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Help with head for WFL snare

Posts: 294 Threads: 44

I am having the same problem many of you have had with heads fitting older drums.

My problem is finding a head to fit the snare side of a 14"WFL drum.

An Aquarian American Vintage head fits the batter side just fine. The snare side hoop diameter is the problem.

The head will fit over the shell, but the nickled hoop will not go down over the American Vintage drumhead hoop. Not even close.

Other heads will fit in the hoop, but not over the shell well at all.

The calf batter head that came with the drum fit very tight on the shell. The Ludwig plastic snare side head that came with it is still on there, because it was the best compromise, but it is way too tight over the shell also.

I don't have any other similar hoops to try, and even if I found a different companies hoop that worked, it wouldn't give me a permanent solution.

I think the best solution is to just bring it into someplace with a big selection of heads, and try them all.

Any other ideas or similar experiences?

Posted on 11 years ago
#1
Posts: 180 Threads: 38

If you measure from lug to lug across the drum, do you find

It to be out of round?

Posted on 11 years ago
#2
Posts: 294 Threads: 44

Only the slightest bit out of round, like 1/32".

Were the heads supposed to fit this tightly back in 1950? Did they not consider it a problem as long as you could get it on there somehow?

Posted on 11 years ago
#3
Posts: 2010 Threads: 19

It didn't matter back in the early 50's since all the heads were calfskin wrapped around wooden flesh hoops. There was enough "give" to fit around any irregularities a drummer would likely encounter. Modern heads with their metal hoops are much less forgiving.

I've been reading good things about the new Evans 360 heads. People are saying they will easily fit old Gretsch drums that even the American Vintage heads are tight on. I'd check into those.

Posted on 11 years ago
#4
Posts: 294 Threads: 44

What a coincidence. Guess what I bought today.

Evans level 360, 200 snare head, although for another drum.

Not home right now, but tomorrow I will try it. I already have the new level 360 G1 , G12, and G14heads on some Rogers drums.

Posted on 11 years ago
#5
Posts: 9005 Threads: 266

Matt - Glenn (Fer428) turned me on to the 360's. Great sounding heads and they should fit. If not, consider buying a new calf head for the drum. I just bought a 15" head from Stern Tanning and it fit my old 50's WFL drum like a glove. No need to swap out the hoops. Hope you have good luck with the 360. If not, consider a new calf head. Expensive, but worth it. Oh man, the sound!

John

Too many great drums to list here!

http://www.walbergandauge.com/VintageVenue.htm
Posted on 11 years ago
#6
Posts: 294 Threads: 44

FYI, the Evans Level 360 snare side 200 head has solved the problem.

The head not only fits down over the drum shell with room to spin around easily, it also fits inside the hoop like a glove. Sounds great too.

So, the Aquarian Vintage heads are advertised as oversized for older drums, which they are, but these Evans heads are even larger.

Looks like they are doing a favor to drummers by changing their heads to the 360 construction.

Posted on 11 years ago
#7
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