Earthtone calf skin heads.

[AveyTare]

hello

does anybody used them? does anybody used any real calf skin heads? are there any other brands making genuine skin drum heads worth mentioning? i believe Stern Tanning is currently out of business.

and how do they sound when compared to normal heads?

cheers

[wooltonboy]

hello

does anybody used them? does anybody used any real calf skin heads? are there any other brands making genuine skin drum heads worth mentioning? i believe Stern Tanning is currently out of business.

and how do they sound when compared to normal heads?

cheers


The only thing I remember about Earthtone is a Modern Drummer review from a few years ago, in which the reviewer was floored by them.
He said they made the toms so deep and round sounding that it was like a different drum kit. He just loved the big/rich sound that they gave. Plus, they're crimped into a standard type hoop, not like the old style calf heads.
Funny really, that so many drummers (particularly playing classic rock) are searching for this sound, and yet hardly anyone knows about Earthtone.
I'd love to try them, but I imagine they're expensive?
Phil

[AveyTare]

no, they're not THAT expensive they're a bit more expensive than normal heads, but the difference isn't enormous.

[Big_Philly]

sounds good! But I doubt they're available in the Netherlands...

[Cymbalrider]

The price differences on their website were at least double that of normal heads. I think I'll stay with Renaisssance and such. I would love to try one one day though. I always wondered if there is another material for making drumheads out of other than mylar with would resemble calf skin more. Remo Fiberskyns really sort of sound like paper more than a skin of any kind. I've got them all over my kit and while they have a great tone, they really don't have an attack at all and are sort of muffling. I think the Diplomat versions are better but nobody stocks them. I'm going to try Renaissance next.

[ludwigvondrumcrazy]

Unless something changed in the last year & a half, Earthtone's aren't Calfskin, they're Goatskin. That's why their logo depicts a Goat with an attitude that is missing a section of skin off it's hind quarter.......

I thought the Earthtone's sounded good on my 6-ply Ludwig's but went back to "plastic" due to all the time I spent re-tuning due to changes in humidity. They claim to have a coating that keeps them in tune but I didn't see it. One thing I will say, it helped me futher develop my Tuning ability keeping them in tune from day to day, depending on the weather, but this got old after a couple of weeks........

LVDC

[pasta]

Anyone tried the Aquarian Vintage heads?

[Michael G]

Aquarian Vintage heads?

If you want the best tone from a plastic head, you either go with that.

Or you go with Remo Diplomats.

Earthtone heads are nice but the constant tuning and hefty price tag warrants a "not worth it" review from me

[gmrakich]

I had a kit that had them on the toms....sounded pretty nice, but noy $ X 3 better...and you can't use them to record....they sound different from one song to the next and retuning to do punch ins is a drag.

[Cymbalrider]

I had an Aquarian Modern Vintage head once. I can't find them for sale anymore. They are too expensive for what it was. It was basially a coated head with an extra thick layer of coating on it. What's this about Diplomats? I don't even see those offered anymore. Fiberskyns are great heads to look into. They are my favorite now. They offer a big range of sounds and a very high durability.

[Michael G]

What's this about Diplomats?

Yes they are still offered, if I buy online I usually buy from interstatemusic.com. The only thing is they don't have Diplomat bass drum heads.

Diplomats, in short, are what ambassadors should sound like. Diplomats on both sides of the drum really will bring out the tone. I took my ambassadors off my Ludwigs and switches both heads with Diplomats, night and day! The only thing is, these will are not as durable as ambassadors, so they definitely not the choice of head for hard hitting players.

I think they smoke all other Remo heads in terms of tone, well from the ones I have heard, I have yet to listen to the Renaissance type heads though. But they will always be good as reso heads.