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eMike - Posted - 11/28/2011: 18:30:42
What is the difference between a 2-star Union Brand and a SOO Brand? The SOO has a lot of "pores" and the 2-Star has lots of "veins". Which is considered the better quality?
Thanks,
Mike
jbalch - Posted - 11/28/2011: 19:29:49
Below is a display from Bill Miller's website: (banjoseen.us/Store/index.html) It doesn't mention the "SOO". But the Union brand is sort of middle of the road quality and price. Hopefully someone else will have a definitive answer for you.
I'm linking this to the hide heads group: banjohangout.org/group/hideheads
Edited by - jbalch on 11/28/2011 19:31:04
eMike - Posted - 11/28/2011: 19:35:53
Thanks for the info John. I pm'd you a couple minutes ago, but no response is necessary.
Mike
jbalch - Posted - 11/28/2011: 19:36:59
I just found this on a Rogers drum site. The SOO brand badge appeared on a lower end model drum line. Maybe those heads were lower end too...
vintagedrumguide.com/rogers_badges.html
Edited by - jbalch on 11/28/2011 19:41:08
tdennis - Posted - 11/28/2011: 19:39:35
I have many old Chinese drums from the early 20th century that were used as the first drumset tom toms. They used pig skin, & one salient feature that identifies them is their many obvious pores. Many early drum catalogs offered different grades of calf, goat & pig skin.
I just found a reference paragraph in "The Rogers Book" (a history of the company). That states that Soo Brand was the lowest quality head they offered, but that they were still made of veal calf. ( Rogers only put their name on the higher qualitiy heads.
Edited by - tdennis on 11/28/2011 19:55:39
eMike - Posted - 11/28/2011: 19:51:12
John/tdennis,
Thanks guys. I appreciate your responses.
Mike
Jim D - Posted - 11/28/2011: 19:58:17
Here's a clipping from a book on Rogers... the Soo head was the budget calf skin...
tdennis - Posted - 11/28/2011: 19:59:37
Soo Brand was not bleached white.
mastertone250 - Posted - 11/28/2011: 20:02:03
So Rodgers made a plastic head? Did they make em before or after Remo started making theirs?
quote:
Originally posted by jbalch
Below is a display from Bill Miller's website: (banjoseen.us/Store/index.html) It doesn't mention the "SOO". But the Union brand is sort of middle of the road quality and price. Hopefully someone else will have a definitive answer for you.
I'm linking this to the hide heads group: banjohangout.org/group/hideheads
tdennis - Posted - 11/28/2011: 20:26:04
Chick Evans is given credit for developing the plastic drum head c. 1956, Followed by Remo Belli, 1957. I believe Remo had an improved method of fixing it to the hoop, & is given credit for perfecting & marketing it. Skin heads were still offered in drum catalogs into the early sixties.
Edited by - tdennis on 11/28/2011 20:29:02
Deaf Lester Crawdad - Posted - 11/28/2011: 22:50:59
quote:
Originally posted by tdennis
I have many old Chinese drums from the early 20th century that were used as the first drumset tom toms. They used pig skin, & one salient feature that identifies them is their many obvious pores. Many early drum catalogs offered different grades of calf, goat & pig skin.
Just as an aside: if you ever have the chance to try a pig skin head you really ought to do so. I once got one mixed in by accident with a batch of calf skin heads that had been shipped to me and stretched it on a Tubaphone knowing that it looked "different" but without knowing what it actually was.
It turned out to be one of the best two or three heads I've ever owned. Not as bright or loud as first-quality calfskin, but amazingly sweet and "tubby".
Lasted circa 20 years before going the way of all things organic, and I've never been able to find another like it.
~Pete
