple & quick key rod tunning system, turned from the top like any logical drum !Second : small electric light bulbs provide enough heat to keep the heads from absorbing humidity that soften the head & makes them get lower toned as humidity gets worse & playing the skins knocks them out of tune. These light bulbs ~ like night light bulbs also provide a cool effect through the translucent heads & glowing out of the bottom. Just use a proper wiring install & an in line on/off switch...possibly w/ a dimmer to adjust the light & heat of the bulb. I have used simple Velcro & elastic ribbons to mount bulbs in drums where i like them to be positioned yet are quickly removed w/o making a lot of noise on stages. Same effect is cool in Bass drums or entire drum sets. This idea goes back to the 1920s and was common w/ drummers. Some vintage kits still have the old cloth insulated covered wires & old fixtures in them ! Have FUN ! Feed back ?
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