Stern Tanning can make you a calf head to fit. It might be based on the existing flesh hoop, and they can make it a tad bigger if you ask. I know you wanted the convenience of a modern head. But you would get the authenticity of a period correct head instead. Not all bad.

Or...I haven't tried myself, but Remo claim to do it (although I've heard it takes many months)

http://www.remo.com/forum/post/view?bid=1&id=191059&tpg=1&ppg=1&sty=0&age=0#191059

Anybody else had luck getting special order head sizes out of Remo?

If you send Remo the calfskin head, they'll make a head that size for you. I highly recommend the Fibreskyn Power Stroke 3 for vintage drums from the late '50s on back. It's been my experience that calfskin heads are problematic for an actual playing drum. The special made Remo heads will be expensive, as they have to recalibrate their machines to the dimensions of the head, so if you can afford it, it's best order as many heads as you'd go through in a several-year period. They're honest too. I sent them some vintage bass drum heads that were weird sizes (I thought), and they told me a regular 26" head would probably work, and sure enough it did. So they saved me plenty of $$$.

Good luck.

Stephen

Two way's you can do this.If you have the flesh hoops that came off the drum you can get the hide and did it your self. Yes Remo does make new heads if you send them the hoop.but it does take time about 2 month's or less for me.Maybe more for other's....Mikey

While you're waiting for the new heads...

Take the Aquarian heads and using a Dremel tool with a cutter, or a fine hack saw blade, cut -only- through the metal rings at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock on the ring. Do not cut out onto the head itself, just the retaining ring. The heads will slide right on.

It will not alter the sound of the head or the drum one bit. The hoops will hold them in place well and they'll tune up normally. At least you'll be able to enjoy your drums while you wait for a custom head to be made - which can take awhile depending on their back-orders.

Hope this work-around helps.

John

Measure the outside diameter at several points, to check for round. If out of round use bar clamps or straps, cords to make it round. Once getting it round measure at points again and add 1/8 to that and call REMO for custom heads using that measurement.

Chances are that shell is not a Slingerland and maybe an add-on of Asian origin from the previous owner. Does it match the other drums of the kit? I know low budget companies like First Act use shells that are oversized and standard heads will not fit

John,that is a great idea,cutting the ring in 4 places. I bought a carbide tip for my drill and in about one hour,shaved the inside of the aluminum ring.I had my Clubdates re-wrapped in glass glitter and 3 heads wouldn't fit.Your idea is much faster.Vati

Now that is an interesting idea. If it works then why bother with paying for custom size heads? My old Sligerland snare has that issue, Im trying this on it, thank you John for the tip.

Jeff C

> If it works then why bother with paying for custom size heads?

My point precisely! lol

Go for it Jeff, it works!

*Important - Do not cut into the head itself. Cut -just through the ring- and it'll tune up fine and you will not be able to hear any difference in the head or the drum.

John

Thanks for the options guys, I'm not the least bit interested in running calf heads on a kit that I intend to play at all nighters. As far as I can discern, the drum is in fact 100% Slingerland, unless some nutjob way back then decided to take a perfectly matching stencil 3 ply shell with matching WMP wrap and go ahead and fit small beavertails, a muffler, cob engraved stick choppers, and a Slingy rack tom mount, complete with Slingerland stamped washers throughout the interior, etc. You get the idea. It's original.

I already took an Aquarian Amer. Vintage head and dremeled it at 3 points, which resulted in some small tears on the skin close to a couple of the cuts. Take a look at the gap in the second picture! It's very disconcerting to me to have this baby be so large. Yes, it is a bit out of round, but the major issue is just the massive overall size. It sounds phenomenal when struck, despite the issues.

Here are a couple pics of the rack tom that is the problem child, and one of the snare. Experts please correct me if I'm wrong, but this, in my humble opinion, should be genuine late 40s Slingerland.

[IMG]http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g125/trackthegreyhound/2012%20Slingerland%20RK%20resto/9x12_1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g125/trackthegreyhound/2012%20Slingerland%20RK%20resto/9x12_2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g125/trackthegreyhound/2012%20Slingerland%20RK%20resto/IMG_20120321_140416.jpg[/IMG]

All I can say is the snare is freaking amazing. I had to fit new Puresound repro wires, heads, and the rest is original. What a monster. Soooo woody and big!

Anyway, thanks again for the opinions, I'll try a different head and the dremel tool, but I can't say that I'm very excited about ordering custom heads at a massive premium that I know I'm going to go through, especially the way the Remos have (not) held up lately.