banjonz - Posted - 07/14/2018:  19:22:34

Has anyone here put a vellum/hide head on an RK 35? I recently got a new one and I like it a lot. Perhaps it is a little brash. I amm pondering what it would sound like with a vellum on it.

The Old Timer - Posted - 07/14/2018:  19:49:11

Calfskin will CERTAINLY make the sound "dry up" and lose a lot of its jingle/jangle. The only way to find out is to try it. But "vellum" calfskin heads are expensive.

gtani7 - Posted - 07/14/2018:  20:04:53

That was my reaction to unboxing and tuning up the R35. I experimented a lot, I think i tried a amber/renaissance head, raised the tailpiece, thicker /heavier bridge, damped the head with 2 small sponges at tailpiece and neckjoint and maybe a couple other tweaks and it sounded noticeably warmer and more sustain, if that's what you're looking for.

RioStat - Posted - 07/14/2018:  20:46:50

banjohangout.org/myhangout/vid...#theVideo

Here's BHO member, and awesome picker, Lincoln Hensley, on an RK36 with a hide head.

Scroll down a few videos.....my link didnt work right

Edited by - RioStat on 07/14/2018 20:49:29

Emiel - Posted - 07/15/2018:  00:27:37

Hello Wayne, I also have a RK-35. I did made some changes:

1. I think the bridge should be changed. I changed it for a Desert Rose Vintage Elite maple/ebony bridge.

2. I also changed the Taiwan Remo head and put one of those very nice much discussed new top-frosted USA Remo heads on (the new ones without "Weatherking").

3. I kept the tailpiece, but was definitely too low.

4. I put on slightly heavier strings: D'Addario J60+ (0.095", 0.011", 0.013", 0.020", 0.095").

Does not sound brash at all this way.

A skin head would be great too of course, soundwise at least…

SaxManiac - Posted - 07/15/2018:  11:48:14

A few weeks ago I bought a used R-35 with a Fiberskyn III head installed. I put some 10s on it, and it definitely has some grunt.

Edited by - SaxManiac on 07/15/2018 11:51:03

banjonz - Posted - 07/15/2018:  16:28:13

Thanks for the input folks. I do have a new unused economy vellum I was thinking about installing but I went for a refinished weather king head. I found some spray cans here that was both a primer and a topcoat. I resprayed 3 old heads and fitted one of them to my RK. It certainly evened out the harshness without any diminishing of the volume. I will leave it at the for a while I think.

PeterT - Posted - 07/16/2018:  05:34:07

I put Renaissance head on my RK35 and it sounds great