"Sing, Sing, Sing" on calfskin Radio Kings

[beantownswing]

The floor tom was miked this time so you can hear the full calfskin sound with headphones or a subwoofer. Does it sound any different to you than plastic heads?

Drum setup:
Bass drum: 1940s Slingerland 14x28 with Stern Tanning calfskin heads
Snare: 1940s Slingerland Radio King 6.5x14 with Stern Tanning calfskin heads
Rack tom: 1940s Slingerland Radio King 9x13 with Stern Tanning calfskin heads
Floor tom: 1930s Slingerland Radio King 16x16 with Stern Tanning calfskin head (top) and original calfskin head (bottom)
Hi-hat (top): 1950s 13" Zildjian Avedis 567g
Hi-hat (bottom): 1950s 13" Zildjian Avedis 570g
"Ride": 11" Zildjian Avedis 1st stamp 284g
Crash: 12" Zildjian Avedis 1st stamp 364g
Crash: 12" Zildjian Avedis 2nd stamp 393g
Splash: 10" UFIP 220g

 

[jptrickster]

Sounds great! Calf has less attack/softer quieter than plastic. It works well in your situation.

 

[Mcjnic]

Very nice.

 

[Houndog]

That’s very cool .

 

[KCJazz]

And you resisted the temptation to add a ride!

 

[Rockin' Billy]

Congratulations to the kids.

 

[Tama CW]

The floor tom sounds great....however you did it. I'd say it has that calf skin sound.
The mounted tom doesn't quite the resonance of the floor tom. I always have trouble getting good resonance out of a vintage mounted tom using rails or hoop clamps.

 

[JimmyM]

I’d have enjoyed it a lot no matter what heads or drums you used, but the calfskins do have that calfskin sound for sure.

So how fussy are they for you? Been a long time since I touched a calfskin but they always went way up in tuning as they sat and I’d have to play on them to get them to drop back down, and then retune. That could sometimes take a while.

 

[beantownswing]

The floor tom sounds great....however you did it. I'd say it has that calf skin sound.
The mounted tom doesn't quite the resonance of the floor tom. I always have trouble getting good resonance out of a vintage mounted tom using rails or hoop clamps.

I agree - the rack tom usually sags a little during the gig and the bottom hoop touches the bass drum tuning rod, which probably kills some of the resonance.

 

[beantownswing]

I’d have enjoyed it a lot no matter what heads or drums you used, but the calfskins do have that calfskin sound for sure.

So how fussy are they for you? Been a long time since I touched a calfskin but they always went way up in tuning as they sat and I’d have to play on them to get them to drop back down, and then retune. That could sometimes take a while.

They are not fussy at all if they have been acclimated to the gig environment for a few hours and then tuned. The only time they need retuning during a gig is if the room gets crowded with sweaty dancers and the humidity goes way up. In this case we tune the drums high to start and then retune after each set and before "Sing, Sing, Sing." For this outdoor gig at the beach (starting at 97°F and then dropping to the high 80s by the end), they were tuned once before the start and that was fine for the whole two hours.

 

[JimmyM]

They are not fussy at all if they have been acclimated to the gig environment for a few hours and then tuned. The only time they need retuning during a gig is if the room gets crowded with sweaty dancers and the humidity goes way up. In this case we tune the drums high to start and then retune after each set and before "Sing, Sing, Sing." For this outdoor gig at the beach (starting at 97°F and then dropping to the high 80s by the end), they were tuned once before the start and that was fine for the whole two hours.

That’s pretty good, except for having to let them sit to get used to the environment. I don’t like getting to gigs too darn early .

 

[beantownswing]

That’s pretty good, except for having to let them sit to get used to the environment. I don’t like getting to gigs too darn early .

I guess in our case it works because the drumset (and most of the other backline and frontline) belongs to the band, and the road crew brings everything early anyway for setup. The drummer just shows up with their sticks and brushes and tunes before the gig starts (unless they have already been tuned by the roadies). Not a bad deal for the drummer, eh?

 

[JimmyM]

I guess in our case it works because the drumset (and most of the other backline and frontline) belongs to the band, and the road crew brings everything early anyway for setup. The drummer just shows up with their sticks and brushes and tunes before the gig starts (unless they have already been tuned by the roadies). Not a bad deal for the drummer, eh?

I’d say so!

 

[Formula 602]

That FT sounded great!

 

[Houndog]

.

 

[Houndog]

The floor tom sounds great....however you did it. I'd say it has that calf skin sound.
The mounted tom doesn't quite the resonance of the floor tom. I always have trouble getting good resonance out of a vintage mounted tom using rails or hoop clamps.

I’m struggling with my rail mount Tom , I hate to use a RIMS on it as it looks cool the way it is …..It opens up when I lift it a bit and it takes pressure of the mount . I put a cymbal felt in there but it’s not enough . Ugh ….I don’t want to use a snare stand either that puts it too far left …

 

[DavedrumsTX]

The floor tom was miked this time so you can hear the full calfskin sound with headphones or a subwoofer. Does it sound any different to you than plastic heads?

Drum setup:
Bass drum: 1940s Slingerland 14x28 with Stern Tanning calfskin heads
Snare: 1940s Slingerland Radio King 6.5x14 with Stern Tanning calfskin heads
Rack tom: 1940s Slingerland Radio King 9x13 with Stern Tanning calfskin heads
Floor tom: 1930s Slingerland Radio King 16x16 with Stern Tanning calfskin head (top) and original calfskin head (bottom)
Hi-hat (top): 1950s 13" Zildjian Avedis 567g
Hi-hat (bottom): 1950s 13" Zildjian Avedis 570g
"Ride": 11" Zildjian Avedis 1st stamp 284g
Crash: 12" Zildjian Avedis 1st stamp 364g
Crash: 12" Zildjian Avedis 2nd stamp 393g
Splash: 10" UFIP 220g

The floor tom was miked this time so you can hear the full calfskin sound with headphones or a subwoofer. Does it sound any different to you than plastic heads?

Drum setup:
Bass drum: 1940s Slingerland 14x28 with Stern Tanning calfskin heads
Snare: 1940s Slingerland Radio King 6.5x14 with Stern Tanning calfskin heads
Rack tom: 1940s Slingerland Radio King 9x13 with Stern Tanning calfskin heads
Floor tom: 1930s Slingerland Radio King 16x16 with Stern Tanning calfskin head (top) and original calfskin head (bottom)
Hi-hat (top): 1950s 13" Zildjian Avedis 567g
Hi-hat (bottom): 1950s 13" Zildjian Avedis 570g
"Ride": 11" Zildjian Avedis 1st stamp 284g
Crash: 12" Zildjian Avedis 1st stamp 364g
Crash: 12" Zildjian Avedis 2nd stamp 393g
Splash: 10" UFIP 220g

Bravo! I’m 60 and grew up listening to big band and playing in big bands throughout high school and college. I love seeing this music carry on and that there is a crowd digging it.

I love your playing and the band is great (especially the clarinetist). Just get a zoot suit and you will be the “Cats Meow!”

 

[Dzdrum]

My all original “Sing, Sing, Sing” kit with Radio King calf heads on top and bottom.

 

[DavedrumsTX]

This is a great clip of Gene many years later. Still the showman.

 

[Peano]

The floor tom was miked this time so you can hear the full calfskin sound with headphones or a subwoofer. Does it sound any different to you than plastic heads?

Definitely different than plastic heads. Sounds great! -- and authentic for that number.