Rebeats Calfskin Head Book/DVD  We have had countless requests for a product like this and have finally put it together. The 24-page booklet is jammed with historical information from Rogers, Leedy, Ludwig, Amrawco and others. The DVD (included) shows how to lay up a flesh hoop for custom-sized drums as well as head-tucking demonstrations by Rob Cook and the late Scotty Doucette of Jacks Drum Shop in Boston.

REBEATS CALFSKIN- These heads are of Asian origin, are mounted on wood flesh hoops by Rob Cook. They come in white and translucent. The thickness of these heads is rather inconsistent. They are suggested for applications where critical tonal response is not needed, such as display pieces, etc.

AMERICAN CALFSKIN- These heads are virtually identical to the heads formerly produced by United Rawhide of Chicago; after a tragic fire at the tannery they were unavilable for a couple years but are now again beginning production.

IRISH CALFSKIN- Our highest-grade skin head offering. We have in the past stocked these heads in a fairly thin (.010") guage for orchestral percussionists. Since the American heads are not available, we have placed a large order for skins matching the American thickness of .012". Very even thickness, white calfskin.... The brand name of these skins is called "Velvet." The same Irish tannery produces a skin called "Kalfo," which is a translucent skin. Kalfo is more resonant, but more fragile and is best known as a timpany head. This makes an excellent head for the discriminating symphonic percussionist. Contact us for a quote if you are interested in a Kalfo head.

Our calf heads heads are available either tucked or untucked. An untucked head is simply a large circular piece of hide which must be wrapped onto a round piece of wood or metal which is called the flesh hoop. The diameter of the untucked head should be from three to four inches larger than the diameter of the drum depending on the thickness of the head and the size of the flesh hoop.

Flesh hoops: We do not resell flesh hoops only. We buy them from Cooperman, the same manufacturer who had been providing the flesh hoops to United Rawhide and Stern tanning.

SPECIAL SIZES: To make up a calfskin head for a nonstandard size drum, a flesh hoop must first be made. This involves shimming up the shell (the shims represent the thickness of the skin), then an open flesh hoop strip is glued and clamped over the shims.To form the collar on a calfskin head, the head must be mounted on the drum while the head is still damp. If you have an odd-sized drum you can either get an untucked head and tuck it yourself (on the old flesh hoop, or get a new hoop from Cooperman), or send the whole drum in. Pricing is same as next standard size up.

AVAILABILITY- I only stock the Rebeats and Irish skins in sizes for 14" drum and smaller. Delivery from the Irish and American tanneries is quite unpredictable; please email me before ordering to check stock. Pricing for larger American head sizes: Mounted- 20" $130.00, 22" $145.00, 24" $150.00, 26" $160.00, 28" $175.00, 30" $180.00.  Unmounted- 20" $102.00, 22" $112.00, 24" $120.00, 26" $135.00, 28" $145.00, 30" $150.00.