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bob gregory - Posted - 12/05/2010: 20:23:15
Just wondering is the Goatskin thicker than a calfskin ? Is there a big difference between the two eg sound and weather condition chances ? Can you buy pre mounted ? Thanks in advance Bob
val - Posted - 12/05/2010: 21:42:58
Gold tone makes pre-mounted heads (goatskin) although, usually you will need to do a little material removal to the skin hoop between the neck and the pot, they send instructions with the head, I have liked the ones I have used and have had little weather effect on them, I do live in a dry climate however.
Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 12/05/2010: 23:00:43
quote:
Originally posted by bob gregory
Just wondering is the Goatskin thicker than a calfskin?
The one's I've installed have most often been thinner.
They tend to have nice bright highs when tight, but not as much mid-range or bass as calfskin.
Don't seem to last as long as calfskin, either.
~Pete
jbalch - Posted - 12/06/2010: 06:25:28
Bob:
Goat and calf skins both are found in various different thickness. When ordering from a reputable seller, you should specify the thickness that you want.
I like medium thickness skins. Bill Miller (banjoseen.com) has fantastic un-mounted and pre-mounted skins...of all types. If you order from Bill...I recommed you specify medium-thickness. Some of his thin skins are not thick enough for me.
Jeff Menzies (menziesinstruments.com/catalog...njo_heads) has a source for excellent bleached calfskin. I have several nice heads from jeff (pre-mounts are not offered).
Jeff Stern at Stern Tanning Co. (sterntanning.com/percussion.htm) has the best finished calfskins Ive found. Jeff bought the processing equipment and business of the old United Tanning Co. (historic maker of drum heads for Ludwig & others). Stern hides are machine sanded for a very smooth surface and precise, even thickness. They are expensive...but worth the price for a good banjo.
The Gold Tone pre-mounted skins are reasonably thick. I know that they are often believed to be goat...but I've been told that they actually use bleached calfskin (this comes indirectly from their hide supplier). I think that is correct.
As for sound...every skin head is slightly different. I think differences have more to do with thickness, characteristics the individual piece of hide, mounting, and head tension...rather than than species of animal per se'. You might be able to tell some difference between Goat and calf...but any difference is subtle. Really...I use and like both.
For what it is worth...bleached goat is very white and can have a very clean look. Check out the photos of varions skins I've mounted here: banjohangout.org/myhangout/pho...umid=2775
Edited by - jbalch on 12/06/2010 06:30:06
leemysliwiec - Posted - 12/06/2010: 09:01:27
It may be only my experience but I have noticed that calf skins seem to be more "transparent" than goat skins. As for thickness, you can get either in various thicknesses. Other members of the Hangout can advise you as to which thichness has what sound. Good luck. LEE
mhickler - Posted - 12/06/2010: 09:59:37
Just curious, I got approached by email from someone in Pakistan who wanted to sell me goat and calf skins. The price was good, but they wanted a $100 minimum plus shipping. They wouldn't agree to send a small sample order. Anyone else have this experience? I was tempted, but it would have been a lot of skins with no guarantee of the quality.
Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 12/06/2010: 11:22:41
quote:
Originally posted by mhickler
Just curious, I got approached by email from someone in Pakistan who wanted to sell me goat and calf skins. The price was good, but they wanted a $100 minimum plus shipping. They wouldn't agree to send a small sample order. Anyone else have this experience? I was tempted, but it would have been a lot of skins with no guarantee of the quality.
I've seen skins like this being offered for sale by Pakistani importers down at the NAMM show.
While there's no way of knowing if these are the same guys you're speaking of, the skins I've seen were very inconsistant in terms of quality, and the goat skins had a distinct odor of goat -which you would probably not enjoy.
~Pete
leemysliwiec - Posted - 12/06/2010: 13:02:29
MHICKLER you also didn't have any guarantee that you would receive them after you sent the money.
mhickler - Posted - 12/06/2010: 13:05:17
Yeah, I would have had zero recourse if they never shipped. I am content to pay Stew-Mac or whoever for a decent skin. They did the research and took the risk for me.
leemysliwiec - Posted - 12/06/2010: 13:28:07
Good skins are readily available from Mid-East Mfg. Inc. I usually buy a couple at a time and pick the best.
jbalch - Posted - 12/06/2010: 14:02:23
I've ordered form Mid East too. I bought goat skins with the hair on. The quality was fine.
TwoTrax - Posted - 12/06/2010: 17:08:11
quote:
Originally posted by mhickler
Just curious, I got approached by email from someone in Pakistan who wanted to sell me goat and calf skins. The price was good, but they wanted a $100 minimum plus shipping. They wouldn't agree to send a small sample order. Anyone else have this experience? I was tempted, but it would have been a lot of skins with no guarantee of the quality.
I've gotten Drum Head Samples from MRC which I believe is an Indian company. They were like $3.00 a piece for 8 pieces mixed calf, goat, bleached and not bleached 14 inch samples. Just big enough to do an 11 inch head (if you're careful) or a smaller Banjo Uke. You may be able to find a USA distributor of their product who may sell you fewer samples.
jbalch - Posted - 12/07/2010: 07:33:05
THANKS...I made the logo and bought a rubber stamp. I decided to mark the heads I mount after seeing that Bill Miller was stamping his. I thought that was a good idea. I don't do this commercially like Bill. I just mount a few for myself and friends. But some skin heads last for many decades...so I decided to mark them. Before I got the stamp, I was signing and dating them just as a record of when they were mounted.
Here is my stamp:
Dan Knowles has the coolest logo I've seen for banjo heads (no surprise there...):
Here is Bill Miller's mark (from banjoseen.com):
Edited by - jbalch on 12/07/2010 07:34:49
Tackhead - Posted - 12/07/2010: 07:54:38
quote:
Originally posted by jbalch
Dan Knowles has the coolest logo I've seen for banjo heads (no surprise there...):
James Hartel has a nice one, too
tinyurl.com/23aafr8 You guys have way too much talent
~John
jbalch - Posted - 12/07/2010: 10:13:32
I agree:
vernob - Posted - 12/07/2010: 11:29:14
John, you always come up with cool stuff.
jbalch - Posted - 12/07/2010: 13:47:57
Also...I prefer to mark mine on the bottom side so it is visible inside the rim ... like the old Jos. A. Rogers and other heads that were usually mounted that way.
Here is a logo inside one of my B&D Silver Bell banjos. This is on a bleached calfskin from Jeff Menzies.
I also still like to sign and date them...on the crown (not visible when mounted). I like tho think that someday many years from now a banjo doctor somewhere will say "I wonder who that dude was?" ... as he throws that broken skin in the trash...
Edited by - jbalch on 12/07/2010 13:54:04
